Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: Kicking Things Off With a Huge Trade

The Chicago Bears are now unofficially on the clock for the 2024 NFL Draft.

They will spend the next four months going over the tape of prospects with a fine toothcomb. There will be interviews and background checks. Most importantly, the Bears control how the draft will go quite possibly until they are officially on the clock.

The Bears own the No. 1 overall pick thanks to general manager Ryan Poles trade with the Carolina Panthers in last year's draft. The Panthers gave up four draft picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore to move up to the No. 1 overall selection to take quarterback Bryce Young. Part of those draft picks was Carolina's 2024 first-round pick which turned out to be the top choice.

Poles could decide he does not want to pass up on the draft's top quarterback this year. That would be USC Caleb Williams who is considered a generational talent at the position. If he wants to bring back head coach Matt Eberflus, this franchise cannot repeat 2017 and 2021. That is when the team took quarterbacks in high in the draft and paired them with head coaches on the hot seat.

Make no mistake about it, Eberflus will be on the hot seat if he cannot get the Bears into the playoffs. If the result is much like 2017 and 2021, it will mean missing the playoffs and a wasted year of development for a young franchise quarterback.

That is why for this mock draft, the Chicago Bears are keeping Justin Fields since it is looking like Eberflus will stay. Even though Justin failed to take a firm hold on being the long-term franchise quarterback, there is still enough there to win enough games with him to make the playoffs. Poles just needs to add more around Fields.

That is why he should explore trading down to pick up more draft picks.

The Chicago Bears right now lack a second, sixth, and seventh-round pick. They have an extra first and fourth. Still a lot of draft capital than normal. Poles is open to the idea of trading down.

One team that would probably love to jump ahead of the Washington Commanders to have their pick of the top quarterbacks is the New England Patriots who desperately need a franchise quarterback. There is a belief around the leagues that even moving up two spots will cost multiple draft picks.

That is why in this mock draft the Bears trade down to the No. 3 pick and get a massive return of draft picks from the Patriots.

They then use that No. 3 pick to select...

Round 1 (No. 3 Overall, via New England): Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Marvin Harrison Jr. has always been the dream pick for many Bears fans. He is the best wide receiver in the draft. Not much needs to be said about one of the best wide receiver prospects of our lifetime. Just look at his highlight reel.

Of course, after grabbing Harrison, the Bears have another chance to make a huge splash with a second top-10 pick in Round 1.

The Chicago Bears could try to upgrade at left tackle with their other first-round pick. An edge rusher and a free safety are also needed.

If they are going to keep Eberflus, Poles needs to give him an elite three-technique defensive tackle.

That is the engine of his defense. There is no better three-tech draft prospect than this one.

Round 1 (No. 9 Overall): Jer'Zhan Newton, Defensive Tackle, Illinois

The Bears invested serious draft capital in last year's draft when Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens were taken. Dexter Sr. has a chance to develop into a good three-tech, but Newton is already better. Plus, during the heydays of the Lovie Smith dominant Bears' defenses in the 2000s, you had Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson wrecking games from the interior.

Plus, Dexter Sr. might be able to move outside in some pass-rushing packages. Justin Jones is set to be a free agent and Newton would be an upgrade over him. Andrew Billings is the nose tackle and DeMarcus Walker can always slide inside. Think about a defensive tackle rotation of Newton, Dexter Sr., Pickens, Billings, and Walker.

If you are wondering what type of prospect he is, check NBC Sports Connor Rogers' breakdown of Newton...

This guy just makes plays in the trenches.

The offensive line just got wrecked by the Green Bay Packers, especially the interior. The Bears' interior struggled outside of Teven Jenkins all season (except against Green Bay where Jenkins was terrible). Since he will be entering the final year of his deal and Nate Davis underperformed, the Bears should upgrade at guard.

That is why the Chicago Bears beef up the line by taking this offensive lineman in the second round.

