Chicago Bears Draft Grades Roundup

We chack in on how some national pundits graded the Bears 2024 draft class.

The Chicago Bears had two top-ten picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, so the odds were good that they’d come out with a class that the pundits gave high marks to. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were the headliners, but there were positive remarks about Kiran Amegadjie, Tory Taylor, and Austin Booker.

I found eleven publications that gave an overall draft class grade, and only one ot them gave the Bears less than an A.

A+

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: “This could be the class that turns the Bears back into an NFL powerhouse team.”

The USA Today’s Nate Davis: “Duh. They got this draft’s best player, USC QB Caleb Williams, off the top and – perhaps – its next best in Washington WR Rome Odunze at No. 9.“

Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame: “Amegadjie could end up being the steal of this class, and based on how well GM Ryan Poles has mined the lower rungs of the draft for offensive line talent, we could see another deep class for the Bears in a critical season.”

AP’s Rob Maaddi: “Getting QB Caleb Williams (1) and WR Rome Odunze (9) in the top 10 will help them compete for a playoff spot this season.”

A

Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema: “The sixth-ranked player on the PFF big board falls to Chicago at the back end of the top 10. Odunze is able to tilt the scales on 50-50 balls and brought in 21 of his 28 contested targets last season.”

The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy: “Who needs quantity when you have quality?“

A-

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske: “The Bears’ draft class was small but could be transformational, and the supporting cast around Williams on offense gives him a reasonable chance to thrive.”

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: “Williams and Odunze, combined with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, could give the Bears their best passing attack since the merger.”

The Sporting News’ Vinny Iyer: “Taylor docks them for a weird reach, but getting back into the draft to nab Booker was nice.“

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso: “Small but impactful class from Ryan Poles, and he added a pick late by trading a fourth-round pick in 2025 to get a high-upside outside rusher, which was a clear need.“

B

ESPN’s Mel Kiper: “Chicago didn’t have the capital to fully help both its offense and defense in this draft, and as a result, the other side of the ball needs some work. With Williams leading the way, though, the offense will be incredibly fun to watch in 2024.”