2024 Draft prospects

    I went lighter this year with the number of players I watched to a total of 156 prospects, I still have time to watch more, got extra time I didn't expect to have but need to concentrate on other stuff and can always keep watching other players if some pop up that interest me. With the Bears slim in picks this year, I really don't think the players they end up picking wont be include on this list.

QBs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Caleb Williams	USC	1
Drake Maye	North Carolina	1
Jayden Daniels	LSU	1-2
Michael Penix	Washington	1-2
Bo Nix	Oregon	2-3
J.J. McCarthy	Michigan	2-3
Jordan Travis	Florida State	3
Michael Pratt	Tulane	3-4
Joe Milton	Tennessee	5
Spencer Rattler	South Carolina	5

   Its a close call between Williams and Maye, even so the Bears should draft Williams, I am of the people that do place importance in size and Williams is dangerously close to being not ideal in that regard and one can argue he could be classified as as small QB. Still, he does make it work better that last years smallish QB Bryce Young, both Young and Williams scrambled a lot but the difference I saw is that when Young ran and got rid of the ball it was often to wide open receivers and did it with limited pressure when throwing the ball, while Williams on the other hand often threated the needle with his passes on the move with defenders in close pursuit, Williams does have the Aaron Rodgers vibe when buying time and slinging the ball to a perfect spot. Maye is the perfect specimen of QB with great size, arm and enough legs to make defenses pay attention or suffer the consequences, still his throwing talent is not at Williams level of accuracy and off script shenanigan's, coaching could take him even further than where Williams could be talentwise but having the right coach in place is were I prefer the Bears to pick Williams and not Maye, I don't trust the Bears to coach up a QB, Williams is close to being an established QB than Maye, not saying Williams is perfect but he is closer to a finished product and more polished than Maye who could end up being the best QB in this draft in time or average if he is pushed the wrong way. Daniels and Penix showed great promise in college but have limitations that they need to resolve to be considered slam dunks at the pros, Nix and McCarthy have shown flashed of great QBing but their offensive schemes in college limited them and hide their true potential/ceiling which makes them a toss up. Travis is my favorite underdog QB in this draft, limited in arm power but can throw really good accurate passes in the pocket or on the move, I see his floor as good backup in the NFL. Milton is such a raw freak of nature, really fun project player.

Surprise pick: Anything other than QB at #1

OK pick: Maye at #1

Expected pick: Caleb Williams at #1

RBs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Jonathon Brooks	Texas	1-2
MarShawn Lloyd	USC	2
Isaiah Davis	South Dakota State	2-3
Braelon Allen	Wisconsin	2-3
Will Shipley	Clemson	2-3
Trey Benson	Florida State	3
Ray Davis	Kentucky	3-4
Blake Corum	Michigan	3-4
Daijun Edwards	Georgia	3-4
Jase McClellan	Alabama	3-4
Dillon Johnson	Washington	4
George Holani	Boise State	4
Bucky Irving	Oregon	4
Jaylen Wright	Tennessee	4
Emani Bailey	TCU	4-5
Jawhar Jordan	Louisville	4-5
Kendall Milton	Georgia	4-5
Isaac Guerendo	Louisville	5
Carson Steele	UCLA	6
Audric Estime	Notre Dame	6
Tyrone Tracy Jr.	Purdue	6

   I didn't see any dominant freak RB this year but Brooks was the one that got my attention the most, sadly he ended getting injured and its a wait and see if he can come back whole. Lloyd and Isaiah Davis, two very different backs, surprised me with their individual skillsets and expect good primary roles from them. Last year Davone Achane was a back I didn't expect that would be such a difference maker in the NFL and I'm wondering if Ray Davis, Corum or Bailey could be this years surprise.

Suprise pick: MarShawn Lloyd in the 3rd. Blake Corum in the 4th

OK pick: Trade down from #9, Bailey in the 5th.

Expected pick: No RB drafted.

