Following week four, the Chicago Bears hold picks one and two (via Carolina) in the 2024 NFL Draft. As you already know, I’m a draft nerd and I will be doing another 7-round 2024 mock draft but this time I will be trading the first overall selection and sticking with Justin Fields.
Projected Trade
Chicago Receives:
No. 9 overall (Arizona)
No. 13 overall (Houston)
2025 first-rounder
2026 third-rounder
Arizona Receives:
No. 1 overall (Chicago)
With this trade, the Bears add on an extra first to address the holes on the roster while Arizona resets their QB lock and drafts USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
2. Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State
Selecting anyone other than Harrison at two would be blasphemy. Very rarely do you have the opportunity to trade back and acquire more draft capital while still being able to add a generational talent at wide receiver.
If you’re buying in on Justin Fields, you better give him the best offensive weapons you possibly can, and adding a guy like Marvin Harrison Jr. to the wide receiver room that already has D.J. Moore and Darnell Mooney is a recipe for success.
Very few wide receivers in the NFL have the combination of size and speed that Harrison has, factor in his catching ability and it’s an even slimmer pool.
So far in 2023, Harrison has accumulated 336 yards and three touchdowns on 17 catches.
9. Joe Alt OT Notre Dame
Protecting your franchise quarterback is the most important thing to do in the NFL and the Bears' offensive line has not been clicking through the first four weeks of the season.
Chicago has already invested in their young offensive tackles the last two years selecting, left tackle Braxton Jones in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and Darnell Wright tenth overall in 2023. Drafting Alt means you likely slide Braxton Jones into right guard opposite of another young offensive lineman, Teven Jenkins.
Alt is having one of the best seasons among the offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, allowing just three pressures and no sacks while playing against good opponents.
13. Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama
An upgrade in the trenches for the Bears seems like the most logical route for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears have two sacks so far through four weeks and in a stacked edge rusher and defensive tackle class it wouldn’t make sense for the Bears to disregard the need.
Drafting Turner, who has been compared to former Bama star Will Anderson Jr.,” would still allow you to go after guys like Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
In 2023, Ryan Poles prioritized linebackers in both free agency and the draft because it was the strength and pushed the defensive line to 2024 where it seems like there will be a surplus of game-changers ready to help a franchise.
Turner has 24 total pressures and a 17.1% pass-rush win percentage this season.
33. Cooper Beebe IOL Kansas State
Continuing with the trend of building the trenches, adding the 6’4” 322-pound mauler would be a massive addition and likely the replacement of Cody Whitehair.
Beebe has the versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line, but will likely line up at guard or center in the NFL due to his smaller frame.
Beebe has an insanely strong grip and is almost unmovable after making contact with a pass rusher. Beebe plays a nasty and physical style of football that fits in Ryan Poles’ model for the offensive line.
Through 285 snaps in 2023, Beebe has allowed only three quarterback hurries.
65. Braelon Allen RB Wisconsin
I’m aware running back isn’t a need for the Bears, but adding him to split carries with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson makes it easier to let go of Herbert after the 2024 season.
I try to not be biased towards the Badgers when I make these, but you can’t look at Braelon Allen and not think that he isn’t one of the best running backs in the country. He may not have the breakaway speed of others in this class but his size and physicality make up for it.
Despite splitting carries with Chez Mellusi, Allen has been able to accumulate 371 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
Allen would join fellow Badgers Jack Sanborn and T.J. Edwards on the Chicago Bears.
102. Dorian Singer WR USC
The Trojan wide receiver transferred to USC this offseason after two years at Arizona. Singer stands at 6’1” 185 pounds and is the Trojans’ number two target.
Singer has shown good initial quickness and enough strength to be able to consistently escape to the next level. Singers’ small frame may allow opposing corners to knock him off of his route.
Of his 100 pass snaps, Williams has been lined up outside for 95 of them. So far with 12 catches, Singer has gone for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
132. Dontay Corleone DT Cincinnati
Heading back to the trenches, depth should be the main focus for the Bears. Having the worst pass rush in the NFL means that no one is safe.
Corleone is a crafty edge player who can be kicked inside and is very good against the run. He sets the edge and effectively sheds blocks with a strong core, power, and leverage. He won't be a game-wrecker but will make plays when needed
Dontay Corleone has 17 tackles and two sacks so far in the 2023 season.
138. Luke Lachey TE Iowa
To round off this mock draft, I have the Bears taking a tight end. With both Robert Tonyan and Mercedes Lewis on expiring deals, you are left with just Cole Kmet on the roster in 2024.
Lachey isn’t a great blocker but is a very solid pass catcher. Now I know taking a player who is in this Iowa offense isn’t the smartest idea, but Iowa always produces solid NFL tight ends.
Lachey is a fluid mover capable of creating some separation over the middle of the field. His long arms and soft hands help provide a large catch radius.
Lachey did undergo season-ending surgery early on in the season, so it’s unclear if he will declare for the draft or not.
Lachey had 10 catches for 131 yards and no touchdowns in his injury-shortened 2023 season.
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