Bears Met With Perfect Prospect for No. 9 Pick at Combine
By Cem Yolbulan
The NFL Scouting Combine is in full swing in Indianapolis and all 32 teams are getting a closer look at the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. This includes the Chicago Bears, who are entering the draft with all eyes on them.
The national attention has been understandably focused on the No. 1 overall pick that the Bears hold, but Chicago also has the No. 9 pick in the draft. Unlike the first overall pick, which will presumably be USC QB Caleb Williams, the ninth overall pick has more intrigue around it.
After defensive line and linebacker prospects met with the media this week, one name started to emerge as a potential candidate to be the Bears' pick at No. 9: Jared Verse of Florida State.
Bears Met With the Perfect Prospect For Their No. 9 Pick
Florida State’s Jared Verse said he met with the #Bears.
— Cassie Carlson (@CassieCarlsonTV) February 28, 2024
On possibility of playing with Montez Sweat:
“To land with a veteran guy as young guy he’ll be able to direct me in the right path... Hope I can get the guidance I need.” @foxkickoff @fox32news pic.twitter.com/INpUplmaBG
Verse is one of the top edge rusher prospects at the combine. At 6'4" and 260 pounds, he is a dominant physical force, having recorded 29.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks in 25 games for the Seminoles. He has the combination of strength and athleticism that gives him enough versatility to thrive in a variety of ways.
The Bears have a desperate need for more defensive ends. The team went to a different level defensively after they added Montez Sweat at the trade deadline. Until then, the Bears ranked dead last in sacks in the NFL.
As Verse underlines after his meeting with the Bears, the potential pairing of Sweat and the Florida State product is very exciting. Chicago will continue meeting with other prospects and evaluate them throughout the week, but Bears fans would be more than thrilled if they ended up drafting Jared Verse with their second first-round pick.
Even though the Bears have significant cap space and draft assets heading into the offseason, the oddsmakers don't consider them a serious threat to make a deep postseason run next season. FanDuel Sportsbook gives them the ninth-best odds in the NFC (+2200) to make the Super Bowl. Head over to FanDuel using this exclusive link to claim your sign-up bonus of $150 after you make a winning wager of $5.
More Bears news and rumors:
feed
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.