WRs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Marvin Harrison Jr.	Ohio State	1
Rome Odunze	Washigton	1
Malik Nabers	LSU	1
Xavier Legette	South Carolina	1-2
Brian Thomas Jr.	LSU	1-2
Ja'Lynn Polk	Washington	2
Xavier Worthy	Texas	2
Troy Franklin	Oregon	2
Ladd McConkey	Georgia	2-3
Keon Coleman	Florida State	2-3
Johnny Wilson	Florida State	2-3
Adonai Mitchell	Texas	3
Malik Washigton	Virginia	3-4
Jamari Thrash	Louisville	3-4
Ricky Pearsall	Florida	4
Malachi Corley	Western Kentucky	4
Tez Walker	North Carolina	4
Jermain Burton	Alabama	4
Brenden Rice	USC	4
Roman Wilson	Michigan	5
Jalen McMillan	Washington	6-5

   I moved this list a lot and its easily the most debatable position group this year, but want cant be debated is that this is a really good receiver class, bunch of talent in every shape and form. Harrison is the complete package and should be a plug and play player in any team. Odunze is very close to being the same specimen as Harrison and should be an automatic upgrade in almost any team. Nabers is a top field stretcher and will increase the offensive horsepower of any team. Legette and Thomas Jr. don't come with the same game history as the previous guys but have size and speed to be considered big threats. There's reliable guys like Polk and Franklin to be considered as solid WR2s and there's mismatching guys like Worthy and McConkey that can run circles on defenders with demonic speed and crisp route running respectively. Coleman and Wilson have rare bled of skills and physical talent and can punish defenses in the slot. Mitchell has a ways to go to see if he can pan out but oozes physical traits with great size and speed. There's somethin that separates a player from the other, but every player in this list has the talent to make a team better. The Bears have a duo of vet receivers set for their rookie QB, but after them it dips significantly in talent and experience which makes it a very thin positional group, picking one or even possibly two in this list would insure any bad luck this group could suffer. If I have to choose a type of receiver, I would go with Odunze over Nabers, I respect his speed but Odunze has enough of it and on top of that has size and talent to go for the ball which the Bears could use more of.

Surprise pick: Drafting Harrison #1 or going up from #9.

OK pick: trade down from #9, pick Legette in the 2nd, Washington or Thrash in the 3th.

Expected pick: Odunze at #9.

TEs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Brock Bowers	Georgia	1
Ben Sinnott	Kansas State	1
Jared Wiley	TCU	2-3
Jaheim Bell	Florida State	2-3
Theo Johnson	Penn Sate	2-3
Ja'Tavion Sanders	Texas	3-4
Cade Stover	Ohio State	4
Tanner McLachlan	Arizona	4-5
Brevyn Spann-Ford	Minnesota	4-5
Erick All Jr.	Iowa	5

   Everybody talks about Bowers being the best TE of this years class and rightly so, but I'm a bit surprised there isn't much talk about Sinnott being the close second from my perspective. There is a very good group of mixed talent, some overall good TEs like Bowers and Sinnott, some better at receiver than blockers like Wiley and Sanders, some better blockers than receivers like Stover, Spann-Ford and McLachlan, then there's raw freaks like only Penn State can create for NFL teams to mold like Theo Jonson and swiss army knifes like Jaheim Bell. The Bears are in a good spot with Cole Kmet getting better each year while adding Gerald Everett to have good depth, still  it wouldn't hurt if they can add one more guy from this list, Shane Waldon supposedly covets TEs in his game plan

Surprise pick: Bowers with the #9.

OK pick: Stover or McLachlan in the 4th. Trade down from #9, Sinnott in the 2nd or Bell in the 3th.

Expected pick: No TE drafted.

OTs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD	POS
Joe Alt	Notre Dame	1	LT
Tyler Guyton	Oklahoma	1	RT
J.C. Latham	Alabama	1	RT
Amarius Mims	Georgia	1-2	RT
Troy Fautanu	Washington	1-2	LT
Graham Barton	Duke	2	LT
Taliese Fuaga	Oregon State	2	RT
Olumuyiwa Fashanu	Penn State	2	LT
Jordan Morgan	Arizona	3-4	LT
Patrick Paul	Houston	3-4	LT
Blake Fisher	Notre Dame	3-4	RT
Dominic Puni	Kansas State	4-5	LT
Kingsley Suamataia	BYU	5	LT
Roger Rosengarten	Washington	5	RT

