Caleb Williams isn’t the one marquee title – EM2Sporting Update

The Chicago Bears are in command of the 2024 NFL Draft provided that they’ve the primary general choose this 12 months due to a commerce final offseason. It could not have labored out higher for the Bears as they spherical out a multi-year rebuild with their hopeful quarterback of the long run.

Whereas they’re in command of the board, there is not a lot thriller. The Bears are totally anticipated to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 general choose.

The place this will get fascinating is in a while within the high 10, the place Chicago additionally holds the ninth general choose. Between wheelings and dealings up to now 12 months, buying and selling for DE Montez Sweat on the deadline final season and buying and selling for WR Keenan Allen a number of weeks in the past, the Bears now maintain solely 4 whole picks. 

We have now to incorporate each Sweat and Allen once we discuss this draft class in totality and when viewing it from that lens, having 4 picks is not the top of the world, particularly when three of the 4 are within the high 75. 

Nonetheless, that does not preclude the Bears from being a trade-down candidate. Or a trade-up candidate, for that matter. Or for standing pat and taking a blue-chip starter at a place of want at No. 9.

With that in thoughts, I took a stab at a full seven-round mock for the Bears. Spoiler alert: I’ve them buying a bit extra capital however nonetheless getting their man. Name me an idealist.

2024 Chicago Bears Mock Draft Alternatives

First spherical, No. 1 general: QB Caleb Williams, USC

That is the plain one, and I am not going to overthink it. I would relatively be incorrect in regards to the Bears deciding on Williams with everybody else than needlessly out on a desert island. Williams comes from an offense at USC that had professional stage elements, and the heavy play-action he was used to will not change beneath new Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. 

[Vitali: Inside the Bears’ offensive overhaul, and how it could help Caleb Williams]

Williams is probably not “generational,” because the time period has been so grossly overused, however he is a uncommon expertise in an ideal quarterback class and subsequently ought to be the ultimate main piece of the puzzle for Chicago. Normal supervisor Ryan Poles was introduced in to “break cycles” as he put it on “The Pat McAfee Present” — Williams is his likelihood to do it.

First spherical, No. 13 general: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

You might discover that this is not the Bears’ unique No. 9 general choose. The Las Vegas Raiders have been on the cellphone wanting to maneuver up into the highest 10 — maybe for a sort out, maybe for a quarterback — however both means, they gave up their third-round choose at No. 77 to do it. That enables Chicago so as to add some priceless draft capital. And would you take a look at that: The Bears are nonetheless in a position to snag Bowers. 

I need to warning you in opposition to pondering of him as only a tight finish. Bowers is an offensive piece with a ton of versatility. Particularly with the best way Waldron’s offense makes use of a number of tight-end units, he would thrive in Chicago. A participant like Bowers, who not solely has pure pass-catching fingers, however can block decently nicely and lead block even higher, is extra necessary to this new Bears offense than a WR3 at this level. That is to not say Chicago does not nonetheless want a receiver, however with the additional capital, the Bears may be extra versatile on once they take that participant.

Brock Bowers tops Joel Klatt’s “Plant the Flag” checklist

Third spherical, No. 75 general: WR Brenden Rice, USC

And would not you realize it, the Bears get their WR3 with their subsequent choose. That is Chicago’s unique third-round choose and Rice continues to be on the board. Why not pair Williams with a well-recognized goal on the subsequent stage? Rice, the son of Corridor of Famer Jerry Rice, was used primarily as an outdoor receiver at USC however received loads of work over the center of the sphere. His 6-foot-2 measurement helps him, alongside along with his capacity to comply with the chief in scramble drills. He’d spherical out the Bears’ pass-catchers properly with fellow exterior receivers DJ Moore and Allen, and with Bowers understanding of the slot. 

Third spherical, No. 77 general: Edge Bralen Trice, Washington (through commerce with Las Vegas)

Simply two picks later, Chicago is again on the clock due to the cope with the Raiders. Right here, the Bears snag an edge to play reverse Sweat. Trice completed No. 1 in all of FBS in pressures in each 2022 and 2023, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. He is a bodily participant and stayed wholesome all through his school profession, taking part in in each sport in his final three seasons at Washington. With the favorable matchups he’d possible get reverse Sweat, Trice might simply translate his school manufacturing to the NFL.

Fourth spherical, No. 122 general: CB Cam Hart, Notre Dame

I did not like the worth for offensive line depth at this level within the draft so I went again to protection, the place the Bears nonetheless want so as to add to their nook rotation. They locked Jaylon Johnson as much as a brand new deal, and so they have a budding participant in Tyrique Stevenson, however after that the depth is a bit regarding. Hart comes from a man-heavy scheme at Notre Dame and his 6-foot-3 body together with a 4.5 40-yard sprint time give him the scale and athleticism combo that might be nice for Chicago, particularly at this level within the draft.

Carmen Vitali covers the NFC North for FOX Sports activities. Carmen had earlier stops with The Draft Community and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, together with 2020, which added the title of Tremendous Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. You possibly can comply with Carmen on Twitter at @CarmieV.

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