Bears 7-Round Mock Draft Including Major First-Round Trade
By Zach Elliott
![Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) catches a pass Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) catches a pass](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3762,h_2116,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/258/01hvfrzkqh92cbtp69xj.jpg)
2. TRADE: No. 8 Overall (via ATL): Rome Adunze, WR, Washington
Is this hopeless optimism? Some may say! That said, hear me out.
Credit to the immensely helpful nfldraftrumors.com for compiling a list of all official pre-draft visits and combine interviews for all 32 teams. It’s an almost equally poorly held secret that the Bears are a team that would look to add Rome Adunze and have met with him at the team facilities. The Washington wideout measured at 6’ 3”, 212 lbs, ran a 4.45 second 40-yard dash, was immensely productive for the college national runner-up (73 receptions, 1,325 yards, 13 TDs), and has been frequently compared to Davante Adams. Finally, Chicago can have their Rodgers to Adams, their Favre to Sharpe.
Why should the Falcons care? Well, it’s a similarly common pairing that Atlanta is looking to draft Dallas Turner, an edge rusher from Alabama that is the number one pass-rusher on several draft boards. Atlanta has met with Turner, but by no accounts have they met with Adunze. The Bears on the other hand, have met with both.
All of this is to say, in this mock if the Falcons stay at pick eight and draft Turner, the Bears end up with Adunze and all is well. In the likely event Atlanta fields calls for their pick to accrue assets in their first year under new head coach Raheem Morris, they could have someone jump the Bears for Adunze.
However.
If they get scooped for Adunze, the Bears – who could use a stud pass-rusher bookending Montez Sweat – might just take Turner. This trade nets Atlanta next year’s third from Chicago, plus a late round pick swap. Atlanta gets extra draft capital and finally provides Grady Jarrett some help on the defensive line, and Bears GM Ryan Poles potentially drafts Caleb Williams’ favorite NFL target with no risk of being cut in line.