Bears 2024 NFL Draft big board: 15 players to consider with the ninth pick

When it comes to the No. 9 pick in the NFL Draft, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles likes the numbers. He likes that his draft board tells him talented players will be there.

So he wants the Bears to argue it. A lot. He’ll split the Bears into three teams at Halas Hall: offensive tackle, wide receiver and defensive end. Each team will argue which position is best.

“And (they’ll) use factual information to kind of spit that out,” Poles said last week at the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando, Fla. “We’ll have a debate in terms of what’s more impactful for our football team, short term and long term. I’m looking forward to that.”

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The debates fit with Poles’ approach to roster building, especially with draft capital. The investment should always start with premium positions: quarterback, offensive tackle, defensive end, receiver and cornerback. Poles traded draft picks to improve those positions, too. Defensive end Montez Sweat and receiver DJ Moore are the best examples.

“To me, it’s always about affecting the quarterback or helping the quarterback,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “It comes down to those two questions.”

The first pick obviously will be used on a quarterback. And Caleb Williams remains the likely selection. But let’s use the Bears’ arguments about offensive tackles, receivers and defensive ends in the short and long terms to build the Bears’ big board 2.0.

Pass catchers

1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. Malik Nabers, LSU
3. Rome Odunze, Washington
4. Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
5. Brock Bowers, Georgia (tight end)

By trading for receiver Keenan Allen, the Bears prepared for a scenario in which the top three receivers are selected before the ninth pick.

“That’s a great addition,” Poles said. “It balances the field with DJ (Moore) on the other side, Cole (Kmet) and (Gerald) Everett at tight end, D’Andre Swift at running back. We have a lot of really cool things that can get going and allow us to be dynamic and really special.”

But it’s also possible one falls to them at No. 9 if teams get aggressive and move up for quarterbacks. The Bears could have a chance to be even more dynamic and special on offense.

What if Odunze is available?

“Odunze has the pass-catching instincts and competitive focus to be a high-end NFL starter,” wrote Dane Brugler, The Athletic draft analyst.

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In the short term, selecting Odunze would improve the already stacked supporting cast that will be around Williams, the presumed first pick. You can never have enough help for him. Odunze would join a receivers room led by Moore and Allen, which would aid his development.

In the long term, a rookie receiver would develop along with a rookie QB. Also, Allen turns 32 this month and is in the final year of his contract.

But the arguments here have plenty of talking points.

This draft is considered deep for receivers. Thomas, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell and Florida State’s Keon Coleman should be drafted in the first round, too. Bowers is by far the best tight end. Georgia’s Ladd McConkey could be a steal in the second round.

But how deep is this class? Could a capable receiver be found at No. 75 in the third round? Or do the Bears feel compelled to take one earlier after their selections of Velus Jones Jr. and Tyler Scott in previous years?

Or is trading back from No. 9 and adding more draft picks a better option? It’s certainly tempting if a team calls.

“For sure,” Poles said. “That will kind of play out. We’ll see what the numbers look like, and that’ll kind of dictate how far we can move back if we decide to do that.”

Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, who played high school football with Caleb Williams, could be a first-round option for the Bears. (Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)

Offensive linemen

1. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
2. Olu Fashanu, Penn State
3. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
4. Amarius Mims, Georgia
5. JC Latham, Alabama

The Bears have two young tackles in Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones. But the team could be looking at a potential opportunity to draft an upgrade, particularly on the left side over Jones.

Alt, widely regarded as the top lineman in the draft, would definitely be one for the Bears’ offensive line.

Offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Morgan had an active role during Alt’s workout at Notre Dame’s pro day last month.

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Fashanu, who played high school football with Williams, could be another option.

“Fashanu projects as a starting left tackle with Pro Bowl upside,” Brugler wrote.

In the short term, the Bears would have to reshuffle their line for the 2024 season. The team remains high on Jones. After the season, Poles said he believes Jones is a starting left tackle.

But in the long term, the Bears could have two young bookend tackles with All-Pro potential under contract. They could have the makings of an elite offensive line, much like the Philadelphia Eagles have had for years.

Fuaga’s arm length (33 1/8 inches) could result in a move to guard, but that’s an underrated need for the Bears. Brugler described him as “arguably the top run-blocking lineman in the draft.”

Pass rushers

1. Dallas Turner, Alabama
2. Jared Verse, Florida State
3. Byron Murphy, Texas (defensive tackle)
4. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
5. Darius Robinson, Missouri

In the Bears’ pre-draft meetings, the loudest “team” should be the one tasked with highlighting the defensive ends. The Bears need one more than a receiver or an offensive tackle.

As potent as the Bears defense was over the second half of last season with Sweat, the team still ranked 31st in sacks and 32nd in sack percentage.

Eberflus might request to be a part of that “team” for defensive ends.

“It’s important that we get that piece because you have to have the one-two punch, and it can be inside, as well,” Eberflus said. “You look at who affects the quarterback the most. I would also argue that the inside piece is also something that we should be looking at, and it’s important that we do that. Direct line to the quarterback. When they max protect, it’s a soft spot in the protection. We’re looking at all pass rushers. It can be inside, outside, all along the line. We’re having an open mind in that regard.”

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That’s why Murphy, who is arguably the best three-technique tackle in the draft, is included.

The short-term impact is obvious. The Bears defense is expected to be one of the league’s best and adding a first-round pass rusher will undoubtedly help. Turner and Verse would benefit from learning from Sweat, too.

It’s also easy to make a long-term argument for taking a pass rusher.

The Bears have already invested plenty of money into Eberflus’ defense with Sweat, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and cornerback Jaylon Johnson signed to lucrative contracts.

The Bears need some of their best players to remain young players on their first contracts. They have three in the secondary with Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker. Adding a pass rusher would help the Bears sustain their defense’s success.

(Top photo of Rome Odunze: Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images)