The Chicago Bears made little secret about what they were going to do with the number one overall pick. However, once the draft got outside of the top ten, the Bears were quiet thanks to many previous trades that sent their picks elsewhere. What does this class look like outside of Caleb Williams?
Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Class
Draft picks
- USC QB Caleb Williams (No. 1 overall)
- Washington WR Rome Odunze (No. 9)
- Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie (No. 75)
- Iowa P Tory Taylor (No. 122)
- Kansas DE Austin Booker (No. 144)
Do the Chicago Bears have an offense? Williams and Rome Odunze join DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and D’Andre Swift to make one of the scarier offenses in the league. The new offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, has plenty of toys with which to play. Outside of those top picks, the Bears drafted for value and filled some positions of need.
Best Pick Of The Class: QB Caleb Williams
This pick has the potential to change the Chicago Bears franchise forever. The team has never had a 4,000-yard passer. They have been floundering since 1985, especially in the quarterback position. Green Bay has won ten straight over this team. The USC quarterback could exorcise all of these demons.
Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. A lot can go wrong, but the Chicago Bears have built a team that can support Williams. My biggest question would be whether Matt Eberflus is the right head coach. If the franchise continues the carousel of coaches, even the greatness of Caleb Williams may not be able to overcome it.
Most Questionable Pick In The Draft: P Tory Taylor
Spending a fourth-round pick on a punter is always going to be questionable. Taylor got a lot of reps at Iowa due to the ineptitude of the offense. However, the Chicago Bears only had five picks in this draft, and one of them was spent on a player who would only be on the field for three to five snaps per game.
Teams need a good punter. However, spending precious draft capital on one is not a way to build a winning team. There was likely a quality punter available on the open market, and they could have filled holes in the roster elsewhere.
Most Interesting Pick: OT Kiran Amegadjie
Amegadjie is a bit of a project for the Chicago Bears, but the upside is sky-high. He has great length and athleticism, which he showed off at Yale. He is a raw prospect, but the Bears can take a swing in the third round on a player who could become their franchise left tackle. If Amegadjie can develop into a top-tier tackle, this pick will be one of the best of the draft.
I love what the Chicago Bears did in this draft. However, in terms of a grade, you can’t draft a punter and expect me to give the team an A+. Still, I have very few gripes, and the Bears should be much improved in 2024.
Chicago Bears Draft Grade: A-
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