The common draft strategy slotted for the Chicago Bears is to draft Caleb Williams No. 1 overall, then potentially draft back in the draft if one of the top 3 receivers isn't available.
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears could trade up for one of the top 3 receivers in this draft
There is also an idea, however, that the Chicago Bears could take a Houston Texans-esque approach to the first round of the draft by trading up, instead. There's a belief across the league that Justin Fields wasn't set up to succeed in Chicago, and there are varying levels of truth to that. In this situation, Caleb Williams is being set up from the jump.
It didn't happen immediately with Justin Fields, but Ryan Poles has done a good job of building the entire team, rather than just solely building around Justin Fields. Building a good team is most important in this scenario, so while Justin Fields wasn't built around in the most ideal way, the Bears right their wrongs in this scenario.
In this off-season specifically, the Bears' draft choices are a hot topic of discussion. Staying and No. 9 and selecting one of the top receivers appears to be the most ideal option, however, if one of these projected trades go through, the Chicago Bears could truly jump-start their competitive window.
The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded at wide receiver, so the option to trade back at No. 9 if one of these three isn't available is valid.
If a trade up is on the table, however, these three options should be considered.
Option No. 1: Bears trade up to No. 3, draft Marvin Harrison Jr.
In a three-round mock draft by NFL draft analyst Chad Reuter, the Chicago Bears make a massive trade-up to have two picks in the top 3.
As for what it would take to pair Caleb Williams with Marvin Harrison Jr., the Chicago Bears should be salivating at this possible offer. Whether the Patriots would sell it for that low, who knows?
But, if Jerod Mayo believes in the untapped potential of Justin Fields, maybe it's worth it for them to get their starting quarterback, while still having a top-10 pick to get a tackle or edge rusher with.
Justin Fields is far better than the quarterbacks currently on the Patriots' roster, and with the addition of pieces in free agency, the Pats could be walking into next season in a much better position than if they just selected Marvin Harrison Jr. or Jayden Daniels.
This trade scenario isn't one I see as super-duper likely, but if it's the offer on the table, Ryan Poles should accept this yesterday.
Option No. 2: Bears trade up to No. 5, draft Rome Odunze
Maybe this is a controversial opinion, but in terms of which receiver would be the best team fit for the Chicago Bears, that receiver is Rome Odunze. Well, no. That receiver is Marvin Harrison Jr., however, he's arguably the best prospect in the entire 2024 NFL Draft.
So, other than Maserati Marv, Rome Odunze would pair perfectly with D.J. Moore in the Bears' offense, and he'd give Caleb Williams his added support. Odunze's hands are a pair of safety nets, and for a rookie quarterback, that's a perfect way to give them support.
With a contested catch rate of 51% and only a 6.9% drop rate, Rome Odunze compares himself to Davante Adams in the way they attack the game similarly.
Adding Rome Odunze to the Chicago Bears would also allow D.J. Moore to line up in the slot more, which is where Moore can shine even brighter. With the YAC abilities in D.J. Moore's toolbelt, having him play in the slot more would make him, somehow, even better.
If the Chicago Bears have the chance to get their own Davante Adams, it must be investigated. In this theoretical from Dane Brugler of The Athletic, the Bears and Chargers are trade partners.
Now, while gaining a potential Davante Adams in this trade could be enticing, the juice might not be worth the squeeze. Odunze has plenty of traits to be enamored by, as I'm consistently struck with awe watching his tape. However, after the Bears' trade for Ryan Bates, they just simply don't have many draft picks left.
Chicago Bears' 2024 NFL Draft picks, post-Ryan Bates trade:
• No. 1
• No. 9 (in this trade scenario)
• No. 75 (in this trade scenario)
• No. 111
• No. 123
In this scenario, the Chicago Bears would have three picks, including the No. 1 pick that they'd have used. The Bears aren't necessarily in the position to need as many draft picks as they have in the past, but it's always smart to have a good portion of rookies joining the roster.
This trade choice isn't as juicy as the one for Marvin Harrison Jr., but it's one that could win the fan base over with some elite offensive production early in the season.
Option No. 3: Bears trade up to No. 5, draft Malik Nabers
ESPN's NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid released his two-round 2024 NFL mock draft, and it involved the Chicago Bears trading up with the Chargers— again.
This time, however, the Chicago Bears net Malik Nabers instead of Rome Odunze. Nabers is considered one of the best receivers in the draft, however, his skill set resembles someone who already wears the Chicago Bears uniform. His name: D.J. Moore.
Now, don't get me wrong, having multiple D.J. Moores on one team isn't a bad thing at all. However, sending a heftier haul for a D.J. Moore clone could be a bit too costly for the Bears.
Malik Nabers is going to be a force in this league, and he's not someone who has to play in the slot. At LSU, Nabers was able to line up just about anywhere, and as long as the ball was in his hands, there was a chance he was going for six.
For the price it'd take to unite Caleb Williams with Malik Nabers, Ryan Poles could be interested. Whether or not he accepts this deal, that'll be decided on April 25.
Ranking the Chicago Bears' trade up options
This is truly the only option that the Chicago Bears should be all over. Being able to trade Justin Field and pick No. 9 for Marvin Harrison Jr. plus assets would be the Carolina Panthers' deal all over again. The NFL won't let Ryan Poles cook like that again, or will they?
Coming in second, Rome Odunze. He's close with Marvin Harrison Jr. on who would fit the Chicago Bears' current roster now best, but overall, the price tag is pricey. Rome Odunze should warrant a hefty trade-up, but with how limited the Bears' resources are currently, trading up for this amount doesn't appear the most likely.
Coming in last, Malik Nabers. If this were for 31 other teams in the NFL, Nabers would likely be higher on the list. But, with him being the most expensive trade-up option, as well as the lowest team fit of the three, Malik Nabers' trade-up scenario is the least enticing for Ryan Poles the Chicago Bears. If they do any three of these options, there's a low chance Bears fans will be truly mad. Especially once they watch Nabers perform. Once he has his first D.J. Moore-esque play, all of those emotions will soar away.