Even though the Panthers defeated the Falcons in Week 15, their 2-13 record is still the worst in the league, meaning the Bears still have the upper hand for the No. 1 overall pick. But there’s still the question of what to do if the Bears are picked first for the second year in a row. Should they trade it for the second year in a row and move forward with Justin Fields? Or do they need to reset the clock as they rebuild with a new franchise quarterback?
As the offense continues to struggle, it’s becoming more apparent that something needs to change on that side of the ball. In this mock draft, we explore a world in which GM Ryan Pauls determines a change under center is needed.
As always, this mock draft is not an attempt to predict what the Bears will actually do when they return to the war room next offseason. That’s impossible. It’s also not a recommendation of what the Bears should do. This mock draft is meant to be an opportunity to dig into some interesting college prospects this season and how those players might fit in Chicago.
no. 1: Cave Williams – Quarterback – USC
Last year, Ryan Pauls foregone a new quarterback and traded the No. 1 pick for DJ Moore and a wealth of other draft picks. But he can’t resist the chance to add a young, talented QB back in. There’s reason to believe Justin Fields can be a successful quarterback in the NFL, but he’ll have to pay a hefty contract right away, and the Bears aren’t ready to compete for a Super Bowl just yet. So the Poles opted to trade Fields, draft Williams and acquire the QB on his rookie contract to give the Bears a path to victory.
Williams has the same big-play upside that Fields brings to the offense. He is a scoring threat with his feet, has an elite deep ball, and can improvise off script to turn botched plays into explosive scores. Although he has had ball security issues with nine fumbles this season, Williams has valued football very much throughout his career. He also functions effectively as a rhythm and timing passer. There’s a reason he’s one of the hottest quarterback prospects since the emergence of Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence in 2020 and 2021.
Trade! Bear sends NO.The Titans receive five overall picks and a 2025 fifth-rounder in exchange for picks 9, 41 and a 2025 fourth-rounder.
The Bears had hoped to pair Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabors with a new quarterback, but each of the talented wide receivers left the roster shortly before their next pick. So the Poles will trade back and acquire a second-rounder in the process since they still have some impact players on the board. His second-round pick is also a huge addition, as the Bears sent their own second-round pick to Washington in the Montez Sweat trade.
no. 9: Roman Odunze – Wide Receiver – Washington
The Polish would end up taking the next-best wide receiver on the board, even after moving four spots down. Odunze is a big-bodied deep threat that would work very well against DJ Moore. Odunze isn’t a burner, but he uses his 6-foot-3 frame to catch balls over defenders. He also showed great concentration when playing catch, dropping just three balls per PFF all season. The site also reported that his 20 deep catches rank first in the nation, and his 655 yards deep catches rank second. His 17 catches ranked tied for first. Odunze wasn’t a one-year bread player either. Dating back to 2021, Odunze has 197 catches for 2,988 yards and 24 touchdowns.
no. 41: Adonai Mitchell – Wide Receiver – Texas
What could be better than drafting a quarterback and wide receiver to revamp your offense? Drafting a quarterback and two wide receivers. Mitchell is also known for making big plays down the field, but scouts value his ability to get open with releases at the line of scrimmage and good footwork to create separation. Mitchell also brings above-average physicality considering his 196-pound weight. He earned recognition as a perimeter blocker from Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. That’s a must for the Bears. Mitchell is also used to producing as a second option on offense. The Texans brought Mitchell in to complement No. 1 option Xavier Worthy, and Mitchell ended up doing just as well this year. Mitchell finished the season with 51 catches for 813 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Worthy had 73 catches for 969 yards and five scores.
no. 69: Tuvon Dollar Sweat – Defensive Tackle – Texas
The Bears return to Texas to add more sweat to their defensive line. There’s no indication that Thivondre and Montez are related, but he could be a great buddy to rush the QB next to. Tivondre is huge and uses his size to stop opposing ball carriers. The Longhorns list him at a whopping 6-foot-4 and 362 pounds, but he’s more than just a muscular runner. His 15.2% pass rush win rate ranks third among all Interior linemen with at least 250 pass rush snaps. His six batted balls are tied for second in the nation.
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