Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Plan 1.0
Head Coach Matt Eberflus doesn’t have an Ex- to his title, we’ve established that. What about Justin Fields? We have not established that. For this Chicago Bears Draft plan, we are going with the pencil-written assumption that Fields heads to Atlanta for a 2nd and a 3rd (not including hypothetical picks in this Draft plan).
#1 - Caleb Williams, QB, Southern Cal, 6'1, 215
As per my initial Top 100 Big Board, “If Williams’s personality isn’t your cup of tea, that’s your opinion and you’re damn entitled to it. The tape? Freak with All-Pro potential. The head coach pairing is going to be fascinating here. I’d imagine Matt Eberflus and Lincoln Riley don’t have too much in common.” Caleb or Justin Fields? That will be the ad nauseam discussion until April—quick facts: the #1 pick will be around a $7.5 Million cap hit. Just use the Daniel Jones contract as a rough (emphasis on rough) example and consider the 2025 5th-year option. Fields could be looking anywhere between $30-40 Million money. Yes, he’s developing nicely and has a ton of talent, and the locker room and fans love him, so it’s fine to roll with him for the expected Draft haul you’d get back. You just better be confident. Your job depends on it. Bears fans are done with bad QB choices. No trades, we go Caleb here.
#9 - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington, 6'3, 215
Odunze as a WR2? Back up the Brinks, that’s straight cash homie. D.J. Moore gets the ultimate compliment, and QB1 immediately has one of the best WR 1-2 punches in the NFL. 4.34 speed, toughness to the point of playing with a broken rib and punctured lung, and this size, production, & physicality combo lock Odunze in the Top 10.
#75 - Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri, 6'5, 295
Robinson has riser potential in the Draft process. You’ll notice him listed as “Defensive Line.” He’s a listed Edge, but he can kick inside to 3T along with his 5T and edge rusher abilities with his strong hands and 97th percentile wingspan/length. 7 games in a row with a sack down the stretch of SEC play at this size….. Chicago has enough areas of depth chart improvement across the entire defensive line for Robinson to find immediate playing time.
#110 - Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon, 6'3, 195
Checking in from my Top 100, Jackson would be best in a rotation with Day 3 expectations right now, with a chance to continue developing his physicality in run support and off-coverage confidence into a potential starter. Meet his situation with the Bears in the 4th Round entering a room with Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, etc. He can potentially pass Gordon and Stevenson, and if he doesn’t, he offers contract flexibility and a high ceiling/floor depth CB.
#122 - Drake Nugent, C, Michigan, 6'2, 301
This range is just right to take a definitive competitor for starting Center. Nugent has starting caliber upside and a floor of a great backup for a Day 3 price tag. Particularly strong run blocker who can go second-level hunting, he’s a particularly nice fit if Fields stays in town.
#142 - Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State, 6'1, 250
Averaging nearly 10 sacks a year for 3 consecutive years will always eat. Peaking at 14 sacks this past year sets great momentum heading into the process for Kamara. He’s not going to be an every-down run defender, but on Day 3 if you need a pass rusher who can get after the quarterback, this can be your guy. The size and pass rush moves might not be there right now, but the first step burst and hands are nasty, nasty to bet on Day 3.
So what have we done here?
A quarterback with Top 5 upside and reset of the rookie QB contract, a WR1 talent for a WR2 role, a multi-versatile defensive big man, a rotational corner with starter upside, a potential starting Center, and a sack artist on Day 3.
What About a Fields Pick?
Consider again that the picks acquired for Justin Fields were not included above. Hypothetically speaking, another 2nd rounder, say #43 from Atlanta, would bring up discussions such as a higher ranked Center (Jackson Powers-Johnson, Sedrick Van Pran, Zach Frazier), an Edge (Chris Braswell, Jonah Elliss), another WR (Xavier Legette, Ladd McConkey, Tez Walker), or maybe lastly a CB (Quinyon Mitchell, T.J. Tampa, Kamari Lassiter).
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