The Chicago Bears land franchise Quarterback and Elite pass rushers in 2024 NFL Mock Draft

The Chicago Bears’ 2024 NFL Draft class will include more than simply USC quarterback Caleb William. Sure, Williams is the headline grabber, and the franchise’s future rests largely on his shoulders, but general manager Ryan Poles has another premium pick at his disposal: No. 9 overall. There’s one school of thought that thinks the Bears should trade the ninth pick to gain more selections in the 2024 draft. Chicago now only has four. While Poles has shown a propensity to move all about the draft board to stockpile selections, this year feels different.

The Chicago Bears can add two premium players to their roster. They can’t pass up that possibility. In the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from The Athletic, the Bears hold both top-10 picks, resulting in huge upgrades on offense and defense.

The first overall pick is apparent. It’s Caleb Williams.

“While anything could happen between now and the draft, starting with Wednesday’s USC pro day and Williams’ visit to Halas Hall, nothing has changed the near-consensus evaluation that Williams is the most talented player in the draft,” The Athletics Kevin Fishbain said. “He’ll take over an offense that now features Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and Cole Kmet, along with free-agent additions D’Andre Swift and Gerald Everett.”

Bears supporters should truly relish this moment. It’s a unique time for the team; they possess the first pick in a draft year with an obvious, if not generational, top overall talent at the sport’s most crucial position. And the Bears secured this choice, not because they were horrible in 2023. Instead, the Poles inflicted a pounding on the Carolina Panthers in last year’s trade for the first overall selection.

Chicago’s ending up with Caleb Williams is equal parts genius and serendipity.

At No. 9 overall, The Athletic has the Chicago Bears selecting Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. Unlike Will Anderson, last year’s highly drafted Crimson Tide sack artist, Turner will enter the NFL with guarded joy.

“Despite the addition of Montez Sweat, the Bears finished 32nd in the league last season in sacks per pass attempt,” Fishbaim said. “Enter Turner, the SEC’s 2023 sack leader. A great athlete, Turner would be a nice compliment to Sweat.”

I’m not opposed to the Bears pursuing an edge rusher with the ninth pick. Sweat can’t be the only player on Chicago’s defense who can pressure the quarterback. But I’m not sure Turner is the proper pick. There are also interesting defensive ends, including UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Penn State’s Chop Robinson, whose NFL upside might be better.

Perhaps Poles will truly attempt to trade out of the ninth pick if none of the top three wide receivers fall to that selection. It would make sense because the margin between guys like Turner, Latu, and Robinson isn’t large.

Regardless, one thing is absolutely clear: The Chicago Bears are in a wonderful scenario entering the 2024 NFL Draft. There’s almost no conceivable way Poles can goof it wrong.