   Kind of funny to see the opinions on Braxton Jones being mid and might getting replaced if Joe Alt is available with the #9 pick, who definitely is the most prepared LT in this years class. This conversation isn't new for Bears fans, I still remember when Charles Leno Jr. was considered mid, and is, and still be serviceable, so much that the Commanders extended him, Leno had more years experience than Jones when these talks started to surface in regard of Leno's talent, I believe that Jones still has time to prove he can get better, but if Ryan Poles wants to go with Alt if he falls, I wouldn't blame him for pulling the trigger and solidify the T position with two prime picks at the position, but its far from a need comparing the state of the T position compared to for example the WR or DL rooms, even IOL could be debated to be on the table for this high a pick. There are other options down the road but few played LT in college, guys like Guyton, Latham and Mims are freaks of nature but played RT, Barton and Fuaga are fierce but might be even better at G. There's a lot of praise going to Fashanu but I personally don't see it as a slam dunk player, he is my Broderick Jones comparison from last year, so for me the next best LT would be Fautanu who is seen by some as a better G prospect, so Alt is going to have huge value in this draft in my opinion.

Surprise pick: Alt with the #9.

OK pick: Trade down from #9, Blake Fisher in the 4th.

Expected pick: No T drafted.

OGs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Cooper Beebe	Kansas State	2
Brandon Coleman	TCU	2-3
Christian Mahogany	Boston College	3
Zack Zinter	Michigan	3-4
Christian Haynes	Conneticut	4
Mason McCormick	South Dakota St	5
Layden Robinson	Texas A&M	5
Isaiah Adams	Illinois	6

   Not much of a G group, but considering some of the T will most probably convert to G by their respected teams that drafted them, its not as bad a group. Beebe and Mahogany are your typical mauling G's while Coleman gives you flexibility to play T in a pinch or agility as a very good pulling G, still you cant go wrong with Zinter, Haynes or McCormick that can really help give a team great depth at least. The Bears payed quite a bit for insurance at G getting Ryan Bates from the Bills, but is much needed help with the history of uncertainty from Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis, trying to get one more G wouldn't hurt.

Surprise pick: Going up for a G in the 2nd like Beebe or Coleman.

OK pick: Trade back from #9,  Mahogany in the 3rd.

Expected pick: NO G drafted.

OCs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Jackson Powers-Johnson	Oregon	1-2
Zach Frazier	West Virginia	2
Tanor Bortolini	Wisconsin	3
Sedrick Van Pran	Georgia	3
Hunter Nourzad	Penn State	4
Beaux Limmer	Arkansas	5

   There is good word from experts for this years C group, JPJ rose to be at the top of many ranking lists and I don't blame them, the guy impacts with his size and power while Frazier doesn't fall far behind in those categories and is considered a mauling player as well, after these 2 the list takes a bit of a dip but I like Bortolini as a improving player that can reach pro ready status sooner rather than later. Van Pran was considered for a long time to be the favorite, but doesn't display the same dominance the first two have and might be too close to his ceiling which is good enough for the pros. Nourzad and Limmer have been praised and talked about to be pro ready, I believe they would benefit being backups to start their careers. The Bears would benefit by drafting one of these guys, signing FA Shelton Coleman was a good move to have him as an insurance player, but I worry going in to the season once more with two somewhat unproven/average veteran Cs.

Surprise pick: Trade down from #9, JPJ in the 1st.

OK pick: Trade down from #9, Frazier in the 2nd.

Expected pick: Bortolini in the 4th.

