The 2024 NFL draft is finally less than one month away. By now the Bears evaluations are nearly done. They will meet their top prospects at Halas Hall for private visits, they will debate which players will help them the most in the long term and the short term, and they will finalize their draft board. The team’s decision with the No. 1 overall pick is essentially a foregone conclusion at this point. Everything points at the team selecting Caleb Williams to take over at quarterback. They have several paths they can travel with the No. 9 overall pick, however. Do they take one of the highly-touted wide receivers to give Williams one of the best pass catching corps in the NFL? Or do they bolster his protection with a new tackle? If the widely-expected run on offensive players precedes their pick, the Bears could have the opportunity to take the first defensive player of the class. Can they pass up that opportunity? Or will they trade back to add more draft capital since they only have four selections as things stand.
USC
Penn State
Colorado State
Illinois
Florida