NEWSLETTER
The NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, so it’s time to fire up the PFF Mock Draft Simulator again and take another swing at trying to fix the 2024 Chicago Bears.
A couple of prefaces:
First, it’s fun. I think these can be fun exercises if you treat them with a degree of realism. I have a great example in the first version of my Chicago Bears seven-round mock draft, but I’ll talk about that later.
Second, I want to look back on these and see how fluid the pre-draft process is when the dust settles in Detroit in April. For example, when I did this before the Senior Bowl — and kept it to myself — I had the Bears addressing the need for a center by taking Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson outside the first round. We know today that’s highly unlikely after his Senior Bowl performance was so damn good that he’s skyrocketed to No. 20 on Dane Brugler’s latest Big Board.
So, it was back to the drawing board. Over the next 51 days, we’ll see other names rise and fall, and we’ll see needs addressed in free agency for the Bears and the rest of the league. At this point, I think today — in the wake of the Super Bowl and the Senior Bowl — is a good starting point for this exercise. I’ll do this again post-free agency and once more in the week leading up to the NFL Draft in late April.
If, in between those dates, the Bears do something significant, like trade Justin Fields, I’ll do one then, too.
Note: While I was watching the kids’ baseball practice last night, the Bears decided to make a trade that impacted my Mock Draft 2.0, hence why this story is now titled “2.1.” In the original version, I had the Bears taking Jackson Powers-Johnson at No. 12 (after a trade with the Broncos) and versatile guard/tackle in the fifth round (the pick that now belongs to Buffalo after last night’s trade). So, it was back to the drawing board last night to meet the original planned publish time for this. If you want to check out the pre-trade version, you can do so in the Bleacher Nation Newsletter.
2024 Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: 2.1
TRADE!
I think the Bears will end up trading Fields before the draft, so let’s get this out of the way right now. Justin Fields is heading to the Falcons for a pair of picks. The market on Fields is softer than most want to admit, and the Bears get a return here that reflects such.
Bears Receive
Falcons Receive
Round 1, Pick 1: QB Caleb Williams, USC
This is the easy choice. For two years, Caleb Williams has been the top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft class. The Chicago Bears are resetting the clock at quarterback and taking Williams here. He’s a can-not-pass-on prospect, period, point blank.
TRADE!
The Broncos swap with the Bears and move up to No. 9 to take their quarterback of the future, J.J. McCarthy. Chicago gets an extra fourth-rounder in this draft and a pair of 2025 draft picks to move down a few spots.
Bears Receive
Broncos Receive
Round 1, Pick 12 (via DEN): WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
The Bears need a wide receiver, but with the big three (MHJ, Nabers, Odunze) off the board at No. 9, Chicago moves back to No. 12 and selects LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., who solidified himself as WR4 in this draft class last weekend at the combine.
Thomas is a dangerous and explosive pass-catcher who can make big plays, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. He glides past defenders effortlessly and has a natural feel for timing his movements to get defensive backs off balance. Thomas caught 17 touchdowns in 2023, the most in the FBS. He’s elusive after the catch and can turn, juke, and accelerate away from defenders, particularly on crossing routes. However, he needs to improve his discipline when navigating traffic and sometimes loaf when the play isn’t intended for him.
Round 2, Pick 43 (via ATL): EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State
Chop Robinson was one of the better performers at the NFL Scouting Combine last weekend, and he will go in the second round in April’s draft. Turning Justin Fields into a talented edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat on a rookie deal is a heck of a result for the Bears.
Robinson has a muscular frame with long arms and plays with an extraordinarily souped-up burst. He shows good bend to dip and rip under a block and has an effective inside counter move. Robinson brings lightning-quick hands and a good push/pull move and converts speed to power with his bull rush. He is very active and tenacious off the edge and takes edge-setting duties seriously. Robinson is a fluid mover who is comfortable in space when asked to drop into zones. However, his production was disappointing relative to his explosive traits, and he needs to continue developing his pass-rush repertoire.
