Draft Insider Says Chicago Bears Quietly Eyeing Top Playmaker At #9

The Chicago Bears won't know what they're doing with the 9th pick until they see how the board falls after they take Caleb Williams at #1. Plenty of speculation is ongoing. Some think GM Ryan Poles could trade up if Marvin Harrison Jr. drops far enough. Most think he is more likely to trade down, hoping to add to his limited inventory of four draft picks. Then again, there is a strong undercurrent of fans who believe they should just stay put at #9 and take the best talent on their board.

Draft insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia has dug deep into what teams could be planning next week. He appears to have come across some interesting information regarding the Bears' preferences. It sounds like they are leaning towards an offensive playmaker if they stay at the 9th pick. Here's where it gets interesting. Two names are heavy favorites to go at that spot. One is Washington receiver Rome Odunze, which is no surprise. The other is a big one: Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Chicago apparently loves him.

The way it looks now, Bowers won't get past the New York Jets at pick 10. I first mentioned during my report from Georgia's pro day on March 13 that "The teams showing the most interest in Bowers are the Los Angeles Chargers (fifth pick), the Tennessee Titans (seventh pick), the Chicago Bears (ninth pick) and the New York Jets (10th pick)," and that still holds true.

Sources say if the Bears go pass catcher with the ninth pick, it will come down to Bowers or receiver Rome Odunze. Bowers was in Chicago on Tuesday for an official-30 visit with the franchise and will be in Los Angeles to see the Chargers on Wednesday.

The Chicago Bears' interest in Bowers is easy to understand.

Evaluators have been sky-high on him for over a year, feeling he's one of the most natural playmakers to come out at his position in a long time. He is considered the spitting image of San Francisco 49ers superstar George Kittle. Across three years at Georgia, he pilled up 2,538 yards, 26 touchdowns, and two national championship rings. His blend of size, speed, and route-running prowess make him a matchup problem for every defense. Any offense would benefit from having him as one of the options.

The odd part is understanding the Chicago Bears' interest. They already signed Cole Kmet to an extension. He's been a rock-solid player for them the past two years. Gerald Everett arrived in free agency to back him up. This team doesn't have a glaring need at tight end. This means Poles sees Bowers as a rare talent who can change the landscape of an offense. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is a former tight ends coach. He likes to feature the position a lot.

Nobody would fault the Bears for going this route. Bowers is that talented. A combination of him and Kmet would create all sorts of matchup problems, especially with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen on the outside.