With the recent trade of quarterback Justin Fields, it’s obvious what the Chicago Bears will do with their first overall pick. However, the Bears also have the ninth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Most people believe they will either stick at nine and draft the best player available or trade down to acquire more draft picks.
When it comes to trading down, it makes sense. Currently, the Bears only have four picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Possessing such few picks in a draft filled with talent, it appears tempting to trade down and acquire more draft capital. But what if general manager Ryan Poles decides to go a different direction and shock the NFL World?
Chicago Bears Have The Opportunity To Pull A Crazy Draft Day Move
Chicago Bears Draft Plan: Trade Up And Draft Another Generational Prospect
The Bears are most likely drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. Williams is widely regarded as a “generational prospect,” drawing comparisons to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. On the other hand, another prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft has also been labeled as a “generational prospect.” That player Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver from Ohio State. He’s viewed as one of the most dynamic wideout prospects in recent memory. The Bears can leverage their ninth pick and other draft assets to trade up and draft Harrison Jr. It seems impossible initially, but there’s a legitimate chance of this scenario unfolding.
Arizona Cardinals GM Open To Trading No. 4 Pick In The 2024 NFL Draft
Given the league-wide agreement that the first three picks will likely be quarterbacks, the fourth pick is a bit of a mystery. The Arizona Cardinals have the fourth pick in the draft, and most believe they will draft Harrison Jr. with that pick. However, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is open to entertaining offers for the pick.
“There will be a big neon sign that says ‘open,’ and I don’t like it blinking. It messes with my eyes, but we’re always going to listen,” Ossenfort stated at a recent press conference.
Replicating The Houston Texans 2023 NFL Draft Plan
Ossenfort isn’t bluffing when he says he’s open to trading down. He decided to trade down with the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Texans traded up and drafted the top defensive draft prospect, Will Anderson Jr., with the Cardinals’ third overall pick. Additionally, the Texans drafted rookie quarterback sensation C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick.
The irony lies in the possibility that the Bears could achieve similar success in this year’s draft by trading up with the same team as the Texans did. There’s a real opportunity for the Bears to secure both Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 draft. However, considering the Bears’ limited picks in this year’s draft, one might assume it wouldn’t be possible. Wrong. The Bears have a ton of draft picks in next year’s draft, including a first-round selection and two second-round picks. Below is a hypothetical trade scenario between the Bears and Cardinals.
Bears receive: Pick 4 (Marvin Harrison Jr.)
Cardinals receive: Pick 9, 2025 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick
The Texans’ bold decision to trade up and secure the top defensive prospect worked out for them. Anderson Jr. was the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Stroud became the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Bears could look to replicate the Texans’ success by adopting a similar draft strategy from the previous year. For the Bears, it’s now or never. If they truly want Caleb Williams to find immediate success, the best way is to pair him up with Marvin Harrison Jr.
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