Mercifully, the Chicago Bears‘ 2024 season ended on a positive note. Despite nothing to play for, the team went into Lambeau Field and stunned the Green Bay Packers 24-22. The victory ended an 11-game losing streak both overall and to the Packers, was their first win in Green Bay since 2015, and marked Matt Lafleur’s first-ever loss to the Bears. Caleb Williams led the game-winning drive and Cairo Santos capped it with a 51-yard field goal. It is hard not to feel good about getting that monkey off their backs, especially since it sent the Packers to Philadelphia for a matchup with the Eagles.
The result also impacted Chicago’s draft plans. Thanks to the victory and a Saints loss, the Bears will now select 10th overall in the 2025 draft. It marks the fourth-consecutive top-10 pick they will possess since starting their rebuild in 2022. Their previous three resulted in Darnell Wright, Williams, and Rome Odunze. All three look like legitimate building blocks. If the Bears can hit on this one, it may set them out for a long time to come, provided they find the right head coach.
That 10th spot has yielded several prominent names in recent years. Garrett Wilson, DeVonta Smith, Patrick Mahomes, Todd Gurley, Eric Ebron, and Stephon Gilmore all heard their names called at that spot. Early reports from draft experts indicate there are around 12 true 1st round-caliber talents in this class. That means unless the Bears decide to trade down, there is a virtual guarantee they will land one of those players. Smart money says they will focus on the trenches, either by adding the best possible offensive lineman or a pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat.
Kelvin Banks, Will Campbell, Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, and Nic Scourton are all names with which Chicago Bears fans should get acquainted. It feels like one of those five could end up in navy blue by the time the dust settles a few months from now. Much of it may hinge on who the GM is and who they hire as head coach. It’s assumed Ryan Poles will stay in place. If so, he is likely to consider his next coach’s desires. Everything depends on how the board falls.
