Bears 2024 draft 🧵 Pick 1 is Williams. Ok, now let’s move on to 9. Going to do similar to last year and rank the players in the order I think the Bears will value them, as well as adding my thoughts on the players as well. I’ll have trade targets in here as well.
1) Jared Verse. Edge FSU. I think Verse has a sneaky good chance of being the pick at 9. He’s productive and a prototypical athlete to work with on the edge. Also probably has some great alignment versatility. Verse is going to be everything Flus and Poles value. Great size, productive in college. Very high motor, and by all account a great guy off the field. As for my thoughts, I wouldn’t be upset with adding a high ceiling, high floor force on the DL. He is going to be a 3 down player from day 1 and a great supplement to Sweat. I do question his ability to finish his pass rushes off the edge, as he physically overwhelmed guys in college but didn’t always show the ability to get flat after winning up front. Something that goes unnoticed is he’s a great run defender and I think could bump inside in pass rush exclusive packages. This is my official prediction for the pick. I wouldn’t be upset with the premium investment up front.
2) Rome Odunze WR, Washington Odunze is everything you want in a WR both right now for the current roster and as a long term WR1. He has the size and speed to win on the outside consistently. This combo immediately puts defenders and coverages in conflict on how/what you can play. He’s an underrated route runner and I think has even more to offer than what we saw in college. Can win with size, can win with speed, and can win with technique. Also apparently has a relationship with Caleb so that’s bonus points. My only knock on this pick is it will be a very heavy investment for a WR3 in a year with a very deep class. Overall this is a close 2nd in what I think they will do, and personally what I hope they do at 9 if I had to pick. Don’t be surprised to see him taken at 7 or 8 by the Bears.
3) Olu Fashanu I think there could be a serious desire to go get a LT in the top 10 operating under the assumption that they won’t be picking this high in the near future. Olu is going to have a ton of appeal to Poles I think. Young (21) and prototypical size with some high end pass set technique to boot is going to be a very tempting selection. Getting both OTs and QB1 in just 2 years would be the definition of building the foundation for winning and hard to argue with it. Olu is a young potential ridden player who has flashed some high end ability. He also has a lot of development to do IMO. I actually don’t think he is a better player than Braxton year 1 and not as high on him as some. I think Poles gives him a hard look but I would be a bet nervous about this one, at least in the short term.
4) Johnny Newton. DL, Illini I know Murphy is the hot name right now but I think this is the potential long term 3 that will temp the Bears at 9. Assuming he plays exclusively 3 in the pros a ton of his shortcomings can be diminished and his strengths defined. Newton is a natural disrupter and very good at getting vertical. Does a really good job at finishing reps and getting off blocks when he wins off his first step. This will serve him very well at 3. His size is the main concern but his frame still looks like it has some room to develop. Not the longest player but doesn’t need to be for what the Bears would ask him to do. This is really a pick I would be excited about. I would look out for Newton to be a prime target on a short move down if that deal becomes available.
@MichaelGus57 No doubt they may be interested in Newton but not at 9. He would be a trade back option to mid first round.