With the start of the NFL Draft just a few hours away, several analysts have updated their mock drafts. While all of them are predicting that the Bears will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1, here's what they think they'll do at No. 9:
Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune (April 23)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: This feels like a spot where the Bears will either grab Odunze, who had a super-productive career at Washington, or select Murphy. One of them likely will be available if Poles passes on a trade-down scenario. Odunze could quickly emerge as a future star with Caleb Williams.
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (April 23)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: As a physical playmaker with a high IQ and positional flexibility, Odunze is a perfect complement to veteran studs DJ Moore and Keenan Allen in the receiving corps. Caleb Williams has quite the arsenal to work with.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: If the top three receivers come off the board in the first eight picks, the Bears would become much more of a wild card at No. 9. Murphy might not have desired size, but he'd be a scheme fit, and he's consistently disruptive versus pass and run.
Courtney Cronin, ESPN (April 23)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Bears general manager Ryan Poles continues to add to the offense with Odunze, a receiver who might have been the first off the board in drafts that didn't feature so much talent at wideout. Adding the big-bodied receiver to a position group that already boasts DJ Moore and Keenan Allen gives the Bears an unquestioned top-five trio for Williams' rookie season.
Charles Davis, NFL.com (April 24)
No. 9 pick: Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner
Comment: Head coach Matt Eberflus needs someone to help the sensational Montez Sweat get after the QB for this team on the rise.
Nate Davis, USA Today (April 23)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Trading down could be temping for Chicago, which has a draft-low four selections, as well. Yet the Bears, who have been busily building a proper supporting cast for Williams, are also dangerously thin at wideout behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Spectacular as Harrison and Nabers are, plenty of proponents for Odunze, an All-American last year and All-Pac-12 member the past two. The 6-3, 212-pounder has a sterling off-field reputation plus the ball skills and production (92 catches, for 1,640 yards, 13 TDs in 2023) to be a co-WR1 with Moore in 2025 and beyond.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com (April 22)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 15 and take Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner
Comment: Sliding back six spots and picking up another Day 2 pick here, the Bears would land a player who probably would have been on the table at No. 9. Turner would be a good complement to Montez Sweat and give Chicago a boost to the pass rush.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (April 24)
No. 9 pick: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: Chicago took Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens a year ago, but Byron Murphy II would give it greater expectations for the position. The Bears defense took a large step forward last season but is now poised to take an even bigger step.
Chris Emma, 670 The Score (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Patrick Finley, Chicago Sun-Times (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: I love the top three receivers in this draft — Marvin Harrison is the player most likely to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Odunze is a great fit with the Bears and LSU's Malik Nabers is more physically gifted than either of them. The problem: all three will be gone when the Bears pick ninth. Presuming the top eight picks are four quarterbacks, three receivers and Alt — in some order — Poles would be well-served to trade down. Perhaps the Raiders or Broncos would be willing to pay a hefty ransom to move up and take quarterback Michael Penix.
Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic (April 22)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 12 and take Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu
Comment: Here's an opportunity to once again use a key draft resource and find (Darnell) Wright's bookend, giving Poles runway at one of the most important positions on the field.
Tyler Forness, The Sporting News (April 24)
No. 9 pick: LSU receiver Malik Nabers
Comment: The Bears pair Williams with the electric Nabers who won't have to be the alpha for at least a couple of seasons.
Sean Hammond, Shaw Local News Network (April 21)
No. 9 pick: Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner
Comment: The Bears become the first team to select a defensive player. They land an edge rusher who can start opposite Montez Sweat.
Adam Hoge, CHGO Sports (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: Matt Eberflus finally lands the explosive, penetrating 3-technique needed to complete his defense. The supply of elite 3-techs in the NFL is extremely limited, and if you can get one on a rookie contract, that's hard to pass up.
Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: The Bears make the first surprise move of the first round with Odunze off the board.
Adam Jahns, The Athletic (April 22)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 12 and take Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: Another investment in the trenches just feels like it's coming for the Bears. As I've said before, Verse feels like a fit for the Bears under coach Matt Eberflus.
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (April 24)
No. 9 pick: Penn State tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Comment: I believe the Bears might be interested in trading down from No. 9, which could still put them in the range to land Fashanu. Remember, they only have four picks this year. However, if they do stay at No. 9, I expect this will be a selection to support Caleb Williams, whether it's a receiver (Rome Odunze) or offensive tackle.
Mel Kiper, ESPN (April 10)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: This would be a dream scenario for the Bears, right? They would be adding an elite wideout on a rookie contract to play with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, and they wouldn't have to move up from No. 9 to do it. Remember that Allen is a free agent in 2025, so wide receiver is a bigger need for Chicago than it might seem. The 6-3 Odunze was a nightmare for defenses to deal with in college. He had 92 catches last season, 23 of which came on vertical routes, the most in the FBS, according to ESPN Stats & Information. If the Bears pass on a wideout, look for them to target an edge rusher. Laiatu Latu (UCLA) and Jared Verse (Florida State) are next up in my rankings.
Joel Klatt, Fox Sports (April 24)
No. 9 pick: Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt
Comment: What a draft this would be if the Bears were able to get Williams and not have to do anything to land the top offensive tackle in the draft. They took Darnell Wright to be their right tackle in the first round last year, so adding Alt would be a great bookend on the other side.
