Another BAD Call

Chicago Sports. Chicago Bears. Chicago Dad Life

2024 NFL Mock Draft, First 10 Picks (Finn’s picks).

By

We chose to have our inaugural NFL mock draft be only 10 pics for two reasons.

  1. Most mock draft after 10 picks simply go crazy.
  2. The Bears two first round picks are in the top 10.

Now, while we did our damnedest to be as objective as possible with these picks, all three of us will concede that we might be the slightest bit hopeful the draft falls how we predict so we can all get who we want the Bears to have at the #9 pick. We all have that fear with our #8 pick, if wrong, means Atlanta will snake our #9 dream.

The #8 pick is also when, in the fourth hour of research, I realized my 10 mock draft pick were falling in line with another prominent writer. In that moment, I realized why all the bloggers have slight variations in picks even when those choices surpass all reason: to look original.

We care more about the Bears returning to Super Bowls and have our kids enjoy the rush we had with Super Bowl XX than if we thought similar to someone else.

Preface aside, my ten picks, as heard in Season 3, Episode 1 (an episode that might not see the public light of day due to audio lag issues) – with a little more seasoning, presented below…

Duh. 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. 2023 Heisman finalist. A very big open secret here. We all hope Caleb Williams makes us forget about Sid Luckman for the next 15 years or more.

I spent more time writing in the pick here than I did thinking about it.

Sources consulted included:

2023 Heisman Trophy Winner. Uber athlete. Ideal QB height. Amazing stats. And any smoke about him not wanting to go to Washington just sounds like it was pulled from the same blogger template the pundits tried to use with Caleb Williams and Chicago last month. Act 1, “Player doesn’t want to go to city.” Who has time for that crap? Daniels might rather be in Vegas or Minnesota, but teams looking to crack the top four will likely have to overpay to get in. D.C. is a great city.

Sources consulted included:

Are you getting Mitchell Trubisky flashbacks? You aren’t alone.

A quarterback prospect out of North Carolina on a team with a subpar year? Deja vu.

That said, some respected chatter compares Drake Maye to Buffalo’s Josh Allen. It comes down to how much seasoning one thinks Maye needs before he’s a productive asset.

New England has a veteran stable back up quarterbacks to plug him in with with.

New England brass has been blowing smoke stating they are not in too much of a rush to get a new quarterback. If there is any truth, then this could be the spot in the top four where a trade happens. Minnesota, Denver, Chicago, or even Arizona. More below in Hypotheticals.

Sources consulted included:

The Cardinals have a need at WR. Their fan base is used to great wide receivers (thank you, Larry Fitzgerald).

They also have 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. 6 of those picks are in first three rounds.

Marvin Harrison, Jr. is so good that last fall, when the Bears secured the #1 pick, Justin and I were both scheming of ways for the Bears to get – not Caleb Williams – Marvin Harrison, Jr. He screams “generational talent.” Sure, so does Caleb Williams, but I’ve never heard Justin gush over a WR like he did here.

Cardinals have given indications they, too, are acutely aware of the talent. So much so, I wouldn’t be surprised they used some of that draft capital to swap picks with New England if they get wary enough of the idea of Chicago moving in on Harrison.

Otherwise, They ain’t moving off MH Jr. unless they’re offered the moon. And with Murray entrenched a quarterback, they’re not in this Quarterback mad-grab. New England (#3) and L.A. Chargers (#5) would likely have lower asking prices – if any make trades.

Sources consulted included:

I don’t see it with McCarthy. I think this is draft fatigue. I think he could suffer the fate most of the Quarterbacks in the early rounds of the 2021 draft suffered: pedaled 3 years later for late round picks.

But beggars and choosers and desperation making for strange bedfellows. Minnesota has two first rounders and their quarterback is now in Atlanta. If they can’t get New England to move off #3 and (likely) Arizona move off #4, then this trade likely comes here.

I spent most of my research time on this. The Chargers have split primary needs. They sent their top wide receivers packing (Williams to the Jets, Allen to the Bears). Part of the reason is cap casualties, part of it is due to recent injuries.

Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman are old-school, smashmouth guys. They love strong lines. Joe Alt, top-rated tackle in this year’s draft, is chattered to be a “Harbaugh guy.” This alone makes O-line help a priority, especially on that right side. Rashawn Slater has been decent as left tackle, but Trey Pipkins III  has suffered at right tackle.

A trade here won’t let the Chargers get Alt, most likely, without a subsequent deal, but with two first-rounders, they can address both WR & OT in the first round.

Sources consulted included:

Nabers made Jaden Daniels look good, and vice versa. A powerful battery between the two.

My drawback with him is that there are arguments as to whether or not he’s truly a flat 6’0”. But 4.3 40-yard-dash speed. A highlight reel worthy of envy.

If Giants don’t try to trade up or back for a quarterback, they’ll likely be happy here. 6 picks. Tight cap space. Not enough to afford the pick atm. Otherwise, they’ve patched their O-line via free agency and haven’t had a receiver crack 800 yards since 2018, when Odell Beckham Jr. topped 1,000 yards. Now, JD & Justin are quick to point out part of the problem revolved round who was throwing the ball to them, but the essence of the point remains. Somewhere, somehow, the Giants need to improve the passing & receiving battery.

