Bear Digest

Caleb Williams and a Receiver for Bears

Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't see the Bears thinking about blocking and tackling with his first mock draft as point production is what they need.
Gene Chamberlain|
Caleb Williams and a Receiver for Bears
Caleb Williams and a Receiver for Bears

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Chicago Bears

It's probably not a surprise after what he said about the trade value of Justin Fields, but the dean of draft gurus has the Bears selecting Caleb Williams No. 1.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of 2024 and the no-brainer pick is USC's quarterback.

It was Kiper who said the Bears could get a first-round draft pick in exchange for Fields, while many other draft experts think this is unlikely. If Kiper thinks Fields has this much trade value, then drafting Williams complete sense. Then again, if he's worth a first-rounder, why would they want to trade him?

Kiper threw a twist at everyone by putting Jayden Daniels as the second QB in the draft, going to the Washington Commanders at No. 2. He has North Carolina's Drake Maye going to the Panthers at No. 3. Most mocks put Maye as No. 2.

In this mock, Kyler Murray would get to throw to the top receiver in the draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4.

Kiper's second Bears pick of Round 1 has the Bears helping Williams rather than adding to their pass rush or offensive line.

The pick is Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, who fits the Bears' need for a big (6-3, 216 pounds), traditional X-type receiver in the attack. DJ Moore is more of an all-purpose type. The Bears could stand to bolster their receiver corps with more than one pass catcher.

Odnunze just completed an incredibly productive final season chasing passes from lefty Michael Penix Jr. He compiled 10 100-yard receiving games and finished with 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in a 15-game season.

Kiper had the Bears with the choice of taking Olu Fashanu, Penn State's tackle, or Odunze. Their chance to take Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner vanished one pick earlier in this mock so a receiver only made sense.

The key in this mock is Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt going in the top nine picks, as well. 

It meant Odunze would be there for the Bears.

There are many mocks forecasting the top three wide receivers will go in the first eight picks, leaving the Bears with no choice but an offensive tackle at No. 9. Whether they would make this selection when they have two tackle starters who were selected in the last two drafts is the potential headache the Bears could face.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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