Is it too early to look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft? Of course. The 2023 schedule hasn't even been released yet. We're still months away from training camp. The regular season feels like it's an eternity away. Mock drafts right now are silly, right? Wrong!
It's NEVER too early to dive into a wholesome NFL mock draft, especially when it's published by Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling, who, for my money, is one of the best NFL draft analysts in the industry.
And with the Chicago Bears owning two first-round picks next April? Yeah, draft season will be a blast.
As for Easterling's mock draft, he has the Bears picking 13th (their selection) and 14th (Carolina's) based on the latest 2024 Super Bowl odds.
The result? Chicago lands an Ohio State wide receiver and a flashy edge rusher.
Unfortunately, the Buckeyes pass-catcher isn't Marvin Harrison Jr. Instead, it's Emeka Egbuka.
"There's no such thing as too many weapons for Justin Fields, and he gets another one from his alma mater here," Easterling wrote. "Egbuka would be the clear-cut No. 1 receiver on any team that didn't already have Marvin Harrison Jr., and he's got tons of potential at the next level."
Washington edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui is the next pick at No. 14.
"The Bears didn't address their need for a blue-chip edge rusher early in this year's draft, so that should be a primary target with one of their multiple first-rounders next time around. Tupuola-Fetui has all the traits to be a disruptive force for a newly rebuilt defensive front."
Chicago Bears will have plenty of options in first round of 2024 NFL Draft
This is a realistic scenario that could play out for the Chicago Bears in next year's draft. One of their first-round selections can be spent on a luxury pick, while the second can be used on a talented player at a huge need.
In Easterling's mock, the luxury is Egbuka, while Tupuola-Fetui strengthens an edge rusher corps that should be improved through free agency next year but still needs all the reinforcements it can get.
The Chicago Bears acquired the Carolina Panthers' first-round pick in the blockbuster trade that sent the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft to the Panthers (which they used on Bryce Young) for the No. 9 overall (Darnell Wright), wide receiver DJ Moore, a 2023 second-round pick (Tyrique Stevenson), a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-rounder.
Moore and Wright will pay huge dividends next season, and with an extra first-rounder in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears' decision to trade this year's first pick will be like a gift that keeps on giving.