Draft Insider Hints Who Chicago Bears May Prefer If They Go EDGE at #9

Ryan Poles said he and his front office will debate what to do with the #9 pick going into next month. Three groups will form, each assigned a position of need. One will argue for an offensive tackle, one for a wide receiver, and one for edge rushers. Whoever makes the most compelling case will help set the Chicago Bears' strategy going into the draft on April 25th. Greg Gabriel said over a week ago that he feels edge rusher is the current favorite to emerge from those debates. The Bears have serious talent concerns beyond Montez Sweat.

Draft insider Charlie Campbell of Walter Football has it on good authority that the Bears are truly debating between wide receiver and edge rusher. There is one problem. It is possible they and most of the NFL only see one player in the latter category worthy of going in the top 10.

"Naturally, there has been a ton of attention on what the Chicago Bears will do with the No. 1-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. With the ninth-overall pick, Chicago is in great position to really upgrade its roster. There hasn’t been much attention on No. 9 slot, but in speaking to sources with Chicago, the team has some specific positions in mind. Primarily, the Bears have in mind to target an edge rusher or wide receiver with the ninth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. An offensive tackle is also an option if they fall in love with a player.

Through the draft and/or free agency, the Bears want to add a pass rusher to go with Montez Sweat and a wide receiver to go with D.J. Moore. At pick No. 9, the top edge rusher might be available in Alabama’s Dallas Turner. Turner, however, may not get to the ninth pick. Teams like the Cardinals, Chargers, Giants and Falcons all are options to take Turner, and they hold picks No. 4-8. It will be interesting to see if UCLA’s Laiatu Latu or Florida State’s Jared Verse emerge as top-10 options. Right now, I have not heard buzz with teams that Latu and Verse are top-10 candidates."

This could mean both are trade down candidates.

That wouldn't be a bad thing since both are tremendous prospects. However, Dallas Turner has emerged as the most exciting. He's the best athlete of the bunch, has excellent length, and his production was consistently great during his stint with Alabama. If he gets to that #9 spot, the Bears seem ready and willing to take him. The problem is most believe he won't.

The Chicago Bears are at the mercy of the board.

Most mock drafts don't have Turner getting past the Atlanta Falcons at #8. They need pass rush help and he'd be an obvious fit for their defense. Were that to happen, the Bears' decision would be made for them. If one of the top three receivers is there at #9, the likelihood is strong that Poles would pick them. If Turner gets to that spot, he may feel compelled to give Matt Eberflus that second pass rusher. Remember, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune said recently the Bears are hoping to find a speed guy to complement Sweat. Turner is the perfect option.

In the end, Poles has the final say. If there is a player he covets, it is unlikely he will be swayed in a different direction. That was the case with Darnell Wright last year. Plenty of people didn't expect him to go as high as 10th overall. There could be somebody not projected to go in the top 10 he has an eye on. It is all speculation. We do know there is somebody in the edge rusher group he "loves." The debut episode of 1920 Football Drive proved that. Maybe it was Turner.