For the Chicago Bears and every other team that didn't make the 2023 NFL playoffs, the 2024 offseason has officially begun. And with it comes an official 2024 NFL draft order for the non-playoff clubs.
All that to say it's a perfect time to do our first Chicago Bears mock draft knowing exactly where the Bears pick.
In this mock draft, I have the Bears doing what many people expect: they trade Justin Fields.
Fields' time in Chicago didn't work out for many reasons, not least of all the incompetency of past and current coaches. But he's still a very dangerous quarterback, and with that in mind, I have Ryan Poles trading him to the AFC, drastically reducing the chances he'll have to beat them in years to come.
Fields goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Bears receive second and fourth-round picks back.
Since this is only a three-round mock, that fourth-round pick won't come into play, but the second-round pick will serve a significant role in helping the Chicago Bears build their roster through the draft.
Let's get to the Bears 2024 mock draft.
1.01 (via CAR) Caleb Williams - Quarterback, USC
Sadly, the Bears find themselves once again returning to the quarterback lotteryl, hoping to finally draw a winner.
Caleb Williams may or may not be generational, depending on who you ask, but he would immediately be the most talented passer the Bears have ever drafted. He can make every throw at every level with a powerful arm and a lightning-quick release. He also possesses plus athleticism to evade pressure and extend plays. You won't see him tear off the kind of scrambles that Justin Fields has done, but he's not far behind.
Check out our Caleb Williams scouting report here.
This is an easy home run pick for Poles once he makes the call to trade Fields. Don't overthink it; get the best player in the draft.
1.09 Rome Odunze - Wide Receiver, Washington
Odunze played in Monday night's CFB Championship game and, despite posting five catches for 87 yards, had somewhat of a quiet night. But I don't think he crumbled under pressure. It had more to do with his quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., having arguably his worst game of the season. He missed Odunze in a busted coverage play for what would have been a walk-in touchdown early in the game and threw a few errant passes Odunze's way as the game went on.
Make no mistake about Odunze: he's a stud. He's a big-bodied receiver who boxes out corners and reliably comes down with those tough, contested catches. Despite his size, he still has the moves and quickness of a much smaller, speedier receiver.
You won't mistake Odunze for Marvin Harrison Jr. anytime soon, but he would quickly become a fan favorite in Chicago.
2.54 (via PIT) Bralen Trice - EDGE, Washington
Another guy who played in the national championship on Monday, Trice, is probably the best pass rusher who will be available on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
He racked up two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumbe against Texas in the Sugar Bowl. He had a quieter night against Michigan but got close to sacking JJ McCarthy several times, including the first passing snap for the Wolverines.
Trice is one of the biggest edge rushers in the draft, standing six-foot-four and weighing 274 pounds. While this gives him some truly impressive power, it slows him down a bit when he tries to change directions. He could stand to get a bit leaner in the NFL, but he's not much bigger than Montez Sweat, who would be an excellent mentor as Trice develops into a pro pass rusher.
3.75 Jackson Powers-Johnson - Center, Oregon
This season made painfully clear that the Chicago Bears need a long-term option at center, and that's precisely what they'd get with Powers-Johnson, who has prototypical size, standing six-foot-three and weighing in at a stout 320 pounds. He's experienced and versatile; he played all three interior line positions in college.
He's strong but not overpowering like other centers in his class, and unfortunately, he only has one year of starting experience, but he didn't allow a sack in any of his 1,355 college snaps.
I would feel better with Georgia's Sedrick Van Pran or West Virginia's Zach Frazier, but getting JPJ in the third round would be good value.
What grade would you give this Bears mock draft? Can you do a better job? Add your grades or mock draft in the comments below. And if you'd like to enjoy an ad-free experience and more, consider upgrading to a premium account. It costs less than a cup of coffee per month! Bear Down!