Every move that the Chicago Bears have made this offseason has led to this point.
The 2024 NFL Draft is tonight and the Bears will officially embark on a new chapter in their franchise.
It goes without saying that Thursday will be the anchor of the Bears' 2024 draft. The Bears only have four selection in this year's draft but, as currently scheduled, they will be making two picks within the first nine selections of the draft.
Looking beyond the two selections that the Bears have in the first round, their next selection is in the third round at No. 75, and their last scheduled selection is in the fourth round at No. 122.
Given the lack of draft capital that the Bears have this year, there has been speculation that the team could look to move back from the No. 9 spot in an effort to collect more picks in the later round. Given the fact that many collegiate players are returning to college for an extra season granted due to the pandemic and the increasing influence of NIL deals, this year's draft appears to be thin on talent after the fourth round.
2024 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears draft picks
Round 1, No. 1: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Round 1, No. 9: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Round 3, No. 75: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Round 4, No. 122: Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
The 2024 NFL Draft is set to start at 7 pm CST tonight but you will want to make sure that you bookmark this page and return to it throughout the weekend. This page will be updated throughout th entire draft as we will provide instant grade sand reaction to every move that the Bears make this weekend.
Round 1, Pick 1: Caleb Williams, QB USC
There was no way that the Chicago Bears were going to mess up the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams has been the best collegiate quarterback for the past two years with many believing he is the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. More on the Bears' selection of Williams can be found here.
Grade: A
Round 1, Pick 9: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
There was an uptick in speculation on Tuesday that the Bears may be targeting Odunze to pair with Williams and that speculation become reality on Draft night. Odunze was one of the big three wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft class. More on the Bears' selection of Odunze can be found here.
Grade: A
Round 3, No. 75: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Amegadjie was a project pick for the Bears in the third round. Amegadjie has the size and traits to be a starting offensive tackle at the NFL level, but it likely won't be a season or two, meaning Braxton Jones' starting job is safe for now. More on the Bears' selection of Amegadjie can be found here.
Grade: C+
Round 4, Pick 122: Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
NFL teams don't often worry about the punter until it's noticeably bad. That has been the case for the Bears with Trenton Gill as their punter. Taylor is a wizard when it comes to the punt game and some mock drafts had him being drafted as early as the third round.
Grade: B+
Trade: The Bears traded a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for No. 144 in this year's draft, select edge rusher Austin Booker.
Kansas defensive end Austin Booker was a name that many had circled as being among the best available prospects on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft. Given his size and ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Booker could flourish in Matt Eberflus' system.