Mel Kiper, ESPN (March 19)
No. 9 pick: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: Before the trade for Keenan Allen, I would have said the Bears should do everything they could to try to get one of the top three wideouts in this class. That’s no longer necessary, though Allen will be a free agent in 2025 unless the team gives him an extension. Instead, Chicago has options with its second first-round pick. And a defense that had just 30 sacks last season (31st in the league) could use help too. So let’s add an edge rusher on the other side of Montez Sweat.
Verse’s testing numbers at the combine were impressive, even if I didn’t love his 2023 tape. He was too inconsistent at times. But at 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, he has a complete set of tools to be a devastating pass-rusher at the next level, if he can put everything together. The Bears have made a few shrewd moves this offseason, and if their rookie quarterback comes in and plays well, they could be challengers in the NFC North.
Joel Klatt, Fox Sports (March 19)
No. 9 pick: Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu
Comment: I loved what the Bears have done in the first week of free agency, adding Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift to DJ Moore, Cole Kmet and Darnell Wright to build their offensive foundation. The Bears could trade out of this pick, but why not solidify the other tackle spot? Fashanu’s a helluva player and he’s just getting better. He’s got All-Pro written all over him. You’d also reunite Fashanu with Williams as the two played in high school together.
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus (March 18)
No. 9 pick: LSU receiver Malik Nabers
Comment: “You’re telling me Caleb Williams is going to get to throw to D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Malik Nabers?” Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you.
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (March 16)
No. 9 pick: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: This pick was initially Rome Odunze. Then the Bears traded for Keenan Allen. I don’t think the Allen trade prohibits Chicago from still going WR here, especially if they view Odunze as a blue-chip player, but in this mock draft, the front office pairs Montez Sweat with one of the best pass rushers in this class in Jared Verse.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (March 20)
No. 9 pick: Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner
Comment: Turner is too talented to not be a top-10 pick. The Bears now have the size and length of Montez Sweat on one end of their defensive line and the bend and explosiveness of Turner on the other.
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (March 18)
No. 9 pick: Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner
Comment: It’ll be interesting to see which edge rusher goes off the board first; I lean slightly to Verse but could understand why a team prefers Turner, one of the most explosive players in this class. With Keenan Allen now in Chicago, the Bears — like the Falcons above — can focus on defense here. (Alternatively, now with just four picks in the entire draft, they could choose to trade down.)
2024-03-21 21:09:40
#Chicago #Bears #mock #draft #compilation