DTs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Jer'Zhan Newton	Illinois	1
Byron Murphy	Texas	1-2
Michael Hall Jr.	Ohio State	1-2
Kris Jenkins	Michigan	2-3
Brandon Dorlus	Oregon	2-3
Ruke Orhorhoro	Clemson	3
Tvondre Sweat	Texas	3
Braden Fiske	Florida State	3-4
Mekhi Wingo	LSU	3-4
McKinnley Jackson	Mississippi State	4
Maason Smith	LSU	4-5
Leonard Taylor III	Miami	5

   Straight to the chase, there's 3 guys I believe are 3T wreckers in Newton, Murphy and Hall Jr. and none of them come as an easy pick to me. There's a lot of talk coming out recently where Murphy comes as the best 3T prospect, I don't like Murphy as much as the other two, I do see he is capable of mass disruption, but I just don't see it as often as I would like, even the data says otherwise, but this is my list and its what I perceived in my small sample size of "film watching". Newton I do see giving maximum effort every play but the injury he had does concern me as Poles takes these things greatly into consideration. Hall I see more as a consistent disruptor than Murphy but his attitude issues on and off the field I do see as an important factor to drafting a player and I do believe Poles does as well, still there is great talent in his play style. Jenkins comes close but he is more physical than technical, still he can learn and be a beast. Dorlus is a tweener and a very good one that some team can have fun with him by moving him around. Orhorhoro is raw and can go really far if he can be well coached. Sweat is your starting NT to target if you need one. Fiske and Wingo can be very good depth and situational pass rushers.

Surprise pick: Newton with the #9. Trade down from the #9, Sweat in the 2nd.

OK pick: Fiske in the 4th.

Expected pick: Dorlus or Orhorhoro in the 3rd.

EDGEs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Dallas Turner	Alabama	1
Jared Verse	Florida St.	1
Laiatu Latu	UCLA	1
Darious Robinson	Missouri	1-2
Chop Robinson	Penn St.	1-2
Bralen Trice	Washington	2
Chris Braswell	Alabama	2-3
Adisa Isaac	Penn St.	3
Marshawn Kneeland	Western Michigan	3-4
Jonah Elliss	Utah	4-5
Austin Booker	Kansas	5

   You can shuffle Turner, Verse and Latu as you please, you can nitpick a bunch of things from them and get an excuse to who should be first on the list. I like Verse more than the other two, but Turner is younger and is a freaky athlete that has a higher ceiling, but I see him playing more in a two stance which is not what the Bears would play him. Both Robinson's couldn't be more different in their speed and size which makes them have different skillsets, but come up with the same results which is constant pressure. Trice is more of a 5T but dominates the LOS. Braswell and Isaac are very intriguing players with high motor and never quit mentality.

Surprise pick: Latu with the #9 pick.

OK pick: Verse with the #9 pick.

Expected pick: Braswell or Isaac in the 3rd.

LBs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Cedric Gray	North Carolina	2
Payton Wilson	North Carolina State	2
Edgerrin Cooper	Texas A&M	2-3
Ty'Ron Hopper	Missouri	3-4
Tommy Eichenberg	Ohio State	4
Junior Colson	Michigan	4
Jaylan Ford	Texas	4-5
Curtis Jacobs	Penn State	5
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.	Clemson	5
Tevin Wallace	Kentucky	5-6
Tyrice Knight	UTEP	6
James Williams	Miami	6

   Hmm second year I'm not a fan of the LB group, don't know if its because the Bears don't really need one or its because there isn't really a dominant one like the LBs of the early 2000s. Wilson is the physical freak but I see Gray more of a football player like Eicheberg and Colston but they are a bit slower. Cooper and Hopper are fun players with different skillsets, Cooper is more of a blitzer while Hopper is better at coverage.

Surprise pick: Any LB drafted.

OK pick: Trade back from #9, Hopper in the 5th.

Expected pick: No LB drafted.

CBs

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Terrion Arnold	Alabama	1
T.J. Tampa	Iowa State	1
Cooper DeJean	Iowa	1-2
Kool-Aid McKinstry	Alabama	1-2
Quinyon Mitchell	Toledo	2
Renardo Green	Florida State	2
Nate Wiggins	Clemson	2
Cam Hart	Notre Dame	2-3
Kamari Lassiter	Georgia	2-3
Khyree Jackson	Oregon	3
Mike Sainristil	Michigan	3
Kris Abrams-Drain	Missouri	3-4
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.	Missouri	3-4
Max Melton	Rutgers	3-4
D.J. James	Auburn	3-4
Kalen King	Penn State	4
Andru Phillips	Kentucky	4
Jarrian Jones	Florida State	4
Caelen Carson	Wake Forest	4-5
Johnny Dixon	Penn State	5
Josh Newton	TCU	5

