Surprise team trades for No. 1 pick in latest mock draft

What the Bears will do with the 2024 NFL Draft's No. 1 pick remains one of the biggest mysteries of the offseason. 

While many believe Chicago will trade QB Justin Fields and use the first overall pick on a rookie quarterback, CBS Sports' Will Brinson believes a surprise team could be willing to pay the "historic haul" price tag.

In his latest mock draft, Brinson has the Patriots trading three first-round picks and their 2024 second-round pick to the Bears for the No. 1 pick, which New England then uses to make the obvious selection of USC QB Caleb Williams.

"The Patriots are hell-bent on getting a franchise quarterback to help them forget Mac Jones ... and Tom Brady," Brinson writes.

Although the Patriots are a quarterback-needy team, it is still a surprise for them to give up so much draft compensation to land Williams when they could have stayed at pick No. 3 and still landed one of the other top three quarterbacks (LSU's Jayden Daniels, UNC's Drake Maye).

However, if New England is not in love with any other quarterbacks, it could make sense to go all in on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. 

Barring any significant developments, Williams should be the first player to hear his name called on April 25 in Detroit after passing for 8,170 yards, 72 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions from 2022-23.

Chicago then uses the No. 3 pick on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to continue building around Fields.

"The Bears could go with a quarterback here, or they could kick the can down the road and grab a superstar wide receiver to see how things could work in 2024 with Justin Fields," Brinson writes.

Adding the 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver, who has 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns from 2022-23, to Fields' arsenal would give him zero excuses to take another step in 2024.

Although this scenario seems unlikely, if the Bears feel they won't receive fair compensation in a trade for Fields, it could make sense for both sides.