The Chicago Bears entered the 2024 NFL Draft with the fewest picks in the league and left with two franchise cornerstone pieces on offense. The two first-round draft selections by Chicago should have Bears fans worldwide excited for the 2024 season and the future of the Chicago Bears. Without further ado, here is the pick-by-pick evaluation of the Chicago Bears 2024 Draft class and the Bears draft grades for each pick.
Chicago Bears 2024 Draft Grades
Round 1, No. 1: QB Caleb Williams
The stars have aligned for Caleb Williams to become a Chicago Bear. Williams was by far the best and most polarizing quarterback in the draft class. His arm talent competes with that of the best in the NFL, and he can rifle passes anywhere on the field. Although Williams may overextend plays and hold onto the ball longer than most quarterbacks, he can easily work on his weaknesses in the NFL. His arrival could signal a long-awaited solution to the Bears perennial search for a franchise quarterback.
Grade: A
Round 1, No. 9: WR Rome Odunze
Caleb Williams gets more help in his transition to the NFL with the addition of wide receiver Rome Odunze. Odunze is one of the best wide receiver prospects in a draft class filled with talent at the position. Odunze’s ability to make contested catches and use his strong hands makes him a formidable threat on the field. Scoring an impressive 9.92 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), he’s a physical specimen that will provide Williams with another security blanket on top of the other elite pass-catchers the Bears have on the team.
Grade: A
Round 3, No. 75: OL Kiran Amegadije
Kiran Amegadije is the definition of a Ryan Poles pick: a hometown kid who grew up rooting for the Chicago Bears. Amegadije is a raw, physical talent with massive arms who hasn’t allowed a sack since 2021 at Yale. He will be a developmental project with the Bears, but with a ton of exciting traits, Amegadije has the opportunity to become an elite player in the NFL.
Grade: B+
Round 4, No. 122: P Tory Taylor
Drafting a punter in the fourth round may seem like a reach, but Tory Taylor is worth the high draft pick. He is one of the most electric punters to come out of college in a long time. Taylor is the recipient of the 2023 Ray Guy Award, recognizing the nation’s top punter. He also has the FBS record for punt yards in 2023 (4,479). The Bears needed a punter, with Trent Gill having one of the league’s lowest yards per punt. It’s not just Taylor’s cannon of a leg that makes him special; it’s his ability to pin opposing offenses at their five-yard line.
Grade: A-
Round 5, No. 144: EDGE Austin Booker
The Bears traded back into the draft, sending the Buffalo Bills a 2025 fourth-round pick to draft Austin Booker. Adding another edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat was a massive need for the Bears heading into the draft. Booker is a perfect fit for the Bears defense. In 2023 at Kansas, he had 38 QB pressures, nine sacks, and a 14.8% pass-rush win rate. If Booker stayed in college one more season, he was projected to be a late first/early second-round pick. He has tremendous upside and should develop nicely for the Bears. The Bears wanted to ensure they left this year’s draft with at least one defensive player.
Grade: B
Overall
Chicago’s 2024 Draft haul was small but mighty. The Bears left the draft with two franchise players on offense who will be a big part of Chicago’s success for many years. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze offer a new injection of life for the Bears and will become the next great quarterback-wide receiver duos in the NFL. The additions of offensive tackle Kiran Amegadije, punter Tory Taylor, and edge rusher Austin Booker will all immediately impact the team.
It’s worth noting that two of the picks the Bears originally had are technically Montez Sweat (second round) and Keenan Allen (fourth round). Ryan Poles had another excellent draft, laying the foundation for a winning culture in Chicago. Exciting times are ahead for the Chicago Bears!
2024 Draft Class Grade: A
Main Photo: [David Banks] – USA Today Sports
