The Chicago Bears find themselves at a pivotal moment in the upcoming NFL draft, holding four picks and facing three potential positions of need. Their 9th selection is particularly intriguing, serving as a focal point for the entire three-day event.
At present, Chicago remains tight-lipped about their intentions for the 9th pick. However, head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles recently shed some light on their decision-making process. Courtney Cronin of ESPN reported on April 6th that Poles expressed satisfaction with the options available at No. 9, revealing that the Bears’ staff has been divided into teams to thoroughly assess and debate potential picks, including wide receiver, pass rusher, offensive tackle, or even a trade to acquire additional draft capital.
Wide receiver? Pass rusher? Offensive tackle? A trade back to recoup draft capital? Ryan Poles said he likes the options the Bears have with the No. 9 pick and broke his staff off into teams to evaluate then debate each position and what's the best fit. https://t.co/L8VaNYWEuf
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 6, 2024
Should Chicago opt to make a selection, they are confident in securing an elite prospect, given the depth of talent across various positions in the 2024 draft class. Eberflus emphasized their flexibility, stating that their actions in free agency have positioned them to choose the best-suited player for their team at that spot.
A significant move during free agency was acquiring wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers, alleviating pressure to prioritize another pass-catcher in the draft. With this newfound freedom, the Bears have numerous options at No. 9, especially with the possibility of top wide receiver prospects being available, such as Rome Odunze from Washington.
Alternatively, Chicago could explore trading down from the 9th pick to accumulate additional assets while still securing a promising prospect, potentially an edge rusher like Jared Verse from Florida State.
While the Bears have a solid left tackle in Braxton Jones, their focus may lean towards bolstering their pass rush. If the Atlanta Falcons, as projected by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., select edge defender Dallas Turner with the 8th pick, Chicago would have the opportunity to choose from available defensive talents, with Verse being a strong contender.
Eberflus stressed the team’s overarching goal of impacting opposing quarterbacks consistently, indicating their openness to selecting playmakers across various positions to achieve this objective.
