Mel Kiper Declares Chicago Committed Highway Robbery In 1st Round

The Chicago Bears knew they only had four picks in the 2024 draft. That meant GM Ryan Poles had little margin for error. He had to get as many of them right as possible, especially for the two at the top. Thanks to a rare string of circumstances, the Bears ended up with the #1 overall pick and #9 overall pick. Such a windfall gave them a golden opportunity to reshape their franchise with two potential pillars. Poles easily could've traded, moved around, and collected more picks. Instead, he opted to stay put and take his guys. Mel Kiper of ESPN couldn't believe what unfolded next.

Caleb Williams came first, which was unsurprising. He'd been the projected #1 overall pick for the better part of two years since emerging as a star in 2022. His blend of playmaking instincts, arm strength, and accuracy is near-impossible to replicate. Next came Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze at #9, widely viewed as one of the best pass-catchers to come out of college in years. When evaluating his winners and losers of round one, Kiper made it clear the Bears knocked it out of the park.

Chicago Bears

The picks: QB Caleb Williams (No. 1) and WR Rome Odunze (No. 9)

How could the Bears not be in the "winners" section? They ended up with the No. 1 overall pick via their trade with the Panthers last year, and they used it on the No. 1 prospect on my Big Board. Williams will be an upgrade on Justin Fields as a passer from day one. He's so smooth, so savvy, so talented. And he has playmakers around him -- Chicago added Keenan Allen in a trade and has DJ Moore and Cole Kmet -- to elevate his game. I love this pick.

Then the Bears landed Odunze, the No. 4 player on my board, at No. 9, to add to their explosive offense. While you could argue they still have major issues on defense -- and they have just two picks the rest of this draft -- their offense is really fun. They're going to be feisty in the NFC North this season. They nailed these early picks.

Mel Kiper is not alone in his assessment of the Bears.

His ESPN colleague Field Yates called their 1st round a "grand slam." NFL.com rated Williams and Odunze as the #4 and #3 prospects in the entire class, respectively. Even the notoriously stiff Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gave the picks an A- and B+. It is beyond difficult to find anybody who hated what Poles pulled off. If those two pan out as expected, the Bears have gotten themselves a pair of future superstars. The fact they'll be playing with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet makes it even better.

It feels like a new era is dawning in Bears football. For ages, the organization seemed stuck in the past. They were always focused on strong defense and running the football, while other teams kept investing in quarterbacks and wide receivers. Poles has finally changed their culture. His three 1st round picks to date were an offensive tackle, a quarterback, and a wide receiver. Mel Kiper merely offers validation for the plan unfolding. This team is finally ready to focus on the future, not the past.