Chicago Bears: Team Needs In 2024 NFL Draft

Here is a list of the Chicago Bears’ needs in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Now that the 2023 season is over for the Chicago Bears, General Manager Ryan Poles’s turn is to continue the rebuild. He did an excellent job last offseason of adding talent. The result was a seven-win season, up from just three wins in 2022.

Now Poles has to keep it going to make the Bears into an over .500 team. In his introductory press conference, he expressed that he wanted to build the team mainly through the draft. He has been true to his word. In his two seasons with the team, at least ten of his draft picks are either starters or play a significant role for the team.

Poles has the opportunity to add even more this year. He once again has the #1 pick in the draft. In addition to that, he has another first-round pick at #9. He can wheel and deal to acquire more picks, or keep them and still get high-quality picks.

The Bears still have plenty of holes to fill. Let’s take a look at what the Bears’ needs are in this draft.

Edge Rusher

The addition of Montez Sweat was incredible for the Chicago Bears. He energized the pass rush and the entire defense looked different because of it. Sweat became the first player in NFL history to lead two teams in sacks in the same season.

While Sweat did a great job of getting the defense to play better, his teammates at defensive end still had some trouble getting to the quarterback. Yes, the QB hit percentage went up. However, the sacks from the other defensive ends were not there.

DeMarcus Walker, who signed a three-year, $21 million free agent deal last offseason. What that got them was 3.5 sacks in 2023. Out of those, two of them came after Sweat arrived and after Yannick Ngkaoue broke his ankle, ending his season prematurely.

Sweat needs to have help on the other side. He needs someone who can take some pressure off of him. Opposing teams will start to double-team him and make his life more difficult if he doesn’t have that help.

Tight End

No, the Chicago Bears will not part ways with Cole Kmet. He signed a new deal last offseason and had another impressive season.

However, the Bears hired Shane Waldron to be their new offensive coordinator. He likes to use multiple tight-end sets. That means the Bears need a tight end to go with Kmet.

Poles could re-sign Robert Tonyan. He is a good receiving tight end. However, they still need another player. Marcedes Lewis is sure to retire, or if he doesn’t, the team won’t re-sign him.

That means Poles and the Bears have to pick up a tight end in the draft. That would give the Bears a strong trio of tight ends who could strengthen the offense. The prospect can play in a reserve role and the next season he could play alongside Kmet as the main tight-end targets.

Free Safety

The Bears hit the jackpot with Eddie Jackson. He was the team’s fourth-round pick in 2017. He became one of the top safeties in the league and was an All-Pro. Things have not gone as well in the last few seasons.

After recording 15 turnovers in his first three seasons, Jackson went two seasons recording just one. Then, in 2022, he became a ball hawk again. He recorded four interceptions. However, his season was cut short after 12 games. In 2023, he once again played in just 12 games, this time recording one turnover.

It seems that the time has come for the Chicago Bears and Jackson to part ways. He represents a big chunk of the salary cap. If the Bears let him go, they can save anywhere from $12.560 million (with a pre-June 1st designation) to $14.150 million (post-June 1st).

That money can go a long way to helping fill other holes. The Bears would then have to find a good free safety in the draft who can replace Jackson.

Interior Offensive Line

The Bears need to improve the offensive line. Poles has added to the line, but more additions are necessary.

The interior of the line, center and left guard, need shoring up. Teven Jenkins is a very good player when he is playing. “When he is playing” is the key term. He spends too much time on the sideline or on injured reserve.

In his three seasons, Jenkins missed 20 games due to injury. There were others in which he left early or had to spend a lot of time on the sideline while he recovered. That doesn’t help him or the Bears in any way.

This season Jenkins boasted about a brand new conditioning program aimed to improve his health. Well, he started the season on injured reserve. Additionally, late in the season, he missed another game.

There is also the situation at center. Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick both struggled when they played the position. Whitehair is another player with a large contract. The Bears could save $9.15-$10.250 million should they let him go.

Patrick is a free agent and it appears that the Bears will not re-sign him.

Wide Receiver

There is a huge question at quarterback. Do the Chicago Bears keep Justin Fields or trade him and use the #1 pick on Caleb Williams? I did not put quarterback on this list because we already know that it will be one or the other.

Whoever Poles decides to go with, the quarterback needs weapons to target. The wide receivers unit struggled aside from D.J. Moore. Darnell Mooney, who was one of Fields’ favorite targets when he was a rookie quarterback, has had two bad seasons. He had his 2022 season cut short by an injury and had just 493 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, both career lows.

In 2023, Mooney played more games but only had 414 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Additionally, his catch percentage was an awful 500.8 percent. He is another one who becomes a free agent.

If Poles does trade the top pick, he must find a wide receiver early. The fan favorite is Marvin Harrison Jr. However, there are other good options such as Rome Odunze and Brian Thomas Jr. Whoever is under center will have an easier time having Moore and one of these prospects to target.