The Chicago Bears only have a few picks (at the moment) in this year’s NFL Draft, but the first one will hopefully start a new era in Bears history. An era where the Bears have stellar quarterback play. An era where Chicago isn’tthe "place where receivers go to die."An era where the offense is as good as (or even better than) the defense. An era where the Bears are perennial playoff contenders. An era where the ‘85 Bears no longer stand alone as Super Bowl champs here in Chicago. Maybe, just maybe, the Bears get it right this time.

On Thursday night, if you didn’t know by now, the Bears will select USC QB Caleb Williams with the #1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The Bears have wined and dined their new signal caller. Williams has already met some of his future teammates. The Bears already started teaching him the offense during his Top 30 visit (the only visit Williams made to any team). It’s happening, folks. The talk that Williams didn’t want to come to Chicago? That he should pull an Elway or an Eli? Just stuff made up by talking heads who like to manufacture controversy/debate. The Bears have been disrespected by the national media for a long time, partially because of their sordid quarterback history. But the Bengals were a laughingstock until they drafted Joe Burrow #1. As they used to say on "Knight Rider" (don’t judge me), "One man can make a difference."

We’ve all heard the comparisons to Patrick Mahomes and to the tool with the Jets. Williams’ ability to create magic out of structure can be spectacular at times, though he does need to focus more on ball security during his Houdini acts so he doesn’t fumble so much. What I like most from everything I’veseen of him is his ability to control his throws (with proper touch/velocity), his pocket awareness, and the fact that his body is always in a "ready to fire" position, even when scrambling. He’s also a threat with his legs as well, though not Justin Fields-level. Williams has everything you want in terms of arm talent and skill level.

In terms of his personality, Williams isa very confident guy. He might not be for everybody. Admittedly, my first impression of him during his Heisman season wasn’t the best, as I generally prefer more humble athletes. But the more I’ve read about him and seen from interviews, he seems like a good guy who cares about his teammates. GM Ryan Poles says that Williams is more of a low-key, down-to-Earth guy than people think. From everything I’ve read, the Bears were impressed by his character during their visits/dinners with him, and Williams’ coaches/teammates have had nothing but good things to say about him as a teammate/leader.

Most of all, Williams is a big-time competitor. Despite the perception of him as a "Hollywood" guy, he plays with a chip on his shoulder. I remember reading an interview with him a year or two ago where Williams said he didn’t want to just beat his opponents,he wanted to destroy them and make them look bad.He’s a grudge-holder too, just like a certain #23 who became a legend here in Chicago. The guy is a killer, and maybe that’swhat’s been missing (along with required talent level) from most of the quarterbacks who have come through this town since Jim McMahon. Williams has said that he wants to play in one place for 20 years, chase Tom Brady’s record for Super Bowl rings, and become immortal. Sounds good to me. Step 1 on the road to immortality will be on Thursday night.

After signing RB D’Andre Swift in free agency last month, I don’t see the Bears taking another tailback, especially with so few picks.

Here is where the intrigue begins. Yes, the Bears traded for WR Keenan Allen last month, but he’s only under contract for one more season, and there’s no guarantee that Poles will sign him to an extension at some point. So, taking a wideout with the #9 overall pick would make sense. But who? Marvin Harrison Jr will most likely be gone by then. Harrison is considered by most to be the best receiver in this draft, with great size (6-3 209) and elite route-running ability. Would the Bears consider trading up for Harrison if he unexpectedly starts falling toward #9? It’s possible, but with so few picks, it’s not likely.

Assuming that Harrison is gone, now you’re looking at LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze. Nabers (6-0 200) is one of the most electric run-after-catch receivers in this draft, a guy who can literally score from anywhere. Some people have Nabers ranked ahead of Harrison because he’s more of a threat after the catch. However, his 2023 arrest for carrying a gun illegally on Bourbon Street (the charge was later dropped) gives me some pause. But if Poles feels satisfied with Nabers’ character, and Nabers falls to #9, it would be tough to pass on him.

