With the 2024 NFL Draft just days away, the Chicago Bears already have their first pick locked up. With the top selection in the NFL Draft, the Bears are expected to take quarterback Caleb Williams, who has been the presumed top pick since the process began. However, the Bears' second pick, the No. 9 overall selection in the annual event, is much more of a question mark.
Entering the NFL Draft, the Bears don't possess a ton of draft capital. Chicago only has four picks entering the event, with two of them being in the top 10. Over the last two drafts, fans have seen Ryan Poles' style in action as he likes moving around and scooping up additional picks. Will this year feature more of the same with the ninth pick as the trade bait?
According to a rumor from NFL insider Albert Breer, the belief is that Poles will want to move back in the NFL Draft unless a true difference-maker is available. Those in mind are the draft's top three receivers, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze.
: Teams around the #NFL have gotten the sense that the #Bears want to trade down from #9 given the fact that they only have 4 picks in the draft, per @AlbertBreer
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 22, 2024
“If the #Bears stick, a couple of friends of GM Ryan Poles said they think he’ll be looking to add… pic.twitter.com/V2yf23RMZK
If those wideouts are gone by the ninth pick, the belief is that Poles will move back. How many times remains to be seen, but gaining additional assets to put more players around the new franchise quarterback isn't a bad idea. If the desired top talent is off the board, then getting more talent in the second and third rounds is ideal.
One idea presented by Gordon McGuinness of PFF has the Bears trading down twice, and ultimately out of the first round. Ironically, our very own Patrick Boadway suggested a trade with the Buffalo Bills, as outlined in McGuinness's idea. The PFF Head of Content also has the Bears trading with the New England Patriots.
In the latest PFF mock draft @PFF_Gordon had the bears trading out of the 1st round completely (2 trades) for a ton of capital. He only did 1 round but I was curious what the Bears could expect in that scenario. I don’t think this is the direction they go but I don’t hate it pic.twitter.com/aXipcznM9E
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) April 23, 2024
A move like this would greatly benefit the Bears. They could acquire more playmakers, add help on the defensive side, and bolster the trenches on both sides of the ball. Additionally, the Bears would pick up another first-round selection for 2025, meaning they would have four picks in the first two rounds next year to further build around Williams.
While this is just an idea, there's a lot of belief that the Bears want one of the top receivers and will move back from pick No. 9 if their desired options aren't on the board. Thursday will say a lot about how the Bears' weekend will look in terms of pick quantity.
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