The 2024 NFL Draft was won and lost, across the league, for many reasons. The Chicago Bears, in particular, were overwhelming winners.
It was hard not to walk away as winners, if you were Ryan Poles and the Bears, all things considered. Owning the no. 1 overall pick made it difficult not to come away feeling victorious.
The Bears made just five picks, after entering the draft with only four selections, but the majority of them have an opportunity to become stars.
The Bears' 2024 draft class isn't huge, but has star potential
Let's take a look at three guys from this class, in particular, which could wind up being stars for the Bears.
Austin Booker was a tremendous value and can make an immediate impact
For those who may not know, the Bears were able to land a third-round talent in the fifth round when they traded back into the draft and snagged Kansas pass rusher Austin Booker. Maybe the biggest reason he fell is due to a lack of experience, having played just 505 collegiate snaps.
However, Booker's overall frame, length and athleticism jumps off the screen. He has a massive wingspan and already knows how to rush the passer with a wide variety of moves. He already looks the part, despite not having a whole lot of experience at this stage. His frame has plenty of room to add healthy weight and muscle, and that will come.
Booker is a natural when it comes to getting into the back field. His raw speed and tenacity are hard for opposing linemen to match. Some NFL experts out there, such as Lance Zierlein of NFL Media, compare him to Maxx Crosby. If the Bears just stole a Crosby-level talent in the fifth round, look out. He may be exactly what this defense needed.
Rome Odunze is a Pro Bowl wide receiver in the making
When the Bears opted to draft Rome Odunze at no. 9 overall, any future plans to re-sign Keenan Allen may have been put on hold, or out of mind altogether. This offense should be a lot of fun to watch with Allen, Odunze and D.J. Moore in 2024. But, Allen's contract is up after this season and the addition of Odunze may have given the Bears a lot of flexibility.
Coming in alongside Caleb Williams, Odunze has an advantage in that the two of them already have a relationship and seem to have noticeable chemistry right off the bat. As a fellow rookie of first-round talent level, Odunze is going to be able to operate across a similar timeline as Williams. That gives him a leg-up on his fellow wide receivers.
As a prospect, Odunze has been compared to the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, with as complete a game as he brings, even as a rookie. Odunze has the size, overall skill set and athleticism to be a true alpha wide receiver in this league. Not to take away from the talent of Moore, but Odunze might just bust out into a star role as early as his second year, surpassing everyone else on the depth chart.
Caleb Williams is as close to a 'sure thing' as the Bears have ever gotten
This is low-hanging fruit, but that doesn't make it any less true. Caleb Williams is known as the best quarterback prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck, and that's extremely high praise. The talent is there when you watch the film. His ability to extend plays and make some of the more unorthodox-looking throws will have you in awe.
Just wait until he starts doing that in a Bears uniform.
His arm is strong enough to make all the throws necessary as a pro. His footwork is second to none, as we've seen countless examples of Williams getting out of trouble and making something out of nothing. This is also thanks to less-than-stellar play up front across the offensive line. The accuracy is there, too, despite playing with lesser talent at wide receiver.
Williams not only has the talent to become a star in this league, but the personality and overall aura. He is already accustomed to the spotlight and knows how to handle it.
The Bears have a superstar in the making at quarterback. What a world we're living in.