The Chicago Bears are the front-runners to land the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to a trade they made a year ago with the Carolina Panthers. After landing the first pick in the 2023 draft, Chicago traded its top selection to the Panthers for a package headlined by the No. 9 pick in 2023, wide receiver D.J. Moore, and Carolina’s No. 1 pick in 2024. With the Panthers still owning the worst record in football even after their win over the Falcons on Sunday, the Bears appear primed to acquire the first overall pick in the trade.
What the Bears should do with the No. 1 pick, assuming they land it, has become one of the hottest debates in the NFL. Should the team take a new quarterback — either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye — and trade Justin Fields as he enters the final year of his rookie deal? Should they stick with Fields and trade down from No. 1 overall for a massive haul? Should they keep the pick and just take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.?
Everyone has a different opinion on what the Bears should do in the draft, and that includes their own players. Moore was asked about Chicago’s decision at No. 1 — again, if they land the pick — and he gave his vote to keeping Fields. Watch Moore’s comments here after Chicago’s 20-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday:
“What makes (Fields) not the quarterback for the Chicago Bears right now?” Moore asked after fielding a question about what the Bears should do with the first pick if they get it. “I get y’all got everyone coming out, what there’s like two of em? I don’t think they better than Justin. So they cool.”
The star receiver has spoken: he doesn’t think Williams and Maye are better than Fields. Opinion noted.
Check out JP Acosta’s latest 2024 NFL mock draft here.
The Bears’ decision at No. 1 doesn’t just hinge on their evaluations of Williams and Maye, but also on their willingness to pay Fields at the end of his rookie contract. Fields has one more year left on his rookie deal, and then Chicago would have the chance of picking up his fifth-year option, or signing him to a long-term deal.
Fields has played pretty well in Chicago, but there’s certainly still room for improvement. If Williams or Maye will eventually be a top-five QB, then the Bears should just pick one and trade Fields. But if Williams and Maye top out around a top-15 QB, Chicago may regret not trading down again for a massive haul of picks and just sticking with Fields.
It’s a fascinating fork in the road moment for the Bears if they do land the first pick. There are so many options, but no easy answer.
