WCG’s lead draft analyst shares his latest mock draft of the 2024 pre-draft cycle.
It’s finally Draft Day!
After months of speculation, analysis, heated debates, and mock drafts galore, the 2024 NFL Draft officially opens tonight. The first overall pick seems to be set in stone, but the unpredictability of picks No. 2-32 are what should make Thursday’s selections incredibly fun to monitor.
The Chicago Bears, of course, have the luxury of knowing everybody that will be available with the No. 1 pick. All signs point to them selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams, ushering in a new era in Chicago’s historic franchise. They also currently possess the No. 9 pick in the first round, giving them a rare chance to make two top-10 picks. Though they are only slated to have two more selections after Thursday — picks No. 75 and No. 122 — there’s no telling how many they’ll end up with when it’s all said and done.
I’ll write up a Day 2 mock draft at the end of Thursday’s proceedings. However, this is the only chance I’ll have to make a full mock draft without knowing any of the selections. For the sake of this mock, I will not be including trades, though I do expect some to be made. Here’s my last Bears 7-round mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Round 1 (via Panthers): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The only way there was ever a “0.00% chance” of the Bears drafting Caleb Williams is if you put a 1 at the front of it.
Round 1: Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
I keep going back and forth between Murphy and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. While Odunze is my dream pick at No. 9, there’s no guarantee he’ll be available. I feel better about Murphy’s availability, and I could see the Bears falling in love with him.
Murphy is the disruptive 3-technique defensive tackle Chicago needs. Lightning quick off the ball and offering rare mobility for his position, he’s a disruptor along the interior who generates pressure and opens up opportunities for his teammates. He plays with ideal pad level and anchor strength, and he has a high motor and an ability to shed blocks with moves like push-pulls, swims and bull rushes. The vision here would be a defensive tackle tandem of Murphy and Gervon Dexter, with Andrew Billings and Zacch Pickens factoring in as rotational defenders.
Round 3: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
If the Bears can’t get Odunze in Round 1, they might be able to obtain a high-quality consolation prize with either of the other two starting Washington receivers.
Polk is a well-built receiver at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds with inside-outside versatility, though I like him a bit as an ‘X’ receiver along the boundary. He’s a physical receiver who fights hard through contact at the catch point. His coordination is apparent on tape, as his fluidity across the middle of the field stands out, as does the way he adjusts to the ball in the air. An 8.85 RAS athlete, he won’t wow you with deep speed but offers plenty of physical tools and an alpha mentality that could make him a solid starter in the league.
Round 4 (via Eagles): Tanor Bortolini, OC, Wisconsin
I considered an edge rusher here, but the value in the fourth round doesn’t wow me in this class. However, I find myself enticed by the potential interior offensive linemen who could be available in that range.
Bortolini has taken significant snaps at center, left guard, right guard and right tackle. With elite speed, agility and explosion testing grades, he’s a high-level athlete with good lateral quickness and lower-half flexibility. His spatial awareness in pass protection is very good, excelling at finding work on double-teams and chip blocks. He packs a nice punch at the point of attack. He doesn’t have tremendous length or the ability to bury defenders consistently, but he offers starting upside and could eventually step into such a role for the Bears if selected.
My 2024 NFL Draft Guide is live now on my Patreon! You’ll receive access to my 440-player big board, scouting reports, a 7-round mock draft, positional rankings, player comparisons, and player superlatives! Half of the proceeds for the month of April will be send in a donation towards the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.
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