In a matter of days, Chicago Bears supporters will likely rejoice over Caleb Williams being chosen as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the focus shifts to what the Bears’ GM, Ryan Poles, will do with the ninth pick in the opening round.
Speculation abounds regarding the team’s strategy, with many expecting the front office to weigh options like selecting the top offensive lineman, wide receiver, or perhaps a game-changing pass rusher. Yet, there’s intrigue surrounding the possibility of the Bears making a move at the ninth spot.
Given Chicago’s limited number of picks in the draft, with only four spread across the event’s three days, there’s speculation that they might aim to trade down to accumulate more draft assets. However, what if they decide to do the opposite and trade up, leveraging additional draft capital to secure a higher position, possibly within the top five picks?
This scenario, as recently highlighted by Ben Volin in the Boston Globe’s NFL Draft predictions piece, presents an intriguing twist to the Bears’ draft strategy.
“The Bears could opt for an aggressive move targeting Marvin Harrison Jr. If the Patriots retain the third overall pick and select Maye, it appears highly likely that the Cardinals will then snag Harrison at No. 4, bolstering Kyler Murray’s receiving corps with an elite talent. However, the Patriots might entertain the idea of trading down from No. 3, and I’m keeping an eye on the Bears at No. 9, as they seem poised to make a significant impact and generate buzz in the NFL this year.”
”The strategy to achieve this could involve trading up to acquire Harrison. With the Bears already set to draft Williams at No. 1, securing the top quarterback and receiver in a single draft would undoubtedly ignite excitement. Although the Bears lack a second-round pick, I speculate whether offering No. 9, No. 75, and multiple selections in the following year (perhaps a first and a third) would entice the Patriots to engage in a swap. I believe the Patriots would feel more at ease selecting McCarthy at No. 9 while gaining additional draft assets, compared to the options of Maye or McCarthy at No. 3.”
It’s intriguing to consider parallels between the Bears’ potential strategy and the Texans’ recent approach in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Texans made bold moves by first selecting C.J. Stroud at second overall, then orchestrating a trade to move back up to third overall for edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. While this involved sacrificing their 2024 first-round pick, it ultimately proved beneficial for them.
The Texans’ maneuver resulted in acquiring Anderson, who not only became the Defensive Rookie of the Year but also came at a relatively modest cost, involving picks from both the 2023 and 2024 drafts. The success of this strategy could inspire the Bears to follow suit, aiming to replicate it by securing both Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr.
By potentially drafting Williams first overall and then making a move to select Harrison, the Bears could be looking to capitalize on the Texans’ blueprint, hoping for a similar outcome in bolstering their roster with elite talents through strategic draft maneuvering.
