Luxury Picks The Chicago Bears Could Make Anyway In 2024 Draft

Typically, when a draft comes around, teams focus on key positions of need. Areas of the roster they feel are too weak. While every GM will say they're targeting the "best player available," the truth is closer to the best player available "who fills a need." One has to imagine the Chicago Bears will do the same thing two weeks from now. If they happen to take a player at a position considered already a strength on the roster, this is considered a luxury pick. That got me thinking. Are there any players in this draft Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus might be willing to dip into the luxury pool for?

After combing the 2024 class of prospects, I came across four names who fit what this team loves and might convince them to pull the trigger if they're available at the right spots. Keep them in mind once the action starts.

These players will have the Chicago Bears' attention.

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Tight end isn't a premium position, at least not according to conventional NFL wisdom. However, that opinion might be changing as guys like Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, and George Kittle continue to reach the Super Bowl. Chicago isn't pressed for help there. Cole Kmet is a good player. His recent extension proves that. Gerald Everett is about as good of a #2 option as you can hope for as well. Realistically, all the Bears need is a solid blocking option for the third spot. Here's the thing. Bowers is a unique specimen. His mixture of size, speed, route-running, and natural hands have many putting him in the same category as Kittle and Kelce. Poles was in Kansas City. He knows what Kelce meant to that offense. Would he dare at #9? It's possible.

Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

Linebacker is not a position the Bears need to worry about. The dual additions of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards vastly improved it last year. Jack Sanborn continued showing he was an excellent find as an undrafted free agent. Drafting a linebacker at this stage feels like a pure depth or special teams move. However, Cooper could be an exception. He's long, tough, physical, relentless, and fast. What he lacks in premium instincts, he makes up in range and a non-stop motor. There is also tremendous versatility both in coverage and as a blitzer. Eberflus is a linebacker guy. There is no way he wouldn't gravitate to this young man.

Will Shipley, RB, Clemson

Adding DeAndre Swift meant the Chicago Bears no longer have a viable weakness in their running back group. They have a speed threat (Swift), a slasher (Herbert), and a short-yardage option who can block (Johnson). Here's the thing. Shipley is unique because he can run and catch with equal success, and he also brings value as a kick returner. Don't forget the NFL just changed the rules to encourage more returns. The new alignments suggest you'll need somebody from a running back background to take advantage. Shipley is a terrific athlete with good size and explosiveness.

Max Melton, CB, Rutgers

Investing at cornerback seems to be a regular thing for this regime despite it already being a strength. Jaylon Johnson got his contract extension. Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson are both 2nd round picks. Terell Smith was a 5th round pick. The Bears have talent and depth for days at that position. Would they really dip into that pool again? They will if they can get Melton. Not only is he a freak athlete with 4.39 speed and a 40-inch vertical, but he's also an instinctive ballhawk. He had eight interceptions and a forced fumble across three seasons at Rutgers. Oh, and he's aggressive as a tackler in the run game. That checks all the boxes this team covets at the position.