Chicago Bears: Mock Draft Using No Trades

In this year’s NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have four picks. Here is a mock draft that does not include trades that add more.

Now that the free agency frenzy died down we turn our attention to April’s NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears made some moves that made clear what their first move would be.

The Bears have the first overall pick in the draft. The big question around the league was what general manager Ryan Poles would do with that pick. Would he trade the pick for a historic haul in return, or would he trade quarterback Justin Fields and use the pick?

Well, we have our answer. Last weekend, Poles traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That means the Chicago Bears will use the top pick. The likely pick there is USC quarterback Caleb Williams. Many feel he is a “generational talent” and would be a great professional.

Poles spent this offseason trading away picks as if he had an unlimited supply of them. He started with seven picks in the middle of the 2023 season. Now, that total is four. It is unusual for him since he said time and time again that he wants to build the roster mainly through the draft.

Of course, Poles’ history says he will make draft trades. He has done a good job of trading into the middle rounds and picking up good players. However, with his trades, he has two first-round picks, none in the second, one in the third, and another in the fourth. That is it for the draft.

We will see what Poles does this year. However, we will have a mock draft that will not have any trades. Let’s see what is available if he uses just his four picks. Let’s take a look:

Round 1, #1 Overall: Caleb Williams, Quarterback, Southern California

This should be a no-brainer for Poles. Williams has had a huge hype machine behind him. As mentioned, some (not all) view him as a “generational” talent. He draws comparisons to Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning.

It would be silly if Poles trades away Fields and doesn’t trade the pick for a large haul, only to look at another quarterback. They sent a small army of personnel to USC’s Pro Day. There is a reason for that.

Round 1, #9 Overall: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The Chicago Bears have a need at defensive end. While they have Montez Sweat, if there is no help for him then teams will treat him similarly to what happened with another great pass rusher, Khalil Mack.

Mack did not have much help so teams threw as many bodies at him to slow his rush to the quarterback. He was not the dominant force he was before going to Chicago. He also had to deal with injury.

With Poles putting his job on the line with Williams, he could be tempted to add one of the elite wide receiver prospects, Rome Odunze. Having them grow together could be a good thing.

However, Poles also invested a lot in Sweat. He signed him to a huge extension so he needs to make sure Sweat is protected. With Allen already on the roster, he goes with Dallas Turner here.

Turner is NFL-ready and could be a star. If teams decide to leave him one-on-one he will make them pay. He is long and athletic and is explosive off the snap. He can get into the backfield before the tackle gets out of his stance. His quickness, athleticism, and explosiveness will put pressure on tackles, thus helping Sweat.

Round 3, #75 Overall: Malachi Corley, Wide Receiver, Western Kentucky

Williams gets another weapon here in Malachi Corley. Poles wants to give Williams the best chance to succeed so he needs to give him impactful players.

Corley was known as the “YAC God” for his ability to run after the catch. He averaged an amazing 9.6 yards after the catch. While the Bears have D.J. Moore, Allen, and Tyler Scott to extend the defense deep, Corley can take a pass underneath and turn it into a huge gain.

Corley has a great combination of speed, athleticism, elusiveness, and toughness to make big plays. He can beat the defenders in a variety of ways. He is a great change of pace and could do Williams a lot of favors with his play.

Round 4, #122 Overall: Jared Wiley, Tight End, Texas Christian

Poles gets more help for his prized possession here. Jared Wiley is not only a good receiver but he can also help with his blocking. In fact, his blocking is already NFL-caliber.

Wiley is tall at 6-foot-6 and has long arms. Once he gets his arms inside on the defender’s chest he can keep him at bay. He takes long strides so he can get past defensive backs quickly. Once he does, he has good hands to make the catch. With his height and his 250 pound-frame, Wiley can outmuscle defenders for the ball.

With the Chicago Bears already having Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, Wiley does not have to come in and take a huge role. He can ease in and make an impact with his blocking.