It’s been too long. Time for a mock draft.
These last few weeks, many around me — on Windy City Gridiron, as well — have been getting into mock draft madness with the 2024 NFL Draft just a few weeks away. Though I’ve been busy writing up prospect interviews the last few weeks, I feel as though now is a perfect time to go all-in on everyone’s favorite form of easily digestible draft content.
The Bears currently only have four picks in this year’s draft, though two of them are in the top 10. With such a small quantity of selections, one would expect general manager Ryan Poles to trade back in some capacity to stock up on later-round selections. In this mock, I’ll have them doing exactly that.
Here’s my latest 7-round mock draft for the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Round 1 (via Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
It’s not going to be anybody else.
Trade 1
Bears receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 18), 2024 second-round pick (No. 49), 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 115), 2025 third-round pick
Bengals receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 9), 2025 fifth-round pick
In this mock draft, all three of the top wide receivers were gone before No. 9. Marvin Harrison Jr. went No. 4 to the Cardinals, Malik Nabers went No. 6 to the Giants, and the Jaguars traded up to No. 8 for Rome Odunze.
If the Bears can’t get one of them, I firmly believe their best choice is to trade down. The Bengals move up to No. 9 to trade up for an offensive tackle, specifically Taliese Fuaga. The Bears add some picks for the 2024 class, as well as moving up in 2025.
Round 1 (via Bengals, projected trade): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The Bears have a pretty glaring need at edge rusher, and while the value at No. 9 isn’t tremendous at that position, you could get a good starter inside the top 20.
Verse is an explosive edge rusher with a deep arsenal of techniques to shed blocks, a high football IQ and a red-hot motor. He’s a bit older for a draft prospect, but he seems like a consistent bet to flirt with double-digit sacks at the next level. Pair that with Montez Sweat, and you’re in business.
Trade 2
Bears receive: 2024 second-round pick (No. 46), 2024 third-round pick (No. 82)
Colts receive: 2024 second-round pick (No. 49), 2024 third-round pick (No. 75)
Round 2 (via Colts, projected trade): Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Bears move up a few spots for a wide receiver. I’ve pursued other receivers like Ricky Pearsall and Ja’Lynn Polk on Day 2 in the past, so I wanted to mix it up a bit. Chicago has two star wide receivers, but one skill set they don’t have right now is a big-bodied, physical ‘X’ receiver.
Coleman has some of the best ball skills of any receiver in this class. The 6-foot-3, 213-pounder has elite size, tremendous physicality at the catch point and the body control needed to square up well in the air. His explosiveness coming out of his breaks needs improvement, but he has a good feel for how to get open against zone. Putting him in a WR3 role along the boundary would be beneficial for both Chicago and him, giving him the chance to learn under two great route runners in Year 1.
Trade 3
Bears receive: 2024 third-round pick (No. 89), 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 125), 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 220)
Buccaneers receive: 2024 third-round pick (No. 82)
Round 3 (via Buccaneers, projected trade): Beaux Limmer, C/G, Arkansas
I can’t see the Bears ending up without any picks in the last two rounds, so another trade-down could make sense. They likely have their two starting guards in place for 2024, and their center figures to be one of Coleman Shelton or Ryan Bates. That said, they could use some more long-term stability along the interior.
Limmer is a powerful offensive lineman with strong jabs at the point of attack and a sturdy anchor. He lands his strikes accurately, and he takes precise angles as a down blocker. Oh, and he’s an elite RAS athlete with a 9.79 score, elite agility and vertical jump numbers, and 39 bench-press reps. A polished lineman with guard-center versatility and tremendous testing, Limmer seems like a good bet to develop into a quality starter in due time.
Round 4 (via Bengals, projected trade): Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
McCaffrey is an effective big slot receiver with good hands, good toughness after the catch and an ability to sense soft spots against zone coverage. He had elite agility testing, a 4.46 40-yard dash and a total RAS grade of 9.44. Even being newer to the position as a quarterback convert, McCaffrey is a smart route runner and ideal fluidity across the middle of the field. He would compete with Tyler Scott for the WR4 role in 2024, and he has legitimate starting potential. That’s a good investment in Round 4, if he’s available here.
Round 4 (via Buccaneers, projected trade): Gabe Hall, DL, Baylor
Hall is a lengthy 3-technique defensive tackle with versatility across the defensive line. Like Gervon Dexter coming out of Florida, he has a delayed burst due to his coaching requiring lateral steps off the line of scrimmage, but when he gets to pin his ears back, he’s a dynamic athlete along the interior. He has quick hands as a pass-rusher, and while his center of gravity is too high, the developmental upside with Hall is palpable.
Trade 4
Bears receive: 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 150), 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 199), 2025 fifth-round pick
Saints receive: 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 122), 2025 sixth-round pick
Round 5 (via Saints, projected trade): Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
The Bears trade back one last time, giving them an additional Day 3 pick and utilizing a pick swap to move up in the 2025 draft.
With the NFL’s new kickoff rules, I see agile kick returners seeing better success than some of the straight-line athletes who have fared better in the past. That fares incredibly well for Laube, whose agility is a strong selling point of his game. He’s also one of the most natural receiving backs in the 2024 draft, with his soft hands and twitchy route-running abilities. The Bears don’t have a massive need at running back, but Laube feels like a running back they would like.
Round 6 (via Saints, projected trade): Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett project to be one of the best tight end duos in the NFL on paper, but they don’t have a sure-fire TE3 for the roster quite yet.
Reiman doesn’t believe birds are real, but he clearly believes in the weight room. He’s a thickly-built ‘Y’ tight end at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds, and despite his massive frame, he ran a blazing 4.64 40-yard dash. He’s one of the best blocking tight ends in the class with his hand placement, anchor strength and tenacious edge. While he’s a raw route runner and won’t separate much against man, his speed and catch radius give him receiving upside. I have a higher grade on Reiman than Round 6, but if he’s available here, he could be a great value.
Round 7 (Buccaneers, projected trade): Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
Taylor is a well-built safety who plays with a high motor, both against the run and in coverage. He has good raw play strength, and when he gets his pad level right, he’s an effective down-field tackler. He isn’t afraid to engage in blocks and shed them against screens, and he put up elite agility numbers at the Combine.
Between his three years of tape at Air Force, he had 202 tackles, 6 interceptions, 13 pass deflections and 10.5 tackles for a loss. The cousin of Ed Reed, Taylor doesn’t have elite speed or man coverage value out of the slot, but he has very good special teams upside, and that’s worth taking a shot on in the seventh round.
My 2024 NFL Draft Guide is live now on my Patreon! You’ll receive access to my 440-player big board, scouting reports, a 7-round mock draft, positional rankings, player comparisons, and player superlatives! Half of the proceeds for the month of April will be send in a donation towards the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.
