Bears trade up for playmaking receiver in The Athletic’s new mock draft

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an important 2024 NFL draft, where they have a pair of top 10 selections that should help elevate their roster.

That includes the first overall pick, where it’s all but guaranteed that the Bears will select quarterback Caleb Williams.

In The Athletic’s new mock draft, Chicago lands a dynamic quarterback-wide receiver pairing. Naturally, Nick Baumgardner has the Bears taking Williams at No. 1.

Another new era in Chicago begins, this time with the best playmaker in the draft. Williams comes with his quirks and a pretty unique personality — but he’s even more unique on the field. A big day for the Bears.

But it’s the ninth overall pick where things get interesting. There are several directions they could go — including trading back, trading up or staying put and landing another blue chip player.

While many believe Chicago most likely will trade back from No. 9 and rack up additional draft capital, they do the opposite in this mock scenario. Instead, they elect to move up three spots with the New York Giants to draft LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers at sixth overall.

In this projected trade, the Bears send Nos. 9 and 75, along with a 2025 mid-round pick, to the Giants for No. 6.

It’s certainly possible Chicago can wait at No. 9 and still get one of these receivers for Williams. But it’s also possible the Bears will feel like they have to move up. Nabers, Harrison or Rome Odunze might be way too tempting to pass on in this situation.

Many draft insiders believe several teams have Nabers as WR1 on their draft boards — above even Marvin Harrison Jr., who goes one spot earlier to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 5.

If the Bears have conviction on Nabers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them make a move to land not one but two of the draft’s top players in Williams and Nabers.

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