Bears take massive step toward securing the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears received a massive assist from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night in their efforts to secure the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 21-18, improving the Patriots’ record to 3-9.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers enter Week 14 with a 1-11 record. The Bears own the rights to the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick and now have a two-game cushion for the first selection with five games left to play.

Carolina travels to New Orleans to face the 5-7 Saints this week, and while New Orleans is far from a powerhouse, their defense should have little trouble shutting down Bryce Young and the Panthers’ floundering offense.

If Carolina loses in Week 14, the odds they’ll pull out two more wins are low. They’ll be home against the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers in Weeks 16 and 17, and if they lose those two games (in addition to Sunday), they’ll win the first pick for the Bears before Week 18 even kicks off.

The Panthers must lose their next three games. The Tampa Bay Buccanneers in Week 18 is their most winnable remaining game, and it would be gut-wrenching to need a loss in the finale for the Chicago Bears to win the 2024 NFL Draft sweepstakes.

Mitch Trubisky is picked off…pic.twitter.com/JPKATGNYlF

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 8, 2023

For now, there’s breathing room. And that’s great news for Bears fans, even if you haven’t decided what you’d want general manager Ryan Poles to do if he ends the year on the clock.

The good news is you don’t need to have a preference right now. The next five games could prove that Justin Fields is a franchise quarterback. Maybe he goes on a heater and wins four of his next five starts. Maybe he keeps playoff hopes alive much longer than this roster deserves. If he does, he’ll be back as QB1 in 2024.

But, if Fields struggles and plays an inconsistent brand of football to close out his third season, the odds that the Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams (USC) or Drake Maye (North Carolina) in the first round skyrocket.

Again, that isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it could be the scenario that benefits the Bears the most. Chicago can reset their quarterback contract timeline while being much closer to having a playoff-caliber roster. The less money the Bears have to pay their quarterback, the more they can invest in other critical positions, and the sooner they compete for an NFC North crown.

It’s a win-win. Lord knows Bears fans could use more victories, right?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out Mitch Trubisky. The former Bears quarterback did exactly what Bears fans needed him to do against the Patriots. He was terrible, for once, it was great for the Bears.

Trubisky completed 22 of 35 passes for 190 yards. He did throw a touchdown, but he also had an interception and several trademark head-scratching throws. He did his part, much like Lovie Smith in 2022, to give back to Chicago. And Bears fans everywhere appreciate it.

It may have been the best performance Trubisky ever had for the Chicago Bears.