What the Chicago Bears plan to do with the top overall pick is the biggest lingering question ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Chicago has the top pick in the draft for the second straight time. Last year, they traded the top pick to the Carolina Panthers for a package of picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore. Could the Bears possibly trade the top pick again? Bleacher Report seems to think so.
In a recent mock draft, Bleacher Report scout Derrik Klassen floated the idea of the Bears trading down to No. 2 overall in order to select University of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
From Klassen:
"Maye to Chicago should be a slam dunk. After Fields' struggles with playing from the pocket and on time, that won't be an issue for Maye. The North Carolina quarterback has exceptional pocket presence, often preempting pressure with shuffles and drifts throughout his drops when he knows he is being heated up. Maye also has a booming arm and is a scary strider out in the open field. . . .
Maye has all the tools and a good baseline to work with as a decision-maker."
For what it's worth, it seems unlikely that the Bears will swap the top pick again, as it would take "historic compensation" for them to move off the pick, according to ESPN Insider Ian Rapoport. Obviously, such an offer could present itself, but there's a good chance it won't.
Last year when they traded the top pick, the Bears weren't ready to move on from quarterback Justin Fields, who they selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2021 draft. At this point though, after another season of missing the playoffs, the team might be ready to embrace change at the position.
University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams is widely expected to be the top overall pick in the draft, and a Bears insider recently confirmed that Williams is likely to be Chicago's selection at the top of the draft.
Things could change between now and draft day, but at this point it doesn't seem like we should be expecting the Bears to trade the top pick again.