2024 NFL Draft: 3 Moves the Chicago Bears should NOT make in the first round

We already covered three dream scenarios for the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and while those are fun to think about, what about the other end of the spectrum? The bad moves that GM Ryan Poles could make?

IBears fans are all too familiar with this, especially since the infamous 2017 NFL Draft when Chicago traded up one spot for QB Mitch Trubisky. What could Poles do in the 2024 NFL Draft that could result in buyer’s remorse later? Let’s take a look.

Note: I will not include a scenario in which Poles doesn’t draft Caleb Williams first overall. That’s just not happening, so there’s no reason even to entertain the potential ramifications of that.

Trading back more than five spots

Since the 2023 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears fans have fallen in love with trading back. They watched Poles extract a blue-chip player and two premium picks from the Carolina Panthers, and many would like to see a similar deal happen again. Well, tradebacks don’t always work out that perfectly, especially when you’re trading back into the latter half of the first round. The true “blue-chip” players are long gone at that point, and the risk of selecting a bust is much higher.

The Bears can’t afford to make such a blunder this year. I would advocate for them to stay at ninth overall and draft the best player available. I wouldn’t be opposed to a trade back, but it better not be farther back than 14th overall, where the New Orleans Saints currently sit. At 14th overall, Chicago could grab a blue-chipper like Brock Bowers or Jared Verse, depending on how the board falls. But that should be the limit.

Drafting any offensive tackle not named Joe Alt

No one would complain if the Chicago Bears select Joe Alt ninth overall, and no one would complain if they trade up a spot or two to secure him. But the Bears do not need a left tackle, and they shouldn’t have their sights set on any except Alt.

Other highly regarded offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft don’t come with the same “can’t miss” reputation of Alt. Olu Fashanu, JC Latham, and Troy Fautanu are all good prospects. But I don’t think they are clear upgrades over Braxton Jones, Chicago’s current left tackle. It would feel like a lateral move at best and a wasted pick at worst.

Trading into the Top 5

I don’t think Poles is likely to trade up this far, if at all. Still, there are two players he might think would be worth the price: Joe Alt and Marvin Harrison Jr. As aforementioned, Alt is an incredible left tackle prospect, and if he falls into Poles’ lap at 9th overall, go ahead and take him. But left tackle is not a need, and sending away premium draft capital (likely Carolina’s second-round pick in 2025, if not more) to move up four spots doesn’t seem prudent.

I would even consider this a mistake for Marvin Harrison Jr., who I’m on record defending as a future Hall of Famer before ever playing in the NFL. Once again, the cost seems prohibitive for a position group already well set up. Plus, at least one of the Top 3 receivers (any of whom would be the clear WR1 in almost any other draft) should be available at 9th overall. There’s a drop off from Harrison, but not far. Is that worth the extra draft capital? That’s for Poles to decide.