The Chicago Bears are in an enviable position when it comes to the 2024 NFL Draft. The team will very likely have two picks inside of the top 10, thanks to last year's trade with the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers currently have the worst record in the NFL, sitting at 2-12, so the Bears have a great chance to land the No. 1 pick once again. The Bears' own pick is currently No. 5, meaning the Bears could potentially add two elite prospects in this draft.
Much of the conversation will be about whether the Bears should use one of these picks on a quarterback. If team brass feels like Justin Fields is stagnating, it may be hard to pass up on one of these prospects. However, there is another scenario in which the Bears trade down once again or just select two pieces to go around Fields.
Today, let's identify 3 players the Bears should try to target with the Panthers' pick specifically.
Caleb Williams
Whether you love Justin Fields or not, it's impossible to ignore the allure of Caleb Williams. Williams is considered a surefire QB prospect if such a thing exists and would undoubtedly be tough to pass on. Williams is widely expected to be the first QB off the board.
The USC QB won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and threw for over 10,000 yards in his college career. Williams also rushed for 960 yards in college. Williams will go down as one of the most prolific college passers of his era and would immediately rejuvenate a long-suffering Bears fanbase.
If the Bears are comfortable starting over again, then Williams is the best option. Williams has a higher ceiling than Fields and could be a generational player. The selection of Williams will become more likely if the Bears have a new coaching staff. It's likely that a new staff would want a fresh start and their own QB to work with.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Taking Harrison at No. 1 may be a stretch, considering no wide receiver has been selected with the No. 1 pick since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. However, Harrison may be worth the top pick, especially if the Bears decide they don't need a QB.
Harrison will go down as one of the best college receivers of his generation. The star receiver racked up 2,613 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns over three seasons with the Buckeyes. Harrison finished 4th in Heisman voting this season.
The Bears' second pick is currently the No. 5 pick, and it's doubtful that the receiver would last that long. If the Bears are serious about giving Justin Fields another elite weapon, they may find it worth it to take Harrison before anyone else can. A combination of Harrison and DJ Moore would be enviable for almost every NFL QB.
Drake Maye
Maye and Williams are widely expected to be the first and second quarterbacks off the board. If the Bears indeed decide to move on from Justin Fields, what if they prefer Maye over Williams? Much of this will likely depend on who is coaching the team.
Maye has the size advantage over Williams but also gained more rushing yards in college. Maye racked up 1,209 yards on the ground and 16 rushing TDs in college, so it's not like the Bears would go from Fields to a statue. When compared to Williams, Maye has the better deep ball and is better at sticking to the script. Williams is more accurate and can improvise more. Both QBs are projected to be very good pros; it may just come down to which fits better stylistically.
Ultimately, the Bears may see this as too good of an opportunity to pass up. Unless the team trades down, I believe the Panthers' pick will be spent on one of the QBs.