Bears connected to talented offensive tackle ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears are in a great spot entering the 2024 NFL Draft. For the first time in a long time (like, a really long time), the Bears’ roster doesn’t have many glaring needs. Sure, the defense could use another pass-rusher, and it’d be nice if the offense landed an understudy for DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at wide receiver, but glaring needs? There aren’t many… if any.

It’s what makes Chicago’s second first-round pick, No. 9 overall, so intriguing. General manager Ryan Poles could decide to stay put and select the best player available at that pick, which all signs seem to indicate he will. There might be a blue-chip wide receiver like Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze who slides. It may be Dallas Turner, an ideal player to fill the void opposite Montez Sweat. Or, perhaps it’ll be an offensive tackle like Joe Alt, who’s simply too talented to pass up.

But there’s another viable option available to Poles: trading down.

The Chicago Bears haven’t indicated a strong willingness to move off the ninth pick, but they’re beginning to connect with prospects who don’t have much (if any) chance of being selected in the top 10. They’re prospects who also have no chance (at all) of sliding to the Bears’ next non-first-round pick (No. 75 overall). Sure, due diligence is important, and getting as much info about a draft prospect as possible is great. But time is a very valuable resource right now, and if the Bears are spending it on non-top-10 prospects who are also locks to be picked somewhere in the top 32? Well, you do the math. Perhaps a trade is more possible than we realize.

MORE: Ryan Poles maximizes limited picks in latest Chicago Bears mock draft

One of those prospects that the Bears are showing interest in is Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu.

Longtime NFL Draft insider Tony Pauline shared this nugget recently:

“Fautanu was meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders after (his Pro Day). The Chicago Bears have also shown an interest in the talented blocker, so keep him on the radar if they trade out of the 9th spot,” Pauline wrote.

That’s an interesting little scoop. There’s no doubt the Bears will have offensive line at or near the top of their wish list, and a player like Fautanu makes a lot of sense. He’ll begin his career at offensive tackle, but I believe his best NFL fit is at guard. Either way, Fautanu projects as a high-level NFL starter, whether it’s outside or inside, and for a Bears team that might be looking for an upgrade over Braxton Jones and/or Nate Davis, what better prospect to target than a guy who could thrive at either tackle or guard?

“Ready-made brawler without an ounce of finesse in his game,” Lance Zierlein wrote in Fautanu’s scouting report on NFL.com. “Fautanu has starting experience at tackle and guard and is well-coached, but he will default to unruly hand-fighting when his technique gets away from him. He plays with average hand placement and can be beaten by length, but his tenacity and footwork keep him connected to base blocks. He’s capable of getting to reach blocks in zone and chaperoning running backs wide as a pulling guard on the next level. He’s a pop-and-reset pass puncher who uses active hands and feet to help with extended mirroring he’s forced into. Fautanu needs to prove he has the leverage and hand quickness to play inside, but all signs point toward him becoming a good future starter.”

If the Chicago Bears stay at No. 9 overall, their goal will be to add a great future starter, not a good one. But there’s a chance Ryan Poles thinks Chicago is better off adding multiple good players than one great player at nine, making a trade-back scenario and targeting a player like Troy Fautanu a very possible outcome.

The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET.