Everyone knows the Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and will undoubtedly select USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
But don’t forget that the Bears also have the No. 9 pick in the draft.
While there’s been plenty of speculation over what the team will do with that selection, David Haugh of the Take The North podcast thinks the team should try to trade up and select Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. if he’s still available.
His co-host, Dan Wiederer, felt good about the Bears standing pat at No. 9.
“I don’t think there’s a real incentive to trade up in this draft given the depth of the positions that you’d be trading up for because there’s other options there,” Wiederer said. “Trade down I think might be the preferred option inside the building if the Bears can’t attract a trade partner that gives them a certain floor of how low they’re willing to trade down to, and I think they could turn it into multiple picks and capitalize if they get the deal that they want.”
It’s presumed that the top of the draft will be very quarterback-heavy. And if that’s the case, there’s a decent chance that some very talented wide receivers will still be available by the time the Los Angeles Chargers’ fifth pick comes around. If that’s the case, Haugh said the Bears should consider trading up.
“Caleb Williams. Drake Maye. Jayden Daniels. J.J McCarthy. If those are the first four off the board, quarterbacks all of ‘em one through four, Ryan Poles should be motivated to trade up with the Chargers and get Marvin Harrison Jr,” Haugh said. “Give ‘em next year’s first-round pick. Give ‘em –”
“Why?” Wiederer asked. “Why not wait and see if you can get (Malik) Nabers or (Rome) Odunze?”
“Because they’re not Marvin Harrison Jr.,” Haugh added. “If Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best player in the draft, you would be fixated on getting him if he’s still on the board at number five, and the Chargers want to add capital for the new head coach – I don’t know what it is. But if he’s the best player on the board you go get him.”
Wiederer wasn’t convinced and felt like it was going to require Chicago to give up too much. However, Haugh was adamant in his belief that a potential Williams-Harrison pairing would be worth it.
“I would love it,” Haugh reiterated. “I would love it because it would be so un-Bear like to go and get somebody. You end the day with Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. and you would win the draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. is better, just by a shade, than Odunze, than Nabers, and I think that little bit that you see – if you agree with that. If you don’t agree with that you’re not doing it. But if you think he’s the best player in the draft potentially, you go up and you get him.”
We’ll find out next week when the 2024 NFL Draft finally gets here.
