Chicago Bears Post-Super Bowl 3-round Mock Draft

The 2023 NFL season is officially in the books, and the Kansas City Chiefs are, once again, Super Bowl champions. If there was any doubt whether these Chiefs were a dynasty, such talk has been put to bed once and for all.

Patrick Mahomes could retire today after just seven years in the NFL, and he’d be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

We’ve officially entered NFL Draft season with the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror. This is when the fun begins for rebuilding teams or teams on the verge of a breakout, like the Chicago Bears.

Once again in possession of the first overall pick, the Bears are the gatekeepers of the 2024 NFL Draft. Unlike last year, however, I believe they’ll keep the top pick and trade quarterback Justin Fields.

For this 2024 Bears mock draft, I have Chicago trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It may be a little early for the Steelers to give up on Kenny Pickett, but he was a long-shot prospect from the start and hasn’t shown much in two years.

Pittsburgh should not hesitate at a chance to upgrade their quarterback, Fields would be that guy.

There’s been a lot of chatter about what kind of draft capital teams would be willing to deal for Fields. Everything from a first-round pick to a collection of Day 3 selections has been mentioned. I’ll try to split the middle and leave it at a single second-rounder going to Chicago while Fields gets his fresh start on a new team.

I also have the Bears trading back from No. 9 pick overall with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders are rumored to be in the first-round quarterback market, and there should be a first-round quarterback prospect still on the board at No. 9. As a result, the Raiders send the Bears the 13th and 44th picks to move up and land their guy.

With the stage now set, let’s get to the Chicago Bears mock draft.

1.01 (via CAR) Caleb Williams – Quarterback, USC

This pick no longer requires justification. We just watched Patrick Mahomes win back-to-back championships with a ragtag group of receivers and a leaky offensive line. That’s what an elite quarterback does for a team, and that’s what many experts, coaches, and players say Williams could potentially be. Bryan Perez calls him the best prospect he’s scouted since Andrew Luck. Personally, I see a young Aaron Rodgers in Williams. No matter who you think Williams looks like, the point is that the Bears desperately need to make a change at quarterback, and that’s what they’re going to do with this pick.

1.13 (via LV) Jared Verse – Defensive End, Florida State

I like UCLA’s Laiatu Latu a little more here, but I think Verse is more of a Ryan Poles guy. Explosive, powerful, fast, and a freak athlete, Verse is the kind of guy a defensive coach can’t wait to get his hands on. Under the tutelage of Matt Eberflus and new defensive coordinator Eric Washington, along with the mentoring that Montez Sweat could provide, Chicago is the perfect landing spot for a prospect like Verse. I could see him and Sweat terrorizing quarterbacks together for years to come.

2.44 (via LV) Ladd McConkey – Receiver, Georgia

The Bears miss out on the top tier of receivers in this mock draft, but 2024 has a deep draft class at the position, so I felt comfortable waiting to select a receiver. McConkey strikes me as this year’s Tank Dell: a small, speedy receiver who is arguably the best route runner of his class. He can create instant separation, and with Williams throwing him the ball, I could see McConkey making an immediate impact in the NFL.

2.51 (via PIT) Troy Franklin – Receiver, Oregon

Yes, I have the Bears double-dipping at receiver because I think Darnell Mooney will depart in free agency, and I’m nervous about Tyler Scott or Velus Jones having to play bigger roles. Tall and lanky with blistering speed, Franklin has proven adept at creating separation and picking up impressive yards after the catch. He can play in the slot or on the perimeter and is a threat to take the top off a defense on any snap. Forcing defenses to account for DJ Moore, Ladd McConkey, and Troy Franklin could give Chicago’s new coaching staff and quarterback ample opportunity to create an explosive, modern NFL offense.

And the cherry on top? Franklin just turned 21 a week ago, so he’s got a lot of football and development ahead of him.

3.75 Sedric Van Pran – Center, Georgia

A starter for Georgia’s back-to-back national championship squads, Van Pran was recently awarded the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2023, given to the best blocker in the conference. Built like a wrecking ball at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, that’s precisely how Van Pran plays.

He’s strong, with powerful hands and good technique. He displays above-average athleticism and is a cerebral player, too. Van Pran is the kind of center scouts call a “quarterback of the offensive line.” He reads the defense before the snap and helps his quarterback make adjustments.

Projecting where the Centers will go in this year’s draft has proven difficult. Van Pran began the year as the unquestioned top prospect but has seemingly been knocked off his perch by Senior Bowl standout Jackson Powers-Johnson, who could end up a first-round pick. Then there’s Zach Frazier. The buzz around Frazier has died down a bit, but given the rise his draft stock has seen, he could be the second Center off the board. I’m not sure if Van Pran would fall to Round 3, but if he does, he’s a steal.

What are your thoughts about this Chicago Bears mock draft? Would you be satisfied with a haul like this? Create a free user account and leave your opinion in the comments. We’d love for you to consider upgrading to a premium account for just $3.49/mo or $29.99/yr. You’ll have an ad-free experience and gain access to our exclusive content. Bear Down!