NFL free agency still doesn’t officially open for a few more days, but the Bears have already made a move that could impact their 2024 draft plans. On Sunday, the team announced they had reached an agreement with All-Pro safety Kevin Byard. GM Ryan Poles filled a big hole on the roster by adding Byard. With only five picks in his pocket for the upcoming draft (as things stand), Poles may have also moved safety down his draft priority list (if he doesn’t add more picks between now and the end of April). Accordingly, here’s a mock draft where Poles eschews the safety position in favor of addressing other positions of need. As always, this mock draft is not an attempt to predict what the Bears will actually do when they’re back in the War Room next offseason. That’s impossible. Nor is it meant as a recommendation of what the Bears should do. This mock draft is meant to be a fun way to discuss wild ideas, dig into some of the intriguing college prospects this season, and project how those players may fit in Chicago.
USC
Florida State
Kansas
Texas
Kansas State
Ohio State