NEWSLETTER
The first mock drafts after the big wave of free agency are here! And when it comes to the Chicago Bears, they are looking GOOD.
A slow start to the offseason (in terms of high-profile, high-impact upgrades) will look like a blip on the radar if this mini-mock draft by ESPN’s Field Yates comes to fruition.
In it, Yates has the Bears using the No. 1 overall pick on USC quarterback Caleb Williams. At this point, that particular selection shouldn’t come with much pushback. Because even with a shrinking trade market for Justin Fields, league insiders still relay a firm belief that Chicago will draft a quarterback — no matter its incumbent QB’s status. As for the No. 9 pick, Yates sends Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze to the Bears.
Here’s Yates’ rationale behind his mock:
“Grand. Slam. That is what this scenario represents, as the Bears would land a top-six player from my board at a position of need. Odunze would align opposite DJ Moore to form an excellent duo. He is a fantastic route runner and comes down with everything thrown his way. His 1,640 receiving yards led the FBS last season.”
CHECK IT OUT: Potential Top 10 Pick Rome Odunze Has Met with the Bears
There is a lot to like about Rome Odunze’s résumé. In addition to leading college football in receiving yards last season, he cooked up the most receiving scores (13) and earned Consensus All-American honors. Throw in back-to-back first-team All-Pac-12 nods and consecutive seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards and Odunze represents the type of player you hope is available when the Bears go on the clock with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Other non-Bears notes from Field Yates’ mock draft
Field Yates has long been one of my favorite football writers. So when he offers up a mock draft, I’m giving it a second look for nuggets and tidbits. These are the four non-Bears things I found to be most interesting from his 15-pick mini-mock draft at ESPN:
There are 42 days until the NFL Draft. That seems daunting. But if you look at it this way, we’re closer to the draft than we were yesterday. I love that for us.
