2 2024 NFL Draft targets emerge for the Chicago Bears at No. 9

The week of the 2024 NFL Draft is finally upon us, and the Chicago Bears will be celebrating on Thursday night when quarterback Caleb Williams is officially selected with the first overall pick.

For much of the past month, it's been the worst-kept secret that the Bears will be selecting Williams at No. 1. The question for the Bears becomes what the team will do with the ninth overall selection.

While there have been suggestions of the Bears either trading back or even trading up, the likeliest scenario may be that the team keeps the pick and makes a selection. If the Bears do keep the pick, the team seemingly has their eye on one of two superstar pass catchers.

NFL insider Tony Pauline reported last week that the Bears, if they opt for a pass catcher at No. 9. will be targeting Washington's Rome Odunze or Georgia's Brock Bowers.

The Chicago Bears may be eyeing a superstar rookie pass catcher to complement Caleb Williams.

Odunze has been the popular projection with the Bears at No. 9. With the assumption that veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen will only be with the Bears for the 2024 season before looking for a lucrative contract in free agency next offseason, Odunze would be an ideal selection. In a scenario where the Bears do select Odunze, the Washington wide receiver would likely be the other wide receiver opposite to DJ Moore on the outside with Allen serving as the slot receiver.

Bowers, a tight end by trade, would likely serve as a slot receiver in the Bears' offense as well. While Bowers is certainly capable of playing off the offensive line, think more of how the Kansas City Chiefs deploy Travis Kelce in terms of how the Georgia rookie will be used in the NFL. It's also worth noting that Bears' offensive coordinator Shane Waldron does have a preference for three tight end sets.