A new NFL.com mock draft has the Chicago Bears going off the board entirely by taking a non-quarterback with the first overall selection.
The Bears obtained the No. 1 pick of 2024 via the Carolina Panthers, who gave up the selection in last year’s trade-up for Bryce Young. Many expect Chicago to trade Justin Fields and use the No. 1 pick on a quarterback, likely USC’s Caleb Williams or potentially North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
But in her latest mock draft, NFL.com analytics expert Cynthia Frelund has the Bears instead using the top pick on Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, with Williams slipping to the Washington Commanders at No. 2:
“In this theoretical exercise, the Bears keep Justin Fields and pick this high-floor (aka lowered risk) LT prospect, who has experience but is also young (20 years old) with a ton of upside. Alt just passes receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in immediate impact for the Bears’ O-line, which allowed their QBs to be pressured at the highest rate in the league last season (45.1 percent). This helps to show the value of the Bears’ first-round equity, which will allow them to move all over the board if they want to.”
It’s worth noting that Frelund didn’t do this mock draft strictly on her own personal predictions, but rather “computer vision-derived measurements and stats in” player evaluations.” Still, it’s certainly fascinating to see the computer project Alt as the top pick.
The Bears used a 2023 first-round pick on offensive tackle Darnell Wright, but the o-line was still a weakness in 2024. If Chicago doesn’t want a QB (or wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.) at No. 1, they’ll most certainly trade it to the highest bidder and take an offensive lineman later on.
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The bottom line is that Bears GM Ryan Poles still has plenty of time to settle on an option.
