NEWSLETTER
If the Chicago Bears do the obvious thing and take Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the USC quarterback will be in attendance for that magic moment.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shares the list of 13 players who will attend the draft in Detroit. Williams tops our list for obvious reasons. Here are the others:
What makes this list fun is that Caleb Williams isn’t the only prospect who has been connected to the Bears in the pre-draft process. And with Chicago’s football team having a second top-10 pick, there is a chance we’ll see the Bears snag a second player from the green room, get them on stage, have them dap up NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and join the squad. NFL Draft night is always an exciting one for us. So imagine how *THOSE GUYS* feel about it.
Caleb Williams isn’t the only high-profile prospect attending the 2024 NFL Draft
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers were scheduled to visit Halas Hall this week. Both would make wonderful draft targets for the Bears. Although, it might take a trade up from pick No. 9 to land either Harrison or Nabers. But the juice could be worth the squeeze to pair Williams with a top-not wide receiver prospect. However, if the price isn’t right, then I suppose it could be worth it to stand pat and hope Nabers, Harrison or Rome Odunze falls to them and is available with the ninth pick. Odunze met with the Bears at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and was one of the visitors last week at Halas Hall.
And if none of those players are on the board when the Bears go on the clock, then the team could pivot.
JC Latham is the only offensive lineman to receive an invite to the green room on Night 1 of the NFL Draft. The versatile Latham was scheduled to visit the Bears this week and is one of the draft’s most intriguing offensive line prospects. Meanwhile, Dallas Turner — one of Latham’s former teammates on the Alabama Crimson Tide — has already visited the Bears. The Consensus All-American is one of a handful of defensive end prospects the Bears could target on draft night if one of the receivers aren’t available. UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who is also slated to be in attendance on the first night of the NFL Draft, is among them.
For me, the only surprise name on Schefter’s list is Darius Robinson. The Mizzou product doesn’t appear to be a first-round lock, but I can see a scenario in which he makes his way into the first round. After all, the NFL generally doesn’t invite players to the green room who aren’t seen as first-round picks. Then again, Robinson being a native of Southland, Mich. — which is a 17-minute drive (per Google maps) away from Ford Field — waiting for his name to be called on draft night in Detroit would make for tremendous television drama.
But don’t get it twisted, Robinson is a good ballplayer. Robinson earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and has experience as a defensive tackle and defensive end. If the Bears had an early second-round pick, I’d be intrigued by Robinson as a possible fit in Chicago. But the Washington Commanders have the Bears’ second-round pick. Not that I’m complaining. I’m a believer in what Montez Sweat brings to the table. And not just because he made the proclamation that he won’t lose to the Green Bay Packers.
The NFL Draft is in 14 days. Get your rest now. We’ve got a busy weekend ahead of us when April 25 rolls around on the calendar.
