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The 2024 NFL Draft is just a few days away with the first round kicking off on Thursday when the Chicago Bears make the first pick of the night.
The Bears will be in full control of the draft board on opening night with the first and ninth overall picks of the draft in their disposal to land some top play makers.
Many experts have floated the Bears around as a potential trade team with their second pick in the first round. No matter what happens between now and Thursday, here are eight top prospects the Bears HAVE to be looking to draft on opening night.
1. QB Caleb Williams
This one continues to be a given for the Bears who are all but expected to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick to kick the draft off on Thursday.
Williams has checked off every box required to be the next franchise quarterback in Chicago and the entire NFL landscape is eager to see him perform at the next level.
In a recent appearance on The Pivot podcast late last week, Williams stated his intention in the NFL is to "play at one place for 20 years" and chase the great Tom Brady, who won seven Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career in the NFL. With that mindset, it's time for Bears fans to buckle up, a new era is coming.
2. WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
With days remaining until the draft, the name Marvin Harrison Jr. starting to become more and more connected to the Bears in the first round.
Harrison's range is well before the Bears' second pick in the first round, but if he potentially slides down the board due to the number of quarterback needy teams drafting a signal caller early, the Bears shouldn’t hesitate to move up.
Harrison has only primarily met with two teams entering the final week before the draft, the Arizona Cardinals and the Bears. It only takes the Cardinals trading back and the Bears somehow moving up to make this pipe dream an actual reality.
3. WR Malik Nabers
Another wide receiver on the Bears' radar in the first round is Malik Nabers who recently met with the team a few days back. Depending on who you ask, Nabers is considered the best wide receiver in the class, with others leaning toward Harrison.
Whatever the case may be, Nabers has the best shot of the two of being available for the Bears, trade up or not. Nabers recently had a few personality and health concerns brought into question late in the process that could cause him to fall down the board.
If he gets within two/three selections, the Bears can’t afford to allow another team to jump them in order to snag Nabers. I think he's that special at the position.
4. WR Rome Odunze
The most heavily mocked selection for the Bears with the ninth overall pick has easily been wide receiver Rome Odunze.
If not for the loaded class at the position, Odunze would easily be one of the first players taken off the board. He's potential is up there with Harrison and Nabers and should be seen in the same category as those other two.
The likelihood of Odunze being available with the ninth overall pick should be pretty high in my opinion and it should all come down to whether or not the front office will want to use the pick on this position in particular or not.
5. DE Dallas Turner
The top defensive player on the Bears' first round draft board should be defensive end Dallas Turner. Turner is an absolute monster and yet has somehow been the most under the radar name in the Top-10 (where he easily will be selected).
However, the only team above the Bears that will have the most competitive shot of swiping Turner will be the Atlanta Falcons at #8, one pick above the Bears.
Interestingly enough, the odds for the Falcons favorite to be selected with the eighth overall pick has recently changed, which could put the Bears in an ideal position to land Turner if, for some reason, the Falcons decide to pass on the top edge rusher.
6. DE Laiatu Latu
Laiatu Latu is another edge that has gain momentum late in the process after getting all of his medical concerns checked out with teams during his 30 visits over the last few weeks leading up to the draft.
Latu could easily come out of this class as the top pass rusher in the long term if he continues to stay healthy. While Turner is more of a freakish specimen, Latu is more instinctive and athletic. He's as consistent as can be at rushing the passer as well.
Personally, the Bears couldn’t go wrong with either Turner or Latu to play opposite Montez Sweat on the defensive line. Ultimately, if the team goes this direction in the first round, it'll depend on who's on the board and which player Matt Eberflus prefers.
7. DT Byron Murphy II
The first of my two sleeper first round targets for the Bears is defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. Murphy is another prospect gaining late buzz with the Bears and I wouldn’t be surprised if general manager Ryan Poles has this card hidden in his sleeve.
Murphy is one player many experts predict will go higher than the consensus is expecting on Thursday and the Bears seem like the team that could possibly take him.
When Eberflus mentioned the intention of wanting to add another defensive lineman to the defense in the draft, he specifically said either on the edge or inside. I think everyone might have been too clouded about the idea of adding a top edge rusher and instead the team could take the top interior defensive lineman in the draft at #9.
8. TE Brock Bowers
The final dark horse pick in the first round for the Bears, that should have the lowest odds out of these eight prospects in my opinion, is tight end Brock Bowers.
Bowers is a phenom and could be one of the best tight end prospects ever. There's a lot to be excited about if he joins the offense but it wouldn’t be a pick I'd agree with.
The Bears already added Gerald Everett in free agency to the room with Cole Kmet, and yes I know offensive coordinator Shane Waldron likes having three tight ends. However, I think this pick would be a major reach for the Bears considering the actual needs on the roster. But man, it would be super cool if this were to happen.
More must-reads:
- AFC North check-in: Most, least improved position groups post-draft
- Longtime coach compares Patriots' Drake Maye to two legends
- The 'AP First-Team All-Pro tight ends' quiz
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