Prepare for a Spectacular Bears Draft Success

We're just a week away from a celebration for the Bears.

Join your friends and family as Ryan Poles strategically positions his team to become a long-term contender with standout early picks. This is what fans are hoping for, and hope has a special potency in sports.

Look at the boost the Chicago Sky received from drafting Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese just days ago.

Now imagine that impact amplified for the Bears, Chicago's beloved NFL team and a pivotal name in professional sports. Historically, this is a position the franchise has struggled to master.


Thankfully, the drama surrounding the first pick has subsided. After enduring months of speculation since January, fans are relieved.

Questions like "Who will the Bears select first?", "Will they trade Justin Fields?", or "Should Poles capitalize and trade the first pick?" have dominated conversations. There's also been curiosity about Caleb Williams' willingness to play in Chicago and how fans would react to a quarterback with unconventional personal style.

All this chatter has finally quieted down. Bears enthusiasts eagerly await the draft, set to start next week, when it will be announced that Williams is joining the team.

However, the excitement doesn't end with the first pick. The ninth pick still holds numerous possibilities.

In any other draft, this pick would be under intense scrutiny. Instead, it's been somewhat overshadowed.

If the Bears can secure another top-tier player at number nine, their offseason could shift from a home run to a grand slam—even with just four picks. Poles has already made impactful trades, transforming this year's second, fourth, and fifth-round picks into key players like Montez Sweat, Keenan Allen, and Ryan Bates.

While trading down for more picks has its merits, selecting another star holds greater significance. Legendary executive Bill Polian, instrumental in hiring Poles, emphasized on the Waddle and Silvy show that the Bears need 10-12 elite players to truly compete. Players like Sweat, Allen, DJ Moore, and Jaylon Johnson are part of this core, with Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker potentially joining them. Poles hopes Williams will become a cornerstone player, along with Darnell Wright.

The Bears are in need of more stars.

As much as we love a good draft day party, ideally, this will be the last time the Bears pick in the top 10 for a decade. The goal is to build a team that consistently drafts later due to playoff qualifications, perhaps even dreaming of a Super Bowl celebration.

Poles should aim to snag another star at nine and resist trading down if there are still great players available.

Here are my top picks for the Bears at number nine, although I'm no Mel Kiper Jr. or professional scout.

1. If available, swiftly choose Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers. Don't overthink it—these players have the potential to be significant assets. Poles has struggled to find receivers unless the choice is as clear-cut as Moore or Allen.

2. Consider drafting Joe Alt or Dallas Turner to strengthen the offensive and defensive lines, respectively. Alt and Wright could be a formidable duo protecting Williams, while Turner could excel opposite Sweat.

3. Trading up for Marvin Harrison Jr. could be worth the cost. Pairing him with Williams might establish a dynamic duo that could excel under their rookie contracts, elevating the team's offensive capabilities significantly.

4. If none of these options are viable, trading back to select the best available defensive or offensive lineman could be the best move. Players like Troy Fautanu, JC Latham, and Byron Murphy are potential picks.

This draft is more than just an opportunity; it's a turning point for the Bears to establish a foundation for success.