The selection order for the 2024 NFL Draft won’t be finalized until the completion of the Super Bowl. But heading into the final week of the regular season, the Chicago Bears already know that they will have the No. 1 overall pick.
After earning the No. 1 overall pick for the 2023 draft after compiling the NFL’s worst record in 2022, the Bears traded the top selection to the Carolina Panthers. Included in the package Chicago received in exchange for its top pick was Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024, which will be the top overall selection after the 2-14 Panthers locked up the league’s worst record in 2023 following last week’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
So what will the Bears do with the No. 1 pick? According to BetOnline, the likeliest scenario is that Chicago will use the selection on a quarterback, with the online sportsbook having released the following odds:
- Draft QB -200
- Trade pick +140
- Draft offensive non-QB +850
- Draft defensive player +1400
For the uninitiated, a bettor would need to risk $200 to secure a $100 profit on a successful bet on the Bears taking a quarterback. Meanwhile, a successful $100 wager on Chicago trading the pick would result in a $140 profit.
That the Bears would be favored to select a quarterback doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as Justin Fields has yet to establish himself as Chicago’s franchise quarterback in his first three seasons with the team. And while the Ohio State product has shown plenty of promise, he’s also due for a potential contract extension this offseason, which could make the Bears’ decision to take a new quarterback even easier.
It’s also worth noting that 2024 appears to possess an especially strong quarterback class, headlined by USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. If you’re inclined to believe that Chicago will give Fields a fourth season as its starting quarterback, then you could find some value in betting on them to either trade the pick or select a non-quarterback offensive player.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.