2024 NFL Draft: Bears still at top of draft order despite Week 5 victory

The good news keeps coming for the Chicago Bears, who secured their first win of the year over the Washington Commanders in Week 5.

Justin Fields played like a franchise quarterback. DJ Moore was an alpha wide receiver. The running game was clicking, and the defense forced takeaways and got home on quarterback Sam Howell.

And the Bears still own the first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Carolina Panthers remain the only winless team in the NFL, and there’s no indication that a winning streak is coming anytime soon for Frank Reich’s squad. If that trend continues, and the Bears keep winning games and proving they’re a team on the rise, Chicago could end the 2023 season with the first pick and momentum around Fields and the direction of this team.

It’s a best-case scenario for Bears fans, who could use a break after years of misfortune. If the 2023 season ends with Justin Fields being the team’s unquestioned franchise player, the value of the No. 1 pick will be an unimaginable lottery ticket for GM Ryan Poles.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams is a generational prospect at the sport’s most important position. As a result, the value of the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will be higher than any in recent memory, especially if the team holding it already has a superstar quarterback.

We’re still a long way from declaring Fields a superstar quarterback, but he’s trending in that direction. He’s thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception over the last two games, and his confidence is growing with every pass attempt.

The Bears have a winnable game in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, one which should provide Fields with another opportunity to showcase his skills. Meanwhile, the Panthers face the red-hot Miami Dolphins. They’re staring at 0-6.

If the Bears keep winning and the Carolina Panthers keep losing, a perfect storm could be coming to Chicago in the 2024 NFL Draft.