TRADE!
There wasn’t much on the board that I liked in this spot, so I traded back five spots to No. 80 with Cincinnati, who selected Oregon interior defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus at No. 75. In addition to No. 80, the Bengals sent a fifth-rounder back our way (No. 148).
Bears Receive
Broncos Receive
Round 3, Pick 80 (via CIN): DI T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
The Bears needed some more draft capital, and we get some here with a traceback with the Bengals. We bring a pretty good interior defensive lineman to add to the mix between Montez Sweat and Chop Robinson.
Sweat is a big, versatile player who primarily played on the inside for Texas but got some opportunities across the line. He’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to defending against the run, and he’s also an intelligent player who can sniff out screenplays. As a pass rusher, Sweat has a quick first step and is a powerful player who can walk opponents back into the pocket. Although he has some potential for disrupting the pocket, he’s not likely to be a high-sack guy.
Round 4, Pick 111: TE Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
I’ve stressed the importance of adding a complementary tight end to the Bears’ offense, and after Ben Sinnott’s excellent performance at the combine last weekend, he’s a great value for the Bears in the fourth round.
Sinnott is a versatile tight end who can play multiple positions, including backfield, on the line of scrimmage, and at receiver. Although he doesn’t have a standout skill, he possesses all the qualities that make him a valuable addition to any NFL team’s tight end room. He is an athletic tight end who can contribute to the passing game and hold his own when it comes to blocking duties.
Despite adding 40 pounds to his frame, he hasn’t lost his speed or agility. He is a decent route runner with the quickness to compete against man coverage on all three levels. He is also capable of getting additional yards after the catch. However, he lacks the physicality to hold up on blocking duties near the line, and he needs to improve his hands to become a more reliable pass catcher.
Round 4, Pick 114 (via DEN): S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech
Since my last version of this exercise, Eddie Jackson has been released by the Bears. With the extra fourth-rounder that netted from Denver in the trade back in round one, we fill that hole vacated by Jackson.
Taylor-Demerson may not possess the highly coveted measurables that teams are looking for, but he makes up for it with his instincts and ball skills. He can offer coverage versatility as a split safety, high safety, and nickel. He is quick enough to handle man coverage and exhibits outstanding anticipation, which helps him steal possessions from quarterbacks who show their cards. However, his aggression may sometimes create negative plays, and his tackling might never be better than average. Nevertheless, Taylor-Demerson’s versatility, football IQ, and consistent ball production align with what defensive coordinators are looking for, making him a solid starting defensive back.
Round 4, Pick 123 (via PHI): G Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
The Bears used the fourth-rounder they received from Philadelphia last year in the Jalen Carter trade to take a guard they can use as a swing guard and a nice depth piece on the offensive line tasked with protecting Caleb Williams. Even with the Bears trading for Ryan Bates last night, I still like adding a versatile and high-upside depth piece to the Bears’ offensive line here.
Beebe is a technically sound offensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has played over 1,200 snaps at both tackle and guard positions and practiced at center. Beebe’s versatility is one of his strengths that NFL teams will appreciate. Due to his short arms, his best fit in the NFL would be in the interior. Beebe has quick feet in pass protection and is a bulldozer in the run game. Although he needs to work on his recovery when in trouble during pass protection, shedding some weight could help improve his conditioning.
Round 5, Pick 148 (via CIN): RB Isaac Guerendo, Louisville
Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo impressed NFL draft evaluators with his performance at the Scouting Combine. Guerendo ran the fastest 40-yard dash time among running backs, had the best vertical jump, and the second-best broad jump. He also ranked fourth in both the three-cone drill and shuttle run. Guerendo played for five college seasons, but his production was limited until his transfer to Louisville in 2023. He carried the ball 132 times for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns and added 22 catches for 234 yards. Although he has yet to prove himself as an elite running back, Guerendo’s size, skill set, and demeanor make him suitable for an NFL workload with the potential to be a three-down back.
