The Chicago Bears handed up C.J. Stroud and Bryce Younger final 12 months as a result of they’d Justin Fields. Now, they’ve obtained a shot at Caleb Williams.
They’ll’t miss one other probability at a franchise quarterback.
The Bears traded away the No. 1 total decide within the 2023 draft to the Carolina Panthers, who used it to pick Younger. They ended up with the highest decide once more this 12 months as a result of Younger struggled and the Panthers flopped.
Fields, who was picked eleventh total in 2021, is 10-28 in three seasons in Chicago. He finished sturdy, main the Bears to a 4-3 report over their final seven video games final season.
However Williams is the longer term for Chicago. The first version of the AP’s 2024 mock draft says the Bears hold the highest decide and take Williams.
1. Chicago Bears: CALEB WILLIAMS,
QUARTERBACK, USC
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, didn’t work out on the NFL’s scouting mix in Indianapolis. He didn’t need to. He’s the consensus No. 1 decide and the Bears finally could have a long-term reply at a very powerful place.
2. Washington Commanders:
JAYDEN DANIELS, QUARTERBACK,
LSU
The Commanders select the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner over Drake Maye, giving new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury a dual-threat QB to construct his offense round. Daniels has the flexibility to make massive performs together with his arm and legs whereas additionally caring for the ball. He threw 40 landing move and simply 4 interceptions final season.
3. New England Patriots: DRAKE
MAYE, QUARTERBACK, NORTH
CAROLINA
It’s a brand new period in New England with Invoice Belichick gone. Jerod Mayo took his place as head coach however the Patriots nonetheless haven’t discovered a QB to switch Tom Brady. Mac Jones, a first-round decide in 2021, fizzled after a strong rookie season. The 6foot-5, 220-pound Maye stood out on the mix with Williams and Daniels electing to not take part. He’s been among the finest school QBs over the previous two seasons and has what it takes to be a franchise participant.
4. Arizona Cardinals: MARVIN HARRISON, JR., WIDE RECEIVER, OHIO
STATE
Corridor of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison’s son is taken into account one of the best total prospect within the draft. He has all of the bodily instruments and expertise to observe in his dad’s footsteps and turn out to be one of many NFL’s dominant receivers.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: JOE ALT,
OFFENSIVE TACKLE, NOTRE DAME New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has made it clear the workforce should defend QB Justin Herbert and the offense has to run the ball efficiently. The 6-9, 321-pound Alt is an athletic, versatile participant broadly thought-about one of the best blocker in a robust draft class. His father, John Alt, was a twotime Professional Bowl left deal with in Kansas Metropolis.
6. New York Giants: MALIK NABERS,
WIDE RECEIVER, LSU
The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018. Naber offers them a bodily receiver with elite ball expertise and explosive routerunning potential. He caught 89 balls for 1,569 yards and 14 TDs final season.
7. Tennessee Titans: TALIESE FUAGA,
OFFENSIVE TACKLE, ORGEON STATE
The Titans want to guard Will Levis after permitting an NFL-high 64 sacks final season. The huge Fuaga, 6-6, 324, excels in move safety and is a peoplemover as a run blocker. He’s thought-about the second-best deal with behind Alt and initiatives to be a right away starter at proper deal with.
8. Atlanta Falcons: J.J. MCCARTHY,
QUARTERBACK, MICHIGAN New coach Raheem Morris and the Falcons might be on the lookout for a franchise QB until they commerce for Fields or purchase Russell Wilson. This spot could also be too early for McCarthy and Atlanta may commerce again to get him. Regardless of enjoying in a run-heavy offense, McCarthy’s inventory is on the rise after main Michigan to a nationwide championship. He’s a winner who brings loads of intangibles together with a robust arm.
9. Chicago Bears: ROME ODUNZE,
WIDE RECEIVER, WASHINGTON The Bears may very well be in place to take one of the best edge rusher within the draft, however teaming Odunze with D.J. Moore to provide Williams one other playmaker is simply too engaging to move up. Odunze has dimension, pace and expertise to be elite. He had 92 catches, for 1,640 yards, 13 TDs in 2023.
10. New York Jets: OLUMUYIWA
FASHANU, OFFENSIVE TACKLE,
PENN STATE
Defending Aaron Rodgers is the highest precedence. Fashanu needed to reduce his mix exercise brief due to a thigh harm, however expects to be prepared for his professional day. The 6-6, 321-pound Fashanu is already an elite move blocker on the correct facet. He didn’t enable a sack in school.
