Is this prospect a viable target for the Chicago Bears in the 2024 Draft?
The 2024 NFL Draft may be nine months out, but fans and analysts alike (national and local) have already begun piecing together mock drafts for the upcoming year. Why the early excitement? Simple: The Chicago Bears have two first-round picks, one being a potential high-value selection they snagged from Carolina as part of this year's trade down from the top spot.
For some reason, the wide receiver position always steals the spotlight in draft discussions, maybe due to its glamorous nature. This raises the question: will the Bears chase Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., should they have the chance?
As a person who spent a significant portion of my adult life as a front-office decision-maker, my perspective isn't confined to the lens of a fan or analyst. Instead, I've learned to focus not on individual players, but on the bigger picture�team building. The most successful approach for any General Manager hoping to forge a formidable team via the Draft involves prioritizing high-value positions in early rounds, supplemented with signing young, unrestricted free agents. This strategy could shape a squad that's playoff-ready.
The wide receiver role may become a high-priority position if there are existing gaps in that area and the more critical positions are already well-manned. There's no denying Marvin Harrison Jr.'s talents as a wide receiver. He could be among the top receivers to emerge from the Draft in recent years, reminiscent of Cincinnati's Ja'Mar Chase or Minnesota's Justin Jefferson. With his blend of size, speed, and skills, Harrison Jr. screams top-tier pick potential. But is he what the Bears truly need?
The answer lies in the unfolding of the upcoming season. In a major trade last March, the Bears brought in D.J. Moore from Carolina, a proven No.1 receiver who will elevate the Bears' receiving prowess. Last October, they traded a high second-round pick for Chase Claypool, who wasn't a game-changer in 2022 but was brought in with a focus on 2023, despite the narrative some fans and media are pushing. The reality is the Bears appear formidable on paper in the receiving department, and if they deliver, this position may not top their priority list in the next Draft.
Granted, Claypool and Darnell Mooney's contracts expire after this season, fueling speculation that only one may be re-signed. However, I firmly believe Ryan Poles wouldn't trade a second-round pick for Claypool to let him go after just 18 months. That trade was a long-term strategy, and Claypool, with his size, speed, and physicality, fits perfectly into their offensive blueprint.
Observing how Poles has constructed this team, he's invested in high-priority positions. Last year, a second-round pick was used on a cornerback, while this year's second-rounder brought in another corner. In the recent Draft, Poles grabbed a right tackle as the 10th overall pick in the first round, added a promising offensive guard, Nate Davis, in free agency, and reinforced the defensive line with the promising duo of Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. Yet, they're lacking a quality pass rusher�a critical role in any team.
I bet Poles would've loved to draft a pass rusher this past April, but the board didn't align. Eight pass rushers were taken between the selections of Wright and Dexter. Poles wasn't going to reach for a lower-tier edge pass rusher while staring at a top-quality defensive tackle. That would be unsound drafting.
The Bears' roster is currently crying out for a dynamic pass rusher, the one gap Poles hasn't been able to fill during his two years in Chicago. Smart drafting and team building practices indicate that the Bears should aim to draft at least one, possibly two, high-caliber pass rushers in the next Draft.
Consider some of the game's standout pass rushers, even those past their prime; they were all high first-round picks. Players like Myles Garret, Khalil Mack, the Bosa brothers, and last year's promising rookie, the Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux. If a team is after a high-impact pass rusher, they must be ready to spend a high draft pick.
The Bears' pick from Carolina could potentially land within the top ten, or even top five. If it falls within the top five, the Bears might have a shot at the best pass rusher in the Draft. In each of the last two Drafts, the top pass rusher was snatched up within the top five, a testament to the position's value.
The upcoming Draft holds promise for pass rushers. I've already analyzed a few of them based on their 2022 performance, and they all should improve by 2023. The top pass rusher will likely emerge from Jared Verse (Florida State), Dallas Turner (Alabama), Bralen Trice (Washington), or Chop Robinson (Penn State).
Some include Ohio State's J.T. Tuimoloau in this mix, but I don't. Despite one standout performance on National TV against Penn State, he lacks the consistent brilliance of the others I mentioned. He might step up in 2023, but until then, he doesn't make my first group.
I'm not downplaying Harrison Jr.'s value, but considering team needs and future cap flexibility, the Bears should be poised to use their first pick on a pass rusher. Of course, the final decision depends on where that pick lies, but until then, I'll be campaigning for a pass rusher, and I suspect Ryan Poles is on the same page.
| POLL | ||
16 JUILLET | 41 ANSWERS Is this prospect a viable target for the Chicago Bears in the 2024 Draft? Should the Bears draft a WR next draft? | ||
| Yes | 21 | 51.2 % |
| No | 20 | 48.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