Sources consulted included:

7. Tennessee Titans. Joe Alt. Offensive Tackle. Senior. Notre Dame.

He came to South Bend, Indiana as a tight end. He’s leaving as the top tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft.  If the Bears could get three top ten picks, I’d jones for Joe Alt. Draft combine has him at 6’9”, 321. 10” hands. 2-time All-American. Just a corn-fed mule of a man-child.

For Tennessee, OT is their top need according to many, many outlets. This is nearly as hand-in-glove as Caleb Williams to Chicago or Marvin Harrison, Jr. to Arizona Cardinals.

Sources consulted included:

Sure. JD, Justin, and I are really-really-really hoping Atlanta fills their most pressing need here and goes after athletic freak Dallas Turner. That way, Rome Odunze is available at #9 for Chicago – assuming the draft doesn’t go trade-crazy.

That said, Dallas Turner should go to Atlanta. They’ve filled all their other pressing needs, especially on offense. 4.46 40-yard dash time for an Edge Rusher is…wow. Amazing. First-team AP All-American. Stats for days. Speed and power.

(*Finn wipes drool from his chin.*)

If the Bears didn’t spend a pick on Montez Sweat, and have it pan out so well, we’d likely be hoping more for Dallas Turner to drop to Chicago.

At this point, I realized I had the same picks as some really good mock drafters:

It was around this point, in my fourth hour, where I realized my draft was the same as Brendan Donahue, “The #1 most accurate mock drafter over the past five NFL seasons according to The Huddle Report.”

I could have gone to bed before 11pm and been fresh for the twins the next morning.

I took an hour on the Chargers and thought I was clever coming up with that trade scenario, only to see he had it as well.

I felt a Little better realizing, during our podcast, how close Justin and I were on our picks. Damn near the same as well. I guess it was 4 hours well spent. And had to be spent, because I didn’t follow the last couple seasons as closely as have the brothers West.

Sources consulted included:

9. Chicago Bears. Rome Odunze. Wide Receiver. Senior. Washington.

Size. Strength. Speed. Big hands. First-team All-American.  If Marvin Harrison, Jr. wasn’t in this draft, Bears fans like us would be scheming more ways to get Odounze. And we’re getting excited seeing him and Caleb Williams taking selfies together on the plane to Detroit for the draft, and during activities.

Rome Odunze is such a badass, he suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung against University of Arizona while recovering an on-sides kick. Two weeks later? Back on the field against Arizona. Rested up on the bye week.

With DJ Moore and Keenan Allen drawing most of the attention from Defenses, Odunze Will have favorable matchups all season.

Sources consulted included:

Still deflated, yet elated I was on pace with Brendan Donahue, and blurry-eyed, I lightly glazed over this. And I saw so many folks thinking Brock Bowers was going to the Jets to be a jet-set weapon for a Rodgers West-Coast offense passing system, that I sheep-ed along with it.

Bowers is a great fit here. And if the Bears went this route if the 3 receivers are gone, the Bears would be better for it.

Sources consulted included:

Hypotheticals.

1.      Minnesota trades their 2 2024 #1s to L.A. Chargers.

As I wrote in the #5 pick, Chargers would be able to address both their needs.

For Minnesota, either McCarthy or Maye would have to be on the board.

It’s possible.

2.      No trades in top 8. Bears go after Texas DT Byron Murphy.

As noted in the #8 pick, that the Bears already picked up Sweat on the EDGE, plugging the middle of the line would be more likely where the Bears would go.

Not often you can have the first Defensive Tackle on the draft from the 9-hole. I’m sure trading back would be a possibility, but it’s such a value-pick at this point that I wouldn’t be surprised the Bears went for Murphy.

3.      Bears trade #9 and 2025 #1 to New England for #3. Draft Marvin Harrison, Jr.

I know it sounds like we’re GM-ing on Madden, but it’s not without precedence. Last year, the Texans traded their 2024 #1 to get Will Anderson, Jr. (EDGE – Alabama) at #3, immediate after drafting QB C.J. Stroud #2. The impact of those two picks have pulled the Texans out of their post-Watson mire, an AFC South division crown , and a Wild Card victory.

The truth is, unless you’re drafting a Center or an OT in the first round, the success rate of first round draft picks making it to the second contract with the team that drafted them is low. And if you’re a QB or a WR, it’s even lower.

Taking 3 first rounders to possibly land 2 generational talents would put them at 66.6%, considerably above the average mean. I’d roll the dice.

And for the Patriots, there’s a likelihood that either QBs Maye or McCarthy would still be on the board at #9 when they would draft again. Getting a 2025 #1 and possibly the same player as the year before.

And if they have to settle for the a Penix, Jr. or a Bo Nix, I don’t see that being a drop-off. I swear it’s only draft fatigue that separates Maye, McCarthy, Penix, Jr., and Nix.

Salutations:

Look! The most anticipated Bears draft in years is about to happen. Grab some Orville Redenbacher and get ready to see the magic unfold.

Another Bad Chicago sports newsletter, but this one has mustard and grilled onions.

Get Chicago Sports Dad Life today.