Who will the Bears draft in 2024? The start of the NFL offseason is a great time for Chicago coming off a strong finish to the regular season. In what is expected to be a very busy offseason for the franchise, our first Bears mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft examines how this team can be built for the future.
There is plenty of debate in Chicago regarding the quarterback situation. In each of our mock draft scenarios for the Bears in 2024, however, we will be trading Justin Fields and building the franchise around the rookie quarterback we take with the first overall pick.
Related: NFL Draft rumors 2024
Chicago Bears draft picks 2024
Here are the Bears draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
- 1st Round, 1st overall
- 1st Round, 9th overall
- 3rd Round, 75th overall
- 4th Round, 110th overall
- 4th Round, 122nd overall
- 5th Round, 166th overall
Related: 2024 NFL Draft order, picks by team
Chicago Bears draft needs 2024
Here are the Chicago Bears team needs in 2024.
- QB
- WR
- OL
- CB
- DL
- RB
Related: Caleb Williams scouting report
Chicago Bears mock draft 2024: Building around Caleb Williams
1st Round, 1st overall: Caleb Williams, QB, USC Trojans
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has shown promising flashes in the last two seasons and he has plenty of support from the locker room, but that isn’t enough. For one thing, there’s far too much value in having a franchise-caliber quarterback under team-friendly contractual control for five seasons. Plus, Caleb Williams is simply a superior quarterback prospect to Fields.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft
Bears’ offensive coordinator Shane Waldron already demonstrated with the Seattle Seahawks that he can engineer a creative offense. While Williams’ decision-making and tendency to hang onto the football too long are something that Waldron will need to work around, there’s no mistaking the Heisman Trophy winner’s phenomenal talent.
In terms of NFL comparisons, Williams is closer to a better version of Kyler Murray than Patrick Mahomes. What that means for Chicago is it has an outstanding quarterback who will create on his own, buying time with his legs and making off-platform throws downfield that will stun fans. The Bears’ offense will likely need to be more spread than pro-style, but great coaches build around their quarterback’s strengths. Waldron can do just that for Williams and together, this offense will skyrocket in 2024.
Related: Chicago Bears’ QB decision potentially revealed
1st Round, 9th overall: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Speaking of Waldron’s play-calling days in Seattle, one of the things that made the Seahawks’ passing game so successful was the presence of both Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Chicago will certainly consider snagging one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft here, but the focus should be on building the best possible supporting cast around Williams.
Rome Odunze can be a No. 1 wide receiver. Standing at 6-foot-3, the former Washington Huskies standout offers the elite size you want at the position and he combines it with rare athleticism for someone of his stature. It gives him the ability to make big plays after the catch, turning short passes over the middle into 40-plus-yard catch-and-runs.
Even more importantly, Odunze offers some of the best hands in the 2024 NFL Draft and his route-running rivals almost anyone in the class. He won’t just make a few splash plays, Odune will consistently get open and provide a go-to option for Williams. By pairing him with D.J. Moore, Chicago gives Williams a receiver tandem that could become one of the best in the NFL.
2nd Round, 43rd overall*: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia Mountaineers
- Chicago Bears trade Justin Fields to the Atlanta Falcons for 43rd overall, 109th overall picks
Chicago parts ways with Justin Fields, sending him home to the Atlanta Falcons. In exchange, Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace is put in the perfect position to address one of the biggest needs on the offensive line. While there would be growing pains in pairing a rookie center and quarterback together, this is a long-term play for Chicago.
While Zach Frazier isn’t on the same tier as Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, he’s a borderline top-35 talent in the 2024 NFL Draft. Before his season-ending injury in November, Frazier was one of the best interior linemen in the nation. The 6-foot-3 center is very experienced (47 career starts) with the instincts, strength nad mechanics to start in Week 1.
3rd Round, 75th overall: Kalen King, CB, Penn State Nittany Lions
The 2023 season was a disaster for Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Kalen King. Entering his final season, many viewed him as a surefire first-round talent who could slide into the top-20 picks. Instead, he struggled, with opponents completing an alarmingly high 61 percent of their passes against him in coverage (PFF). To make matters worse, he also struggled mightily in the Senior Bowl.
It’s why King falls outside the top 70 picks, but he’s worth a gamble in Round 3. Keep in mind, the 5-foot-11 cornerback was phenomenal in coverage during his sophomore season, holding opponents to a 45.8 percent reception rate and quarterbacks only had a 48.9 passer rating when they targeted him in coverage. With the help of the Bears’ coaching staff and standout corner Jaylon Johnson, King would at least have a shot to recapture the talents and production we saw in 2022.
Chicago Bears 7-round mock draft 2024
With analysis- for our top picks out of the way, here is our complete Bears 7-round mock draft.
- 1st Round, 1st overall: Caleb Williams, QB, USC Trojans
- 1st Round, 9th overall: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
- 2nd Round, 43rd overall*: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia Mountaineers
- 3rd Round, 75th overall: Kalen King, CB, Penn State Nittany Lions
- 4th Round, 109th overall*: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri Tigers
- 4th Round, 110th overall: Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky Wildcats
- 4th Round, 122nd overall: Xavier Thomas, EDGE, Clemson Tigers
- 5th Round, 166th overall: Cole Bishop, S, Utah Utes
