3 options the Chicago Bears have with the No. 1 overall pick

The offseason goes through the Chicago Bears once again thanks to owning the No. 1 overall pick again.

This time the Bears did not to tank to get the top pick. Instead, general manager Ryan Poles picked up first pick thanks to last year's trade with the Carolina Panthers for that draft's top choice.

The Panthers sent wide receiver D.J. Moore and a boatload worth of picks to the Bears. That pick included Carolina's 2024 first-round pick that thanks to the Panthers being the worst team in football is now the No. 1 overall pick.

The Bears own first-round pick is projected to be 10th. They also project to have the seventh most salary cap space. Two top-10 picks and free-agent money to spend are the reasons the Bears will control the 2024 offseason.

That top draft pick will eventually have to become something more than just a conversation piece.

It will have to become a player. It can also be leveraged for more assets. That is why Ryan Poles has three options on how to best use that pick.

Trade down and acquire more draft picks much like he did in 2023.

It would be the second draft in a row where Poles would be passing on taking his quarterback. He kept Justin Fields last year to see if he could develop into a better pocket passer. Fields is still developing in that area.

The problem is Fields might be running out of time as a decision on his fifth-year option must be made this offseason. Unlike last year's draft, there is a quarterback prospect who is considered generational.

Poles could assess that with the defense improving, it might be best to stick with Fields at quarterback. In that case, Poles could trade back to get more picks and continue to build the offense around Fields. New England might be desperate enough to pull off a deal to get a quarterback. Do not count out the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, or Atlanta Falcons desire to trade up.

Take USC quarterback Caleb Williams

He is considered the generational quarterback prospect. He might be undersized for a quarterback. What he lacks in height, he more than makes up in arm talent. Williams can flat out sling the ball.

Williams also can make amazing things happen in and out of the pocket. He is already a better pocket passing quarterback than Fields. He is that good. Fields has been that inconsistent and he only has one season left on his cheap rookie contract.

Drafting Williams resets the quarterback rookie contract.

The problem is his size and there are some maturity issues. As Chicago Bears fans can tell you, there is no such as a sure thing when it comes to first-round quarterback.

Select Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

He might be the best player in the draft. No team has taken a wide receiver No. 1 overall since Keyshawn Johnson. That was three decades ago.

The dream for those who want to keep Fields is to trade down to stay within striking distance of drafting Harrison Jr.

New England is probably the best team to trade with to accomplish that goal, but the return to move up from three to one might not be as great as the return of say getting the Falcons to jump up. If Poles trades that far down, there is no chance at MHJ. That is why Poles might just realize it is better to take Harrison Jr. and have another weapon for Fields.

Needless to say, there are going to be a lot of opinions on what the Bears should do. Just remember Poles' opinion is the only one that matters.