Each Chicago Bears 2024 NFL mock offseason must explore scenarios that feel plausible based on the people and resources involved. GM Ryan Poles hasn't tipped his hand one way or the other on the quarterback front. He's publicly supported Justin Fields, yet several experts believe he plans to select Caleb Williams #1 overall. That could happen, but then again, this GM tends to hatch a surprise when you least expect it.
Matt Eberflus has secured a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron. The staff is coming into focus, and that may offer some hints about what the Bears will do over the next couple of months. Here is how things may unfold based on the new information available.
The latest Chicago Bears 2024 mock offseason features a swerve.
Trades:
Justin Fields to the Raiders for 2nd and 4th round picks in 2024
People may wish for the Bears to keep Fields. Yet all the signs point in the other direction. Las Vegas is caught in a no-mans-land. They're too far outside the top 10 to make a move up for a quarterback and their options in free agency will be negligible. That means they either take a risk on one of the second-tier draft options or roll the dice on Fields. Since the latter is cheaper in terms of cost, that is the direction they choose.
Cuts:
- OL Cody Whitehair - $9.15 million saved
- S Eddie Jackson - $12.56 million saved
Re-signings/Extensions:
- CB Jaylon Johnson - 4-year extension for $80 million
- EDGE Yannick Ngakoue - 1-year deal for $9 million
- C Lucas Patrick - 1-year deal for $1.21 million
- WR Equanimeous St. Brown - 1-year deal for $1.125 million
- CB Josh Blackwell - ERFA deal for $915,000
- CB Greg Stroman - 1-year deal for $1.125 million
- LB Dylan Cole - 1-year deal for $1.125 million
- LS Patrick Scales - 1-year deal for $1.21 million
Free agency:
- DT Justin Madubuike - 4-year deal for $92 million
- WR Calvin Ridley - 2-year deal for $32.5 million
- TE Mike Gesicki - 1-year deal for $2 million
- QB Drew Lock - 1-year deal for $4 million
Poles has said he'd prefer not to take big swings in free agency. However, if he plans to reset at QB, this would be the time. Madubuike was one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL with 13 sacks this season. He is a terror. Ridley was sometimes inconsistent in Jacksonville but still had over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. Gesicki can be a quality second option behind Kmet, and Lock has experience as a backup working with Waldron.
The Draft:
Trade: Bears send #1 overall pick to Washington for #2 pick, and two 2nd round picks in 2024
1st Round (via WSH) - Drake Maye, QB, UNC
I imagine there are some questions about this. Everybody says if the Bears draft a QB, it will be Caleb Williams. Here is why I think it will be Maye. Poles is a GM that has adhered to a specific approach since taking over. He is a "traits" guy. Put simply, he likes targeting players with high physical ceilings if they check the right boxes regarding football character. Based on pure talent, Maye is QB1. He's 6'4, 230 lbs, and has a howitzer for a right arm. He is also a better fit for Shane Waldron's offensive system. The best wide-zone QBs (John Elway, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, Kirk Cousins, and Matthew Stafford) all display similar skill sets. On top of that, Washington will be highly interested in Williams because of his native roots.
1st Round - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Another thing about Waldron is that he loves to utilize "12" personnel. This is where the offense has two tight ends on the field. The wide-zone system has always been at its best when it has an athletic, explosive tight end. See Shannon Sharpe in Denver, Jordan Reed in Washington, and George Kittle in San Francisco. It's not a coincidence Bowers is drawing comparisons to Kittle. He's big, fast, explosive, and excellent at catching the ball. You can move him all over the field to create mismatches.
2nd Round (via WSH) - Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
With Jackson out of the picture, this Bears 2024 mock offseason would need some kind of investment at safety. Nubin may slip out of the 1st round because of his decent-not-great athleticism, but the dude maximizes all of his gifts. He's tough, instinctive, opportunistic, and an emotional leader. He can become one of those field generals on the back end QBs hate playing against.
2nd Round - Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Fixing the center position was always going to be a priority for the Bears. Poles and offensive line coach Chris Morgan like their guys athletic, intelligent, and physical. Powers-Johnson lived up to all those requirements at Oregon, guiding one of the best offensive lines in college football.
2nd Round (via LV) - Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Most of the hype is around Rome Odunze going into the draft. People seem to forget Washington's aerial circus wasn't a one-man show. Polk was every bit as crucial to their run this past season. He cracked 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, showcasing his excellent blend of quickness, smooth route-running, and outstanding hands. Whenever his QB needed a big catch, he made them.
3rd Round - Gabriel Murphy, EDGE, UCLA
Laiatu Latu was a stud for UCLA, but people cannot overlook how good Murphy was as well. He has a great first step, violent hands, plenty of power, and a high motor that allows him to constantly make quarterbacks uncomfortable. His length isn't the greatest and he lacks overall twitch, but he has enough tools and proven production to suggest he can carve out a productive NFL career if utilized correctly.
4th Round - Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
The wide-zone offense places specific demands on the running back position. Probably the most important is vision. You must be able to see where the holes will be and show no hesitation in getting to them. That is probably Davis' biggest strength. He's also a reliable weapon in the passing game.
4th Round (via LV) - Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan
Chicago loves their blockers to be bullies. Zinter has fit that role to perfection at Michigan. He's big, powerful, tough, and nasty. He's also an intelligent player, showcasing great awareness for his assignments. Zinter would likely go higher if he hadn't broken his leg. His mobility isn't upper-tier, but it's good enough.
4th Round (via PHI) - Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Football runs in the blood. The last name speaks for itself. Luke is the son of Broncos great Ed McCaffrey and brother of 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey. Like those two, Luke is a highly intelligent and tough player with good quickness, making him an instant threat in the slot.
5th Round - Isaiah Adams, OT, Illinois
Having linemen who are versatile at more than one position is never a bad thing. Adams has the size, length, and mobility to play tackle at the pro level while also boasting the power and instincts of a guard. The Bears could make great use of somebody like that.
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