Chicago Bears Make Big Splash With Their First-Round Picks In The 2024 NFL Draft – April 26, 2024
CHICAGO BEARS MAKE BIG SPLASH WITH THEIR TWO FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN THE 2024 NFL DRAFT – APRIL 26, 2024 — Following a 0-4 start to the 2023 NFL season, the Bears finished 7-10. Justin Fields showed flashes of being a legitimate starting quarterback, especially during the team’s last several games.
However, there was an air of uncertainty about Fields’ future with the franchise from a long-term perspective going into the offseason. As multiple outlets had predicted, the Bears traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers last month in exchange for a sixth-round pick, thus ending his three-year tenure with the team.
Given that fact, it was obvious that the team wanted to go in a different direction. And as a surprise to no one, with the top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Bears also had the ninth overall pick in the year’s draft. Here is a brief look at what each selection brings to the table.
Can Caleb Williams Become The Franchise Quarterback The Chicago Bears So Desperately Need?
During his final season at USC, Williams threw for 3,633 yards while completing 68.6 percent of his passing attempts. He also finished with 30 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Throughout his collegiate career, he produced 93 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
It is no secret that this team has not fared well at the quarterback position for quite some time. The franchise has never had a quarterback eclipse the 4,000-yard threshold during a season.
Furthermore, the Bears have never had a quarterback to record 30 touchdowns in a season, either. Erik Kramer came close when he tallied 29 touchdowns in 1995. Not to rub salt in the wound, but their division rivals – the Green Bay Packers – now have four different quarterbacks that have thrown 30-plus touchdowns in a season.
Jordan Love became the fourth different Packers QB to throw for 30+ TDs in a season, joining Lynn Dickey, Brett Favre (8 times), and Aaron Rodgers (8 times).
— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) January 1, 2024
Like Fields back in 2021, there is a ton of hope that Williams will help the Bears finally get it right at the most prominent position in the NFL.
Rome Odunze Another Important Piece To The Puzzle
In 2023, Ryan Poles hoped that the trio of D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, and Chase Claypool would provide Fields with viable targets downfield. Moore did his part as he finished with 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, Mooney had just 31 catches for 414 yards. His lowest totals in both categories during his four seasons in the Windy City. Mooney is now a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Meanwhile, during his short tenure in the Windy City, Claypool caught 28 passes totaling 191 yards with one touchdown. The team parted ways with him in October 2023.
The front office made a couple of noteworthy moves to address this glaring concern. First, they acquired Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round pick after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on an adjusted contract – a decision that reportedly hurt and stunned Allen.
In his 11th NFL season with the Chargers, Allen finished the 2023 campaign with 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. It was the fifth time he accumulated over 100 receptions and his yardage output was the second-highest total of his career. Simply put, he brings the ability to produce and experience to the table.
Although Allen appears to be a valuable addition, the front office wanted to add another receiver to the mix. So, with the No. 9 pick, the Bears selected Washington Huskies wideout Rome Odunze.
Odunze increased his production in both catches and total yards in each of his four seasons with Washington. In 2023, he finished with 92 catches for an NCAA-leading 1,640 yards and 14 offensive touchdowns.
It is way too early to project how the pieces will mesh in the upcoming season. It is also premature to predict whether the Bears have closed the gap between themselves and the likes of the Detroit Lions and the Packers.
What is a certainty is the Bears are heavily invested in the quarterback position as Williams will have weapons that the previous two rookie quarterbacks did not have, which will hopefully produce good results in 2024.