Aaron Leming, Bear Report (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 15 and take Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: The Bears' No. 9 overall selection ends up turning into trade city. First, Chicago moves nine spots back with the Bengals. In this scenario, I'm projecting that one of the top three receivers will still be on the board and Cincinnati will be chomping at the bit to get up to land one. On the other hand, Chicago wants a second-round pick and gets additional ammo to move a few spots back up to land their top defensive target. In the second trade, the Bears send the No. 115 pick they received from the Bengals (and a 2025 fourth-round selection) to move up three spots to take Murphy II.
Rhett Lewis, NFL.com (April 9)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Support your young franchise QB! Just look at what the Texans have done for C.J. Stroud. Chicago follows a similar strategy, bringing in a third high-level WR to assist Caleb Williams. Odunze is on the same tier as Harrison and Nabers. The Bears might just "win" the draft with this tandem of top-10 picks.
Jason Lieser, Chicago Sun-Times (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Nicholas Moreano, CHGO Sports (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: The Bears get a disruptive interior defensive lineman to pair with edge rusher Montez Sweat. Murphy gives head coach Matt Eberflus the engine he has been missing from his defense.
Glynn Morgan, NBC Sports Chicago (April 24)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Bears general manager Ryan Poles believes in acquiring "blue-chip" players, and Odunze is a premium talent with intangibles that may exceed his elite physical attributes. If good karma exists, then a plane ride with presumptive number one pick, Caleb Williams and Odunze, sharing the same flight might be the portentous omen Chicago needs to make the former Husky the ninth overall pick.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (April 15)
No. 9 pick: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: The allure of equipping Williams with another top-tier receiver will be strong, especially if Nabers or Rome Odunze are still available. But both Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus know how difficult it is to find premium pass rushers after they paid up at the trade deadline last year to land Pro Bowler Montez Sweat. Verse could step in as a complementary piece and quickly make his mark both in generating pressure and holding firm against the run.
Saivion Mixson, The Sporting News (April 15)
No. 9: pick Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: With the top receivers gone, the Bears return to their roots and help bolster head coach Matt Eberflus' defense. Florida State's Jared Verse complements Montez Sweat well as they continue to build the roster around Williams.
Marcus Mosher, 33rd Team (April 16)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 13 and take Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: The Bears miss out on the top three receivers at No. 9, making a trade down much more palatable. They pivot to defense at No. 13, taking arguably the best defensive player in the class. Byron Murphy is an incredible athlete who should be a disruptive player immediately.
Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus (April 10)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: In an offense filled with future NFL players at the skill positions, Odunze was the best of the bunch. If he weren't in a class with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, we would be talking about him as an easy WR1 and a player worthy of a top-10 pick, although the latter is still true for 2024.
Damian Parson, The Draft Network (April 7)
No. 9 pick: LSU receiver Malik Nabers
Comment: DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and now Malik Nabers would be a young QB's dream supporting cast. Nabers has been compared to Moore but with more explosiveness and speed. Caleb Williams would be set up for a (potential) C.J. Stroud-esqe rookie campaign.
Zack Pearson, Bear Report (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: The Bears pair Caleb Williams with Odunze in the offense for years to come as the board falls their way at No. 9.
Mark Potash, Chicago Sun-Times (March 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Unless the Bears have a chance to get Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, the 6-3, 212-pound Odunze would be tough to pass up. He fits the Poles profile as a former four-star athlete with leadership qualities. And by loading up with weapons, Poles would be giving rookie quarterback Caleb Williams a better chance to hit the ground running.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (April 25)
No. 9 pick: LSU receiver Malik Nabers
Comment: They would be thrilled to see him fall to this spot. Nabers might be better than Harrison in the long run. This would be a great pick for Williams if it falls this way.
Rob Rang, Fox Sports (April 23)
No. 9 pick: Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt
Comment: Pairing the pro-ready Alt with last year's top pick Darnell Wright would give the Bears the size and physicality up front that they haven't had in decades.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (April 19)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 15 and take Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Comment: GM Ryan Poles could've selected Murphy at No. 9 if the Bears had stayed put, but he still manages to land the defensive talent six spots later while replenishing the team's draft assets (currently hold just four picks). The former Longhorn will be a welcome addition to the Bears' front because of his strength holding the line and ability to work through interior linemen's shoulders to create havoc in the backfield.
Peter Schrager, NFL.com (April 25)
Pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Caleb Williams gets what Andrew Luck got in T.Y. Hilton so many years back -- a draft-class partner in crime. Keenan Allen is only signed through the 2024 season. I've been hearing that the Colts are a team that could move up this spot if the right pass catcher is still available. But in this exercise, I'll keep Chicago at No. 9.
Alex Shapiro, NBC Sports Chicago (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Odunze gives the Bears one of the best deep threats they've had in years. If all goes well, he'll be a cornerstone of the offense along with Caleb Williams for many years.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (April 24)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Perfect pairing with Williams in Round 1 for the Bears. Big-bodied vertical weapon.
Field Yates, ESPN (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: A strong case exists for the Bears to take Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who would be an ideal fit in coach Matt Eberflus' defensive system. But Odunze is still here at No. 9, and he would help Chicago form a new-look receiver trio alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen that would instantly rank among the league's best. Odunze can make the tough catches and beat defenders once he has the ball in his hands.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (April 25)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: After some tense moments waiting to see if the Falcons would stick and pick Odunze, the Bears breathe a sigh of relief. Caleb Williams gets a new best friend and WR1 of the future.
