Chicago Bears 2024 Draft Grades

The 2024 NFL draft has come and gone, and what an eventful three days it was for the Chicago Bears. Adding multiple day-one starters and even acquiring an extra pick via trade. For the first time in a while, it felt like the Bears made all the right decisions during the draft. To truly understand the impact each draft pick will have on the Bears, let's examine all five picks. 

Caleb Williams Draft Grade: A+

Before the draft even started, everyone in Chicago knew the Bears would be drafting quarterback Caleb Williams from the University of Southern California. He was the only quarterback the Bears had brought in for a top-30 visit, so if they went away from picking him, it would have been the biggest curveball ever. Thankfully, general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears' front office stayed the course and drafted one of the best quarterback prospects in the last decade. 

Many people believe that Williams has the potential to be just as successful as Andrew Luck was as a rookie. Like Luck, Williams enters the league with tremendous talent and will have the playmakers around him to help him develop.

At USC Williams showed everyone his big arm and playmaking ability. During his Heisman Trophy season in 2022, Williams threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, and five interceptions while running for an additional 380 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

This past season was considered a down year for Williams, yet he still threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 157 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. If that's Williams's floor with a bad offensive line, he would still be the best quarterback the Bears have ever had. Thankfully, Williams is coming into a great situation in Chicago, which has a marginally better offensive line and an offense filled with playmakers. 

The Bears' receiving core consists of veteran wide receivers D.J. Moore and Kennan Allen along with a new draft pick. They also have two good tight ends in Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Add on top of that, their backfield consists of D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, and second-year running back Roschon Johnson this might be the most talented Bears team in the past decade.

General manager Ryan Poles has done all he can to set Williams up for success. Now it is up to Williams to perform up to the expectations everyone has of him/ 

Rome Odunze Draft Grade: A+

The draft board fell exactly how the Bears wanted it to, and they didn't overthink their selection at No.9, picking wide receiver Rome Odunze out of Washington. Adding Odunze to the stacked receiving room that was mentioned above only makes Caleb Williams's job easier as a rookie quarterback.

At Washington, Odunze showed excellent ball skills, body control, and route running ability. These traits helped Odunze gain 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023 and earn All-American honors.

Odunze falling to the Bears at No.9 can significantly aid his development since he isn't stepping straight into the number-one receiver role. Being able to learn the ropes in the NFL from Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore will make Odunze that much better. Odunze had already begun this process before the draft when he worked with Allen, Moore, and Willams. Working out with each other before the draft allowed Odunze and Williams to start learning an NFL offense early and helped build chemistry between everyone.

Building chemistry and fostering Odunze's skill set early could set him up to break the Bears' receiving record held by Johnny Morris. Morris had 5,059 receiving yards in ten seasons with the Bears. If Odunze reaches his full potential in the NFL, he and Caleb Willams can do special things for the Bears.

Kiran Amegadjie Draft Grade B-

The Bears continued to add to their offense by drafting Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th pick in the draft. Amegadjie grew up in Lake Zurich and attended Hinsdale Central High School. Naturally, that meant that Amegadjie was a Bears fan growing up. Poles adding another player who has a deep passion for the team because they are from the area can only be a positive.

Amegadjie was a three-year starter at Yale playing a total of 1,595 snaps. However, he did miss most of his senior season because of a quad injury. When Amegadjie was on the field, he manhandled his opponents thanks to his arm length and mobility.

Although Amegadjie looks dominant on tape, he was facing FCS competition which is much different than dominating in the FBS. So, it might take some time for Amegadjie to adapt to the NFL, which is fine because he won't have to immediately start.

Tory Taylor Draft Grade: A

Field position is one of the most important parts of a football game. That is why the Bears selected punter Tory Taylor from Iowa with their 122nd pick in the draft. Taylor who is originally from Australia committed to Iowa in 2020 and play four seasons with the team.

Throughout his time at Iowa, Taylor was named the Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year twice (2020, 2023), earned first-team Big Ten honors twice (2020, 2023), won the Ray Guy award (2023), and was a unanimous All-American (2023). Taylor's big leg is the reason why he is the all-time leader in the FBS in average punt yards with 46.3. These big punts from Taylor are what kept the Iowa Hawkeyes in most of their games in 2023 since he would constantly flip field position.

While Taylor will have competition at punter in Trenton Gill and Corliss Waitman there's no reason why he shouldn't be the Bears punter at the start of the 2024 season.

Austin Booker Draft Grade: B

Tory Taylor was slated to be the last selection for the Bears in the 2024 draft, but general manager Ryan Poles knew he needed to address the defensive line before the draft ended. That is why the Bears traded a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills to get back in the fifth round and pick at 144. With this selection, the Bears drafted edge rusher Austin Booker from Kansas. 

Booker spent his first two years of college at the University of Minnesota as a backup. Then, in 2023, he transferred to the University of Kansas. At Kansas, Booker made a name for himself by gathering 8 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. That production earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors. While at Kansas, Booker's high motor and arm length proved to be a big difference in his game.

Those intangibles are exactly the things coach Eberflus likes in defensive linemen so it is no surprise Booker was the selection. Hopefully, Booker is able to make a solid impact as a rookie because the Bears need someone to take all the pressure off of Montez Sweat.

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