Chicago Bears NFL Draft 2024 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs

The Beast, Dane Brugler’s expansive guide to the NFL Draft, is here. 

The Chicago Bears have the first and ninth picks in the NFL Draft when Round 1 begins April 25 in Detroit. The Bears own only four total picks in the seven-round draft, the last coming in the fourth round, No. 122 overall.

Bears’ draft picks

Full draft order

Every pick in the seven-round NFL Draft.

GO DEEPER

NFL Draft 2024 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports and player rankings

NFL Draft details

• Round 1: April 25, 8 p.m. ET
• Rounds 2-3: April 26, 7 p.m. ET
• Rounds 4-7: April 27, Noon ET

All rounds will be televised on ESPN/ABC and NFL Network and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

— The Beast is coming! Keep your eyes peeled for Dane Brugler’s annual guide to the NFL Draft, publishing Wednesday, April 10.

About the Bears

• Head coach: Matt Eberflus (third season with team)
• Last year’s record: 7-10

The Bears aren’t your typical team with the first pick. They went 7-10 last season, winning five of their last eight games behind one of the NFL’s best defenses in that span. The Bears have the first pick because of their trade with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. With Justin Fields traded to the Steelers, the Bears are expected to take a quarterback — hello, Caleb Williams — with that selection. The Bears’ next quarterback will join a very favorable situation built by general manager Ryan Poles on offense. It includes wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, running back D’Andre Swift and an offensive line featuring right tackle Darnell Wright. The Bears also have the ninth pick.

GO DEEPER

Bears 2024 expectations: What's reasonable for a deep team with a rookie QB?

Bears’ key position needs 

Quarterback: Until the Bears’ pick is officially made on April 25 in Detroit, the most important position in sports must be listed here. The only quarterbacks the Bears have under contract are Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien.

Defensive end: The trade acquisition of Montez Sweat helped transform the Bears defense into one of the league’s best units. He made 6 1/2 sacks in eight games and was named to his first Pro Bowl. But the Bears still ranked 31st with only 30 sacks.

Defensive tackle: Justin Jones, the Bears’ starter at three-technique tackle for the past two seasons, left for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. He received a three-year, $31.2 million contract. The Bears drafted Gervon Dexter in the second round last year to be Jones’ eventual replacement. But Dexter needs to show significant improvement in his second season. He had 2 1/2 sacks in 17 games as a rookie.

Interior offensive line: The Bears acquired veteran Ryan Bates from the Buffalo Bills for a fifth-round pick and signed Coleman Shelton in free agency. They will compete to be the starting center between guards Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis. Bates can also play guard, making him a top reserve should Jenkins and Davis miss time again in 2024. Jenkins is also entering the final year of his rookie contract after being drafted in the second round in 2021.

Pass catcher: This could be a receiver or a tight end. With the Bears drafting a quarterback, continuing to add around him is important. Even with Moore, Allen and Kmet on the roster, passing on playmakers makes for a bad process. This is widely considered a deep year for receivers in the draft, too.

GO DEEPER

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Could quarterbacks go 1-2-3-4 atop Round 1?

Bears draft analysis

Can Caleb Williams make Chicago forget about the Bears’ sad QB history?

Bears only have eyes for Caleb Williams at No. 1; could they go defensive tackle next?

Bears GM Ryan Poles must be ready for anything, but especially trading down at No. 9

Bears NFL Draft big board: Caleb Williams and 50 more prospects of interest

Bears NFL mock draft reaction: Is a Caleb Williams-Rome Odunze combo the way to go?

Bears NFL mock draft mailbag: Fans look to trade No. 9, add talent around Caleb Williams

Bears NFL Draft guide takeaways: Caleb Williams scouting report, prospects to watch at No. 9

Bears 2024 NFL Draft big board: 15 players to consider with the ninth pick

Why the Bears have reason to believe this reboot at quarterback will be different

All roads lead to Caleb Williams, and the Bears should feel good about that

Why Caleb Williams continues to check the ‘person’ boxes for the Bears

Bears pre-NFL Draft depth chart: More talent on offense for rookie QB, few holes on defense

What the Keenan Allen trade means for the Bears offense and the No. 9 pick

The Bears and the No. 9 pick: Talented WRs, OTs and pass rushers to consider

This time, the Bears are ready to draft their next quarterback. Here’s why

GO DEEPER

'He exudes calm': How Bears GM Ryan Poles keeps his cool as the NFL Draft approaches

The Athletic’s most recent mock drafts

April 24: NFL beat writer mock draft 3.0
After taking USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1, Adam Jahns turns in a surprise pick at No. 9: Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

April 22: Bears 7-round mock draft
Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns begin their final mock draft with Williams, then trade down from No. 9 to fill different needs in the trenches.

April 19: NFL analytics mock draft
Austin Mock’s Projection Model has the Bears taking Williams and Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner in the first round.

April 17: Dane Brugler’s 7-round mock draft
Brugler predicts the Bears will take Williams and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze in the first round, with an edge rusher and offensive tackle later.

April 8: Nick Baumgardner’s mock draft
Baumgardner has the Bears making a bold move up to No. 6 for LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers to pair with top pick Williams.

April 4: Bruce Feldman’s mock draft
Feldman shares coaching intel on each pick, including the Bears taking Williams at No. 1 and Nabers at No. 9.

March 25: Bears mock draft 2.0
After Williams at No. 1, Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain pick different edge rushers at No. 9.

March 25: NFL mock draft
Ben Standig has the Bears taking Williams and Odunze.

March 21: Beat writer mock draft 2.0
Fishbain takes Williams at No. 1 and Turner with the ninth pick.

March 6: NFL GMs, execs mock draft’s top 10
It’s Williams again at No. 1 and Odunze at No. 9.

March 5: Dane Brugler’s post-combine mock draft
Brugler has the Bears trading up for Odunze at No. 5 after Williams, naturally, at No. 1.

Feb. 22: Beat writer mock draft 1.0
Jahns takes Williams with the first pick, then trades down to No. 12 and picks edge rusher Jared Verse.

GO DEEPER

How the Justin Fields trade unfolded and what comes next for the Steelers and Bears

Bears’ last five top picks

2023: OT Darnell Wright, No. 10 — The Bears put Wright through a grueling, private workout on Tennessee’s campus before selecting him. He won Poles and offensive line coach Chris Morgan over — and then he looked every bit like a future cornerstone as a rookie. Wright started every game and played every snap in his first season, which included playing hurt.

2022: CB Kyler Gordon, No. 39 — In Gordon, the Bears have one of the best young nickelbacks in the NFL. He followed up a steady rookie season with a better sophomore campaign, making three interceptions, forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble.

2021: QB Justin Fields, No. 11 — Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. He was a fan favorite and beloved by his teammates, but his passing numbers in 2023 still put him in the bottom third of the league. Fields was also drafted by former GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy.

2020: TE Cole Kmet, No. 43 — Kmet quickly won over Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. He signed a four-year, $50 million extension last year. He then delivered on the field with career highs in catches (73) and yards (719). He should be considered one of the best young tight ends in the league.

2019: RB David Montgomery, No. 73 — The Bears tried to re-sign Montgomery after the 2022 season, but he left for the rival Detroit Lions in free agency. He led the Lions with 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns on 219 carries last season.

GO DEEPER

Chicago Bears NFL Draft picks 2024: Grades, fits and scouting reports

(Photo of Olu Fashanu: Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)