11. Minnesota Vikings: DALLAS
TURNER, EDGE, ALABAMA The Vikings take an athletic edge rusher in Turner. He has dimension, pace and burst to get after playmaking QBs. 12. Denver Broncos: BO NIX, QUARTERBACK, OREGON
As a result of they’ll have to switch Wilson, the Broncos seize Nix forward of extra proficient gamers at different positions. Buying and selling right down to get one of many second-tier QB can be an excellent situation. Wherever they get him, Nix looks like an ideal fit for coach Sean Payton. He had a powerful season, throwing for 4,508 yards and 45 TDs with solely three interceptions whereas finishing an astounding 77.4% of his passes.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: BYRON MURPHY, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, TEXAS Until one of many prime five QBs can be found, the Raiders bolster the inside of their line of defense by plugging the highly effective Murphy within the center.
14. New Orleans Saints: LAIATU
LATU, EDGE, UCLA
Latu was one of the best defensive finish in school final season, incomes each the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks awards. He’ll give the Saints a move rusher with gamechanging expertise.
15. Indianapolis Colts: TERRION
ARNOLD, CORNERBACK, ALABAMA Arnold is an distinctive cowl man robust sufficient to be an asset in opposition to the run and has wonderful ball expertise.
16. Seattle Seahawks: KRIS JENKINS,
DEFENSIVE TACKLE, MICHIGAN The son of two-time All-Professional nostril deal with Kris Jenkins has the flexibility to wreak havoc in the course of a line of defense as a premier run-stuffer.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: BRIAN
THOMAS, JR., WIDE RECEIVER, LSU Trevor Lawrence will get a playmaker over a move protector. Thomas had 1,177 yards receiving on 68 catches and simply ran a 4.33 40-yard sprint on the mix.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: J.C. LATHAM,
OFFENSIVE TACKLE, ALABAMA Latham offers the Bengals extra safety for Joe Burrow. He’s an athletic, highly effective proper deal with who needs to be a right away starter.
19. Los Angeles Rams: NATE WIGGINS, CORNERBACK, CLEMSON Wiggins has elite pace, he’s versatile and is a playmaker.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: QUINYON
MITCHELL, CORNERBACK,
TOLEDO
Mitchell ran a 4.33 second 40-yard sprint on the mix and offers the Steelers one other younger potential star to pair reverse Joey Porter Jr.
21. Miami Dolphins: TYLER GUYTON, OFFENSIVE TACKLE, OKLAHOMA
Guyton is a mammoth (6-8, 322) and athletic deal with versatile sufficient to play both facet, giving the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa an anchor reverse Terron Armstead.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: COOPER DEJEAN, CORNERBACK, IOWA DeJean didn’t enable a landing in protection final season and he’s versatile so the secondary-needy Eagles can use him in varied methods.
23. Houston Texans: JARED VERSE,
EDGE, FLORIDA STATE
The Texans get a steal when Verse slips out of the highest 10. He had a powerful displaying on the mix and possesses the abilities to be an elite move rusher.
24. Dallas Cowboys: AMARIUS MIMS,
OFFENSIVE TACKLE, GEORGIA The Cowboys get a mix celebrity in Mims, who has excellent pace for an enormous (6-7, 340) of a person.
25. Inexperienced Bay Packers: PATRICK
PAUL, OFFENSIVE TACKLE, HOUSTON
The Packers get a behemoth bookend deal with in a draft filled with expertise at this spot. Paul is 6-7, 333 kilos but agile sufficient to tackle speedy edge rushers.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON, OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, OREGON Powers-Johnson is the consensus No. 1 middle/inside offensive lineman within the draft. The Buccaneers snag a projected prime 20 participant to anchor the center of their line.
27. Arizona Cardinals: JER’ZHAN
NEWTON, DEFENSIVE TACKLE,
ILLINOIS
Newton is a disruptive inside defender who brings a bodily presence in the course of the road together with excellent potential to get to the quarterback.
28. Buffalo Payments: CHOP ROBINSON,
EDGE, PENN STATE
Coming off a powerful mix, Robinson is drawing comparisons to former Nittany Lions star Micah Parsons.
29. Detroit Lions: KAMARI LASSITER,
CORNERBACK, GEORGIA Steps in immediately to bolster the protection for the NFC runner-up Lions.
30. Baltimore Ravens: JORDAN MORGAN, OFFENSIVE TACKLE, ARIZONA
Morgan is a flexible lineman who performed deal with however can transfer to protect.
31. San Francisco 49ers: GRAHAM
BARTON, OFFENSIVE TACKLE,
DUKE
Barton fits properly in coach Kyle Shanahan’s run schemes and is a flexible move protector who can play deal with or guard.
32. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: XAVIER WORTHY, WIDE RECEIVER, TEXAS The Chiefs have gained consecutive Tremendous Bowls since buying and selling Tyreek Hill however now add somebody even sooner. Worthy set a mixed report with a 4.21 40-yard sprint.