Odunze (6-3 212) is a dominant jump ball and contested catch receiver but also has very good speed (4.45 40) for his size. He’s a high character guy as well, and that to me certainly increases the odds that Poles selects him if he’s available at #9. Most mocks I’ve seen have Chicago taking Odunze at #9. If the Bears opt to trade down into the teens or the second half of the first round, then LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr and Texas’ Adonai Mitchell become attractive options. Both of them impressed me with their Combine workouts. If Chicago trades down into the later part of the first, a guy I really like is Georgia’s Ladd McConkey. I’ve always wanted the Bears to have a Julian Edelman/Wes Welker-type slot guy, and McConkey is that guy in this year’s draft.

After the Bears signed TE Gerald Everett last month to pair him up with TE Cole Kmet, it doesn’t seem to make much sense for the team to select a tight end at #9. But NFL insider Tony Pauline reported last week that sources said Chicago would pick between Odunze or Georgia’s Brock Bowers if they go for a pass catcher at #9. Bowers (6-3 243) has been dominant since he was a college freshman, and I’vedefinitely imagined him in a Bears uniform at various times over the past three years. He has rare speed and run-after-catch skills for a tight end. But with Kmet and Everett already here, it just seems very unlikely that Poles would take a tight end, even if he trades down a few spots (and Bowers might not make it past the Jets at #10).

Depending on what Poles thinks of T Braxton Jones, he could upgrade at left tackle at #9. Notre Dame’s Joe Alt has been mocked to the Titans at #7 consistently, but if he fell to #9, it would be tough for the Bears to pass him up. In the event of a small trade down, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu could be a nice option. He and Williams played together in high school. Chicago traded for one center and signed another in free agency last month, but neither one is necessarily a long-term solution. If the Bears traded down into the second half of the first round or picked up a second-rounder in a deal, Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson or West Virginia’s Zach Frazier could be options. Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran-Granger could be a possibility in the third or fourth round.

The main need on D is a pass rusher to play opposite DE Montez Sweat, but don’t overlook D-tackle here. The Cover-2 scheme needs a quality pass-rushing 3-technique tackle like Tommie Harris was for Lovie Smith’s Bears, and though DT Gervon Dexter started to come on in the second half of last season, I’m not sure ifhe’s that guy. Enter Texas’ Byron Murphy. He is quick and explosive as a run stopper and a pass rusher. But at a shade over six-feet tall, Murphydoesn’t have ideal length, and as Dane Brugler pointed out in "The Beast," he didn’t have a single batted pass or forced fumble in his entire college career. HC Matt Eberflustalked in the past about coveting "ball production" at linebacker, but would Murphy’s lack of ball production at tackle be a deal-breaker for the Bears?If Chicago trades down into the second half of the first round, Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton could be a quality choice as a pass-rushing 3-tech.

At edge, the top three names are Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse, and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu. Turner has athleticism for days, but some people question if he might be more of a 3-4 outside backer than a 4-3 edge. He’s often been mocked at #8 to Atlanta. Verse is an older prospect, and some question his bend. Latu is considered by many to be the best pure pass rusher of the three, but the neck injury that forced him to briefly medically retire three years ago will scare off some teams. If Turner drops to #9, Chicago might have a tough time passing on him (unless Odunze is there, too). The Bears could probably trade down several spots and still grab Latu, Verse, or Penn State’s Chop Robinson.

I know a lot of Bears fans want the team to trade down from #9 and get more picks, but for me, the priority is to get an elite, top-ten level talent. The Bears hopefully won’t be drafting this high again for a long time, so they need to focus on getting a blue-chipper here.There’s been more and more buzz lately in the Chicago media that Murphy could be a real possibility, just like there was late buzz about T Darnell Wright and the Bears last year. I think the fanbase would probably balk at Murphy going at #9, but if the Bears could get him after a trade down that nets a second or third-round pick, the fans would probably be more amenable to that. That said, a lot of Poles’ focus this offseason has been on getting Williams as much support as he can. In light of that, Odunze would be my choice, as BPA at a position of need. If he’s there, I think the Bears will take him. If the top three wideouts are gone by #9, then I think a trade down for a D-lineman like Murphy or Latu would be in order.

The Bears could use better punting than they had last season, and Iowa’s Tory Taylor has been talked about as a future star at the position (as funny as a future star punter sounds). Not likely I know, but a possibility in the fourth round.

More to come next month!

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