Round 2 (No. 34 Overall, via New England): Graham Burton, Guard, Duke

Burton is six-five and 315 pounds of pure nastiness.

He is considered one of the most versatile offensive lineman prospects in the draft. He started five games at center his freshman year and then made 40 starts at left tackle the rest of his career at Duke.

He has average arm length, so that might force him to move inside. He could be tried out at center which is another major position of need inside. He could push Davis or Jenkins for playing time right away.

The Chicago Bears need to move on from Eddie Jackson. The veteran safety just did not produce enough takeaways to justify his massive 2024 salary cap hit.

That is why the Bears will take a free safety in the third round.

Round 3 (No. 68 Overall via New England): Calen Bullock, Safety, USC

Bullock had nine career interceptions for the Trojans. He has good size for a free safety. Bullock needs to add strength as he can get bulldozed over.

Man can the guy get interceptions.

The Bears like long players and Bullock has length, but it is his ball skills that make him an ideal fit for Matt Eberflus' defense.

The Bears need another edge rusher, but there is a good chance they will sign one in free agency.

Since free agency is loaded with pass rushers, the Bears double-dip by taking another defensive tackle with their other third-round pick in this mock draft.

Round 3 (No. 75 Overall): Kris Jenkins, Defensive Tackle, Michigan

With Justin Jones pending free agency, the Bears would be wise to another defensive tackle. Plus, they could use depth behind Andrew Billings in stopping the run.

Jenkins plays in the Big Ten so being stout against the run is a prerequisite.

He still has to get better as a pass rusher. Jenkins did register a sack in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Jenkins also played great against Ohio State with five tackles. Plus, lets give Pickens some competition as it will make the defensive line better.

It would not be shocking to see the Bears use their vast cap space to sign an edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat. They still could use a one young pass rusher to join the rotation.

That's why they draft a versatile and productive rusher with the first of their two fourth-round choices.

Round 4 (No. 110 Overall): Darius Robinson, Defensive End, Missouri

Robinson played the majority of his college career as a defensive tackle before kicking outside. He led the Tigers in sacks with 8.5. Racking up that many sacks in the SEC is impressive.

The Bears like versatility in their linemen. Robinson's body and game is a lot like DeMarcus Walker's. Robinson is long too and that is something the Bears crave. He might not be here come the draft as he is a candidate to shoot up the draft boards.

He does have some game-wrecking ability as he destroyed Kentucky for two sacks.

The Bears have needed at center ever since Cody Whitehair moved to left guard. When he moved back, he struggled to snap the ball.

The Chicago Bears finally solved the center position with their other fourth-round choice.

Round 4 (No. 125 Overall via Philadelphia): Drake Nugent, Center, Michigan

Nugent was just part of an offensive line effort that pushed around Alabama.

Michigan's strength has been its offensive line and Nugent has anchored that line all season. Boy does Jenkins move people.

Run blocking is his specialty. He needs to improve at pass blocking. Nugent has good size to get better there at 301 pounds. Having a mean streak is what this team needs out of a center and Nugent has that in spades.

The Bears conclude the draft by doing what all teams should do: spending a late-round pick on a running back.

Round 5 (No. 142 Overall): Emani Bailey, Running Back, TCU

Khalil Herbert is entering the final year of his deal. The team is unlikely to bring back veteran D'Onta Foreman. That is why it make sense to draft a running back.

Bailey racked up over 1209 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023 for the Horned Frogs. He can take it to the house too as his longest run was 74 yards.

He also has a knack for finding the endzone as he had eight touchdowns during his sophomore season when he was at Louisiana-Lafayette.

He can also catch passes out of the backfield. His speed is what the Chicago Bears need. They need someone who is a threat to take it to the endzone on every carry and Bailey has that ability. He had four games where he broke runs for over 30 yards.

Bailey does not have a ton of hits on his body as his workload was limited during his junior year when he sat behind two future NFL running backs at TCU. The Bears like running backs with good tread on their tires and Bailey still has plenty of tread left.

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