Chicago Bears' Reportedly Paying Extra Attention To Top Draft Prospect

Even as free agency continues, the Chicago Bears haven't stopped their preparations for the 2024 NFL draft. It is a critical one for GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. With two picks in the 1st round, they have to hit on both if this team is going to finally get over the hump into relevance again. That is why they've been hard at work on the scouting trail, watching every prospect. By this point, it is a safe assumption they have a short list of players they really like and wouldn't mind selecting next month.

Everybody believes the Bears are taking a quarterback at #1 overall. Discussions about that have largely faded. Now it is about what they do with the #9 pick. The general belief is the Bears will take one of three positions at that spot: wide receiver, edge rusher, or offensive tackle. However, there is a fourth option. With only five picks in the draft, Poles may decide to trade down. That means he must have names in mind if the Bears choose this course. According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, there appears to be one prospect they're paying close attention to. Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.

The Chicago Bears' interest in Powers-Johnson is a no-brainer.

Center has been a constant source of frustration on the offensive line for the better part of a decade. Cody Whitehair provided some stability but even his tenure was marked by inconsistency. They need a genuine stud in the middle to bring that young offensive line together. Powers-Johnson is no joke. He's a powerful young man who loves to ragdoll defenders at every opportunity. His mobility is more than adequate for the Bears' system and his nasty attitude is something that obviously appeals to Poles and Eberflus.

Current projections have him going somewhere in the mid-to-late 1st round. So if the Chicago Bears want to grab him, it would likely come after trading down from #9. That depends on whether they get a strong enough offer to do so and if there is no prospect on the board they can't afford to pass up. Poles is keeping all of his options open. Powers-Johnson would have an instant impact on the Bears offensive line. Whoever ends up being their next quarterback will learn to love him.