Unlike last year, when the Chicago Bears chose to trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers, with the team seemingly having faith in Justin Fields’ ability to be a franchise quarterback, the storied franchise will likely go in a different direction this year.
With the No. 1 overall pick for consecutive seasons, the Bears are expected to draft a potential franchise quarterback, with all signs pointing to the team bringing in Caleb Williams out of the University of Southern California.
The team has the top pick in the draft and the No. 9 overall pick, which it could use on the talented crop of wide receivers who will emerge from the college game in April.
According to Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN, the Bears could go after wideout Rome Odunze out of the University of Washington, via ESPN 1000.
“Wide receiver, I have them taking Rome Odunze from Washington at No. 9,” Kiper said. “So if they can get Rome Odunze, put him opposite D.J. Moore; boy, you got something going there.”
Caleb Williams isn’t the only QB in play for the @ChicagoBears in the NFL Draft – @MelKiperESPN
Full interview: https://t.co/rxP8tdWiGx pic.twitter.com/zBrdhcdoSk
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) January 26, 2024
Clearly, the Bears’ sole focus heading into the 2024 NFL Draft will be upgrading the offense and putting as much talent as possible around whichever quarterback the team decides to bring in at No. 1, given they go that route.
With D.J. Moore already in the fold, Chicago will have a chance to take some pressure off of him with a rookie wide receiver who will immediately be ready for the NFL level.
Obviously, Marvin Harrison Jr. is the cream of the crop, but he likely won’t be available at No. 9 unless something unexpected happens.
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