NFL Draft 2024: Why so many think one of the Bears draft picks will be a receiver
The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and most experts believe the team will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who already is getting to know the team's veteran players.
But the Bears also have the No. 9 overall selection, which presents more intrigue, according to experts. Some say the Bears will grab another pass-catching weapon for Williams — putting that pick in a room with returning talent DJ Moore and Cole Kmet, plus newcomers Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett and D'Andre Swift.
Bears mock drafts 2024
The "big three" receiving prospects — all expected to be picked in the top 10 — are Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze. There is a wide gap between those three and the rest, with another receiver not expected to be picked until deep in the first round.
Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire says the "most mocked" pick is speedy 6-foot-3 Odunze, the nation's yardage leader in 2023. "If one of the 'big three' wide receivers is going to fall to Chicago ... Odunze is the most likely," she wrote.
The NFL Mock Draft Database — which compiles more than 1,200 mocks from across the Internet — has the big three receivers gone by pick No. 9. The consensus has the Bears selecting edge rusher Jared Verse of Florida State, but with only 15 percent "popularity" meaning that not many mocks agree on the pick.
Since the Bears have only four draft picks overall, the team could trade down if it is not able land one of the top receivers. Possible trade partners are the Vikings, Broncos, Raiders, Colts and Jaguars. A few mocks have them trading down a handful of picks to snag an edge rusher like Verse or Alabama's Dallas Turner, or even the second tier of receivers like LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. or Texas’ Xavier Worthy.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer is confident the Bears are looking to either add a playmaker or trade down and add picks. "Other teams have gotten the sense that Chicago will try to move down given their dearth of picks," Breer wrote. "If the Bears stick, a couple of friends of GM Ryan Poles said they think he’ll be looking to add talent around Williams."
Who will the Chicago Bears draft at No. 9?
Here is a sampling of predictions for the Chicago Bears' No. 9 pick:
NBC Sports, New York Daily News, Sporting News — Laiatu Latu, edge, UCLA
CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson, Fantasy Life — Jared Verse, edge, Florida State
CBS Sports Chris Simms, NFL.com's Eric Edholm — Bears trading down to No. 15 and selecting Alabama edge Dallas Turner
FOX Sports, Bears Wire, USA TODAY's Nate Davis, Fantasy Pros, Yahoo! Sports — Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
The Ringer's Benjamin Solak — Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
SB Nation's JB Acosta — Malik Nabors, WR, LSU
Pro Football Focus — Bears trading down to No. 13 and selecting LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
What are the Bears draft picks in 2024?
Here are the Chicago Bears draft picks. If acquired in a trade, that team is in parentheses:
Round 1: No. 1 (Carolina Panthers)
Round 1: No. 9
Round 3: No. 75
Round 4: No. 122 (Philadelphia Eagles)
Who has the number one pick in the NFL Draft?
The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team is expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
What time does the NFL Draft start?
The 2024 NFL Draft is Thursday through Saturday in Detroit.
Thursday, April 25: 7 p.m. CT
Friday, April 26: 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, April 27: 11 a.m. CT
The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft will begin at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 25. Coverage of the second and third rounds will start at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, April 26. The fourth through seventh rounds will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, April 27.
What TV channel is the NFL Draft on? How to watch 2024 NFL Draft
TV channels:ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network
Stream: ESPN app, ABC app, NFL+ app
The 2024 NFL Draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network. Streaming options include the ESPN app, the ABC app, and the NFL+ app.
What is the 2024 NFL Draft order?
Here is the current draft order for Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft.
Chicago (from Carolina)
Washington
New England
Arizona
Los Angeles Chargers
New York Giants
Tennessee
Atlanta
Chicago
New York Jets
Minnesota
Denver
Las Vegas
New Orleans
Indianapolis
Seattle
Jacksonville
Cincinnati
Los Angeles Rams
Pittsburgh
Miami
Philadelphia
Minnesota (from Cleveland through Houston)
Dallas
Green Bay
Tampa Bay
Arizona (from Houston)
Buffalo
Detroit
Baltimore
San Francisco
Kansas City
NFL draft order 2024: Where every team will make picks over seven rounds, 257 picks
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bears draft picks 2024: Why they might pick an elite receiver at No. 9
