Chicago Bears Mock Draft 1.0: The Shane Waldron Era Starts
By Ryan Olson
#9 Overall Pick: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
I am very confident that Dallas Turner will be the first defensive player taken off the board in 2024. Turner seems like he will be the pick for the Bears, as I do expect both Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers to not be available at pick nine. Given Matt Eberflus’ defensive ‘expertise’ I do think the Bears will be using the pick on defense instead of creating a log jam at offensive tackle or tight end.
The team taking a defender inside of the top ten is no doubt a tough bullet to bite as being teased with all three of the top receivers and leaving with a defender is very bittersweet. Nonetheless, Dallas Turner will make the Bears a far better team than before. Pairing Montez Sweat with a true “get off the field pass rusher” will help out this team tremendously on third down as Sweat doesn’t have the top-tier ‘juice’ desired as a top-tier pass rusher.
Dallas Turner has very long arms and great speed off the edge, which is why he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher. Turner also has that competitive and contagious energy that Ryan Poles said he wants in his players, which is why I could very easily see him being the pick.
#75 Overall Pick: Devontez Walker, WR, UNC
It took all of one game for Devontez Walker and Drake Maye to be firing on all cylinders after he got his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA. Tez Walker was one of college football’s best deep threats last season, as he led all top receivers in target share 20+ yards downfield at 32%.
Tez Walker has elite speed, along with great size, that could help him be a potential WR1 in the NFL. I don’t expect Walker to be available at pick 75 once he has a great combine, and if he had immediate eligibility, there is a good chance he could’ve played himself into the first round. However, the Bears could still target him with the potential second-round pick they get from the return of Justin Fields.
Pairing Tez Walker’s deep field route running expertise and Caleb WIlliams’ love for the deep ball could be a really fun duo in Chicago.