(Audacy) The Bears hold some powerful cards ahead of the NFL Draft. Of course, they’re expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but they also have the No. 9 selection. That gives general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears a few options on draft night.
David Haugh and Dan Wiederer of the Audacy original podcast Take The North debated about what the Bears should do at No. 9, with Haugh arguing to trade up for Ohio State star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. if he’s available.
“I don’t think there’s a real incentive to trade up in this draft given the depth of the positions that you’d be trading up for because there’s other options there,” Wiederer said. “Trade down, I think, might be the preferred option inside the building if the Bears can’t attract a trade partner that gives them a certain floor of how low they’re willing to trade down to, and I think they could turn it into multiple picks and capitalize if they get the deal that they want.”
While the top two or three picks in the draft are expected to be quarterbacks, it should open up a bit after that in the top 10. One of the most talented players in this draft class is Harrison, the son of the NFL Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison.
“Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, J.J McCarthy, if those are the first four off the board, quarterbacks all of ‘em one through four, Ryan Poles should be motivated to trade up with the Chargers and get Marvin Harrison Jr.” Haugh said. “Give ‘em next year’s first-round pick. Give ‘em –”
“Why?” Wiederer interjected. “Why not wait and see if you can get (Malik) Nabers or (Rome) Odunze?”
“Because they’re not Marvin Harrison Jr.,” Haugh responded. “If Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best player in the draft, you would be fixated on getting him if he’s still on the board at No. 5, and the Chargers want to add capital for the new head coach – I don’t know what it is. But if he’s the best player on the board, you go get him.”
Harrison, Nabers and Odunze are projected by most analysts to all be selected in the top 10. The Bears could have one of the three fall to them at No. 9, but trading up would make it a certainty that they get a talented receiver.
For his part, Wiederer doesn't think the price would be worth it to trade up.
“That’s a heavy price to pay given the fact that there’d be options just below him that would probably match up pretty well without having to give up a first-round blue-chip possible player in 2025,” Wiederer argued. “I hate it. Not in.”
“I would love it,” Haugh reiterated. “I would love it because it would be so un-Bear like to go and get somebody. You end the