   Good pool of corners this year, Arnold is the main riser in rankings, I like his overall skillset to be able to cover, press and tackle. Tampa is not a big favorite for many but I do see a complete packages similar to Arnold. DeJean is easy to like but definitely as the best nickle in this draft class, I can see him even at SS. Mitchell as the small school favorite is understandable with his size and numbers he put in college, how much will it translate to the pros immediately? Green and Wiggins are very good corners with different body structure, both can start in the NFL. Hart and Jackson are the big mismatch corners that can definitely play day one. Next best nickle would be Sainristil, small but packs a punch and can go with the best of them. A lot of quality back up players in the rest of this list, the Bears have no immediate need at this position, if they can rack up more draft picks its never a bad idea to have as many quality backup corners as you can in todays NFL.

Surprise pick: Any CB drafted in day 1 or 2.

OK pick: Trade back from #9, Phillips in the 5th

Expected pick: No CB drafted.

Ss

NAME	SCHOOL	RD
Tyler Nubin	Minnesota	2
Beau Brade	Maryland	2-3
Kamren Kinchens	Miami	3
Malik Mustapha	Wake Forest	3-4
Tykee Smith	Georgia	3-4
Javon Bullard	Georgia	4
Calen Bullock	USC	4
Darion Taylor-Demerson	Texas Tech	4-5
Jaden Hicks	Washington St	4-5
Cole Bishop	Utah	5

   There is some talent in this years safety pool, but not exactly what I would assume would fill the FS position for the Bears which is not a big need with the addition of Kevin Byard. Nubin is the closest thing to a centerfielder than can tackle but plays better near the LOS. Brade and Mustapha are a hybrid nickle/safety type that has value if the play design has a specific role for them. Kinchens can play even with his limited physical skills, he is a true football player. Smith displays love for contact and is always around the ball, a very intriguing SS. Bullard and Bullock are FS that have very questionable tackling ability. Taylor-Demerson and Hicks are headhunters that would benefit improving their cover skills. Bishop I just didn't understand his role on the field, was everywhere but didn't do much consistently.

Surprise pick: Trade back from #9, Nubin in the 2nd.

OK pick: Trade back from #9. Bullard in the 4th or Taylor-Demerson in the 5th.

Expected pick: No S drafted.

   This draft for the Bears will be dictated once they decide what to do with the #9 pick, it doesn't help me decide what I would like them to do with the next picks but it goes something like this, in order of favoritism,

Pick #1 - QB

Pick #9 - WR or EDGE or DT

Pick #75 - WR/TE or DT or  EDGE

Pick #122 - C

   I see or prefer a scenario where they go double dipping at receiver, be it two WR or one and a TE while sacrificing depth at DL due to the talent I presume will be left, I believe there is better value to find at a receiver position than DL further down the draft board, if Poles manages to pull a 2nd rounder out of his ass then I would like him to get DL help, be it EDGE or DT preferably a 3T, but getting Sweat would be a scary rotation with Andrew Billings.

   What is almost written in stone is that Caleb Williams will be the Bears QB and will start immediately for the 2024 season, right now the offense is ready to roll with only the QB being the most important missing piece, Williams has a chance to start with an average at worst, solid at best offensive and defensive unit baring injuries, if Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron play their cards correctly, Williams should be able to display being one of these generational promising QBs that he has been described to be, I expect the bumps and bruises at the beginning of the season but once November starts rolling around, with a good draft and a healthy team, I expect Williams to start showing he can make the team better, I don't care if he starts with 10+ picks at the beginning of the season as long as after mid season he starts showing better control of these turnovers and starts dominating final drives in games which would result in wins, everything points for him to statistically be able to put big numbers in yards, TDs and even INTs depending on the freedom Waldron puts on his plate in drop backs he takes by game, or he could even go run heavy and control Williams's snaps which would dip his stats, as long as it is for the best of his development so be it. This is far away from being the messy situation Justin Fields fell into and rightfully should not be repeated with Williams, time will tell if the QB, coaches and the team Poles puts in place where the right combination for success this time around.