There's not much mystery left about what the Chicago Bears will do with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With just over a week remaining until draft day, most discourse about the Bears has turned to what they could do with their next pick, currently 9th overall.
The Bears have just four selections in this year's draft, leading many to believe that GM Ryan Poles will likely trade down in the first round. But there are also rumors that Poles want more 'blue chippers,' elite prospects who can make an immediate impact.
What if, instead of trading down from 9, Poles trades up?
That's exactly what he does in this Chicago Bears mock draft. Some smaller trades will come later, but Poles kicks off the 2024 NFL Draft with two huge swings.
1.1 Caleb Williams - Quarterback, USC
As I said earlier, there's no real mystery here. The Bears are selecting Caleb Williams first overall.
1.4 (via ARI) Marvin Harrison Jr. - Receiver, OSU
Trade alert! The Bears send Arizona the 9th and 122nd overall picks, plus Carolina's 2nd-round pick in 2025, to move up to fourth overall. Quarterbacks go at one, two, and three, allowing Poles to select arguably the best overall player in the draft.
If Poles could pull off these two picks on draft night, Bears social media would be in absolute euphoria.
3.80 (via CIN) Kiran Amegadjie - Offensive Tackle, Yale
Another trade! The Bears send 75th overall to Cincinnati to get 80th and 115th overall. The Bears hosted Amegadjie on a Top 30 visit earlier in March, for good reason. The Ivy League offensive tackle has insane measurable: 36" arms, an 85.5" wingspan, and an excellent frame of six-foot-five and 326 pounds. His techniques need work, and jumping from the Ivy League to the NFL will be a major adjustment, but the hometown kid from Hinsdale has all the makings of a draft steal.
4.129 (via MIN) Jalyx Hunt - Defensive End, Houston Christian
One last trade. The Bears send 115th overall from Cincinnati to Minnesota, picking up picks Nos. 129, 167, and 230 in return. Hunt is one of the more fascinating prospects in this draft. A safety-turned-defensive end, Hunt had one heck of a Combine, posting a 9.18 RAS and measuring in with 34.5" arms.
He's coming from a small school and will need to get bigger and stronger, which could relegate him to special teams duties for a while. But if he can be coached up to his potential, the Bears could have another draft steal.
5.167 (via MIN) Malik Mustapha - Safety, Wake Forest
Sticking with defense, the Bears add a developmental safety late in the draft. Mustapha may be a little smaller than you'd like, but he plays aggressively and is a willing and able tackler. He'll need good coaching and mentoring to improve his coverage abilities, but he has plenty of time to learn behind Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker.
7.230 (via MIN) Tory Taylor - Punter, Iowa
With his last pick in the draft, Poles takes a swing on a new punter. Trent Gill has been fine the last two years, but Taylor could be one of the best punters in the league, so the Bears have to upgrade. Having that kind of field-flipping ability when a drive stalls can be the difference between a deep postseason run and a one-and-done, should the Bears earn a spot in the playoffs.