The Chicago Bears Could Make Insane NFL History In 2024 Draft
The NFL has been around for over a century. One would think in all that time there are many feats left to achieve when it comes to the draft. Yet even this far into its existence, there are still opportunities to pull off firsts. One sits in front of the Chicago Bears two weeks from now. Two prevailing beliefs surround the team as of this moment. They will take a quarterback at #1 overall, probably Caleb Williams. Then they will circle back and take one of the top wide receivers if one falls to them at #9.
People are so casual about the idea that they do not realize its significance. In the entire Super Bowl era, the same team drafted a quarterback and wide receiver in the first round only three times.
- 1968: Greg Landry and Earl McCullouch (Detroit)
- 2004: J.P. Losman and Lee Evans (Buffalo)
- 2010: Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas (Denver)
That by itself is hard to believe, given how linked the two positions are. However, here is where it gets truly special for the Bears. None of those three times saw both players go in the top 10. If GM Ryan Poles follows through on what many expect him to, it would mark the first time in NFL history it has ever happened.
This shot at history depends on the Chicago Bears’ priorities.
There is no question the top three receivers in this class are blue-chip talents. Keenan Allen will be 32 this year and a free agent in 2025. If the Bears don’t want to pay him top money to return next season, then selecting a receiver at #9 makes lots of sense. That said, there is one big issue. Chicago only has four picks in this draft. That is low by any standard. Poles had 21 picks through his first two drafts. It is hard to imagine he’d be willing to go with only four this time. That is why many believe he could be angling to move down from #9, hoping to procure a couple more picks.
Everything hinges on how high his grades are on those receivers. If he feels they’re talented enough to become genuine superstars, then staying at #9 is the way to go. However, if he’s not as high on whichever one gets to that spot as others might be, he could bypass the idea in favor of moving down. It would be crazy to think this team, forever identified for its defensive legacy, makes NFL history by becoming the first ever to take a quarterback and receiver in the top 10 of the same draft.