The Chicago Bears Have Learned Their Official 1st Round Draft Spots

Another loss to Green Bay left a bitter taste in the Chicago Bears' mouths. For all the talk about progress with this team in 2023, it feels like they are still far away from being a serious contender. Head coach Matt Eberflus was outcoached again by Matt Lafleur. Justin Fields couldn't do anything against the Packers defense again. Bears fans are getting tired of watching the same episode over and over. Something has to change. Still, GM Ryan Poles has put the organization on a far better footing. The roster is young and more talented than in recent years.

Now, he has a chance to push it to the next level. It was already common knowledge Chicago would hold the #1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers. The remaining unknown was where their own pick would end up. With the loss to Green Bay and some results elsewhere, the Bears will also hold the #9 pick next April. This will mark the first time since 1979 they've held two top-10 picks in the same draft. That was the year they took Dan Hampton (4th) and Al Harris (9th).

The Chicago Bears have a golden opportunity in front of them.

Experts believe the 2024 draft class is one of the stronger ones in the past few years. It is loaded at several important positions, including wide receiver, offensive tackle, pass rusher, and quarterback. Poles has a golden opportunity to get two blue-chip talents onto his roster, perhaps setting it up for a big jump forward next season. The obvious question will center around what he does at quarterback. Fields had some nice moments this season, but he again seems to fall short every time he runs into good teams. Green Bay was another sobering reminder.

The kid is easy to root for. He works hard. Teammates love him. Sadly, he's missing something. The Chicago Bears have given him three years to find it. Yes, the support structure hasn't been ideal, but good quarterbacks almost always flourish within three years. Fields has flashes, but consistency eludes him. Poles didn't draft him. It feels like the time has come for a change.

On the other hand, he could decide to trade the pick again, accumulating more draft capital for the future. He has options. We will likely get an idea of what they'll be by the middle of next week.