INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (670 The Score) — Once the Bears have made their franchise-altering move with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, another key decision will loom.
The Bears also hold the No. 9 overall selection, which provides a great opportunity to either to select a premium prospect or to trade down and stockpile more draft capital.
When Bears general manager Ryan Poles referenced that his team is in an information-gathering mode at the NFL Combine this week, that statement applied to the No. 9 overall selection too. That slot carries intrigue for a few reasons.
The No. 9 pick could be an enticing slot for a quarterback-needy team to trade into in a draft class with a stellar crop of talent at that position. From the Bears' perspective, Poles could be drawn to the idea of trading down as they currently hold just six selections in the NFL Draft.
Of course, the Bears may be more than comfortable standing pat and selecting the best player available. There project to be strong options available at key positions of need – wide receiver, offensive tackle or edge rusher.
"We have several priorities for sure,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said. “So, ordering them – we are not there yet. Certainly pass rusher is one of them. We got to make sure that we have somebody opposite of (Montez) Sweat. We can never have enough of those guys, because they affect the game the most."
If quarterbacks and wide receivers dominate the top of the draft, the Bears could have their pick of the first edge rusher off the board at No. 9. Dallas Turner (Alabama), Jared Verse (Florida State) and Laiatu Latu (UCLA) are the top-ranked pass rushing prospects.
Selecting one of them would give the Bears a dynamic pairing alongside Pro Bowl pass rusher Montez Sweat.
“Playing with him, I can never learn enough about pass rushing," Latu said. "It would be a great opportunity for me to get better and level up.”
Eberflus also pointed to the Bears’ need at wide receiver, where they want to find the right complement for top target DJ Moore. If the Bears select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, they'd almost certainly miss out on Ohio State star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who's projected to be a top-five pick.
The Bears could consider a move into the top five for Harrison, a trade that would require parting ways with the No. 9 overall pick and likely a haul more. The Texans traded up from the No. 12 pick last year into the third overall selection, sending the 12th pick, 33rd pick, a third-round slot plus their 2024 first-round selection, while landing a fourth-round pick as part of the deal. It would be a steep price to pay for the Bears.
But there are several dynamic wide receivers beyond Harrison in this class, as Washington's Rome Odunze and LSU's Malik Nabers are highly regarded prospects who may be available at No. 9.
“When you have a weapon at tight end and you have a weapon at the X receiver like DJ, when you add a piece or two to the other side, it really balances you out," Eberflus said. "It's hard to defend for sure."
Less than two months remain until the NFL Draft begins on April 25 in Detroit, giving the Bears ample time to formulate a plan beyond the quarterback position. As Poles gathers his intel in Indianapolis this week, he'll also be thinking about what the Bears should do when they go back on the clock for the second time in the first round of the draft.
Mark Grote contributed to this report.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .
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