The Chicago Bears came into the 2024 NFL Draft with a massive opportunity to reset and gain momentum. According to their NFL Draft grades, were they able to accomplish this? Here’s a look at the Bears’ grades, pick-by-pick — starting with the first overall selection.
Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Grades
Round 1, Pick 1: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Caleb Williams and Drake Maye were essentially tied at the top of my 2024 board — not only as the top QB prospects in the current class, but as two of the top QB prospects I’ve ever evaluated.
Williams’ creation ability off-script is simply magical, but he also has the arm talent and control to layer high-difficulty throws with precision, and he has the clean mechanics and processing capacity to operate rhythm and RPO looks.
Caleb hopes to become the next Chicago sports icon. pic.twitter.com/OfjkCMNJSA
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
Williams is as good an investment into the QB position as you can make, and he enters a situation in Chicago where he’ll be able to produce right away.
The Bears have been setting a change for the better in motion, but Williams may be the player who drives it home and truly makes them competitive again.
Grade: A+
Round 1, Pick 9: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Williams and Rome Odunze were on the same plane ride to Detroit. Now, they’ll be on the same plane ride from the Motor City to the Windy City, joining a Bears team that is looking increasingly primed to compete.
In any other class, Odunze could’ve been the WR1. Competing with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers made it difficult this year, but Odunze is still an extraordinary WR prospect with rare size-adjusted fluidity, effortless speed and burst, sharp route-running nuance, and veteran-laden catch-point instincts.
Adding Rome Odunze to the #Bears' offense is unfair. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/utbzwEDz8K
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
Right away, Odunze can be a venerable presence on the boundary, allowing more flexibility to Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. And if Allen moves on in 2025, Odunze can fill the void without missing a beat. He makes this WR trio elite.
Grade: A+
Round 3, Pick 75: Kiran Amegadjia, OT, Yale
The Bears already aced the draft for all practical intents and purposes by exiting the first round with Odunze and Williams — but they came back and made another stellar move in Round 3 by adding offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie.
There’s an argument to make that they could’ve targeted an edge rusher here, as there were still options available. But the Bears have long-term uncertainty to hedge for at both left tackle and guard, and Amegadjie is a perfect insurance plan.
At 6’5”, 320 pounds, with 36” arms, Amegadjie is an elite physical specimen with size, explosiveness, power, and ruthless tenacity off the snap. He already has pre-existing experience at tackle and guard, insulating his value as a depth piece — and he has starter upside at either spot.
Grade: A-
Round 4, Pick 122: Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
Having already addressed most of their pressing needs, the Bears filled their void at punter, selecting Iowa’s Tory Taylor.
Chicago could’ve added more EDGE help at this point — and the decision to pass on EDGE talent in the 2024 class could come back to haunt them — but Taylor has a cannon of a leg at 6’4”, 232 pounds, and has also shown he can pin offenses back with impressive precision.
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 144 (From CHI via BUF): Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
The Bears traded back into the 2024 NFL Draft in Round 5, and they did it for the right reason. With the 144th pick, the Bears selected Austin Booker from Kansas — stopping his fall on Day 3.
Booker is a top-100 prospect on my board, with an impressive blend of length, burst, twitch, bend, and active hands at around 6’5”, 253 pounds. He’s still upping his play strength, but as he showed at the Senior Bowl, he’s a dynamic and multifaceted pass rusher, who could grow to become an asset opposite Montez Sweat.
Grade: A+
Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Summary
The Bears’ 2024 class will be defined by the duo of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze. Williams has the potential to be truly special, and with Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Keenan Allen in his arsenal, he has everything he needs to reach his ceiling.
KEEP READING: Analysis and Grades for All 7 Rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft
Everything after Williams and Odunze served as a bonus for the Bears, but they still managed to use their remaining picks to their advantage.
In Round 3, Amegadjie was a high-upside investment with starting potential at tackle and guard. Taylor fills a void at punter, and later, the Bears were proactive in trading back into the draft to acquire a dynamic EDGE in Booker.
Chicago’s roster was almost complete heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, one could argue they’re ready to make noise in the upcoming season.
Final Grade: A+