The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a month away and the Chicago Bears have seemingly made their mind up with who they will take with the first overall pick.
Everything else beyond that selection is still left unknown, including the Bears’ second selection in the Top-10 with the ninth overall pick. With seven picks between the Bears’ two selections at the top of the draft, countless possibilities could occur until the team is back on the clock on opening night.
During the NFL owner’s meetings in Orlando, Florida earlier this week, the Bears core decision makers in general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus offered some insights that will go into which positions the Bears could target ninth overall.
The Bears are playing to split into various teams to determine which position the front office should target with the pick between wide receiver, edge rusher, and offensive tackle; but who’s to say Poles stays at that selection by the time April rolls around?
Poles himself was asked about the trade out potential from the ninth overall pick and described what it would take for him to move down the board in the first round.
“That will kinda play out,” Poles said earlier this week about potentially trading back from the ninth overall pick. “We’ll see what the numbers look like and that’ll kinda dictate how far we can move back if we decide to do that.”
The Bears’ currently have just four selections in the entire draft, including the two picks in the Top-10. That’s a light load to be bringing into next month and the optimal way to acquire more assets is by trading down from the ninth overall pick.
Poles noted that he wants to see what the numbers look like to move down, which means he will consider multiple offers before making a decision. Here are three teams who would be interested in moving up and what it would take to convince Poles to make a deal worth trading out of the selection using the Rich Hill trade chart.
Trade Partner #1: Jacksonville Jaguars
Bears Send:
– 9th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft (387 points)
– 5th round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft (26 points)
Bears Receive (from Jaguars):
– 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft (296 points)
– 48th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft (121 points)
The Jacksonville Jaguars seem like a team who will have high intentions to move up in the first round following general manager Trent Baalke’s uninspiring free agent additions. At some point, Baalke will start to feel the heat rising under his chair and look to make a major move to upgrade his roster.
In this trade scenario, the Bears slide back eight spots but also net a second round pick in return while also giving up a future late pick to make things even. The Bears currently do not have a second round pick following the Montez Sweat trade and can recoup a pick somewhat near that range once again.
Trade Partner #2: Indianapolis Colts
Bears Send:
– 9th overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (387 points)
Bears Receive (from Colts):
– 15th overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (315 points)
– 82nd overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (54 points)
– 151st overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (12 points)
This scenario might bode well for the Bears by sliding back with a team who could be willing to move up in order to secure a top pass catcher to add to their offense. Indianapolis Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard has traded up in the past, but nothing quite like this in the draft.
In this scenario, the Bears can look to only move on from one draft pick while sliding back six spots but instead add a third and fifth round selections to their 2024 arsenal, which could still be used to add quality players in the draft. If Poles likes the depth guys and wants to secure more picks to land more hits, this would be his best offer.
Trade Partner #3: Philadelphia Eagles
Bears Send:
– 9th overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (387 points)
Bears Receive (from Eagles):
– 22nd overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (253 points)
– 53rd overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (106 points)
– 120th overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (25 points)
– 172nd overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft (8 points)
This would definitely be a bold trade to make this late in the process, but when has that ever stopped Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman before? The only question is: are the Bears willing to move THIS far back in the first round?
The thought of adding an extra second, third, and fifth round picks sounds enticing but that would be quite the difference in first round selections to make this trade become a reality. To me, even this offer seems too low for Poles to consider.
Final Thoughts
Personally, I feel like the Bears’ front office is content with having just four selections in this year’s draft and would really have to be blown away by any offer to move off of the ninth overall pick. One way or another, the Bears feel like they will come out of the draft with a notable blue-chip prospect selected with that pick in some form or fashion and will be doing their due diligence to determine who that player will be.
As for the amount of draft picks, yes it seems concerning, but not when you factor in the fact that Poles turned those other picks into Sweat, Keenan Allen, and Ryan Bates. The team also will have a high number of draft picks next season as they continue to build around their rookie quarterback and get a solid look at what needs are still remaining on the roster. But who knows, maybe a monster offer could present itself.
