Bears Wire

The Chicago Bears enter the 2024 NFL draft with a clear strategy: secure a franchise quarterback, strengthen the pass rush, expand the receiving corps, and add depth to the linebackers and the secondary. Following free agency, Chicago currently has just four draft picks after trading for wide receiver Keenan Allen (fourth rounder) and offensive lineman Ryan Bates (fifth rounder) to shore up key areas of need on the roster. So the expectation is general manager Ryan Poles will in fact make a move to trade back at some point in the draft — perhaps at No. 9, which is exactly what happens in this mock draft scenario. By trading the ninth overall pick, the Bears maximize their draft capital, enabling them to address critical positions across the board and acquire high-impact players on offense and defense who can fit Shane Waldron’s versatile offensive scheme and Matt Eberflus’ zone defense.