NFL Draft countdown: Focus on Bears' first-round pick at No. 9

The 2024 NFL Draft is just nine days away. While most people know Chicago holds the No.1 pick in the draft, many forget they also have the ninth pick. Here’s who local experts think they’ll take at No. 9.

Chicago Tribune (Brad Biggs): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

With USC QB Caleb Williams presumably on the way and Darnell Mooney set to join Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, Biggs sees GM Ryan Poles adding Washington’s dynamic wide receiver.

“If four quarterbacks come off the board in the first eight picks, chances are decent only two receivers will have had their names called. That would put Poles in position to draft one, perhaps the physical and explosive Odunze, who is coming off a 1,640-yard season with 13 touchdowns for the Huskies.” 

Wide receiver DJ Moore had a career-best 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with the team while tight end Cole Kmet had a career-high 719 yards with six scores in 2023. The team also traded for six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen who had 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns for the Chargers last year.

If Odunze has anywhere near the production he had as a Husky, Chicago’s offense could be scary in 2024.

Fox 32 Chicago (Chris Kwiecinski): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Even with a midseason trade for Washington DE Montez Sweat, the Bears ranked 31st in the NFL with 30 sacks in 2023. Sweat quickly signed a four-year, $98M contract to stay in Chicago but he could use some help.

Verse started his college career at Albany before transferring to Florida State in 2022. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive end had 41 tackles (12.5 for loss) with 11 quarterback hurries, nine sacks and a forced fumble last season and even blocked a kick against LSU.

His numbers were nearly identical in 2022 (including a blocked field goal) making Verse one of the more consistent options at his position. He’s also very strong. Verse bested everyone at his position with 31 reps of 225 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, which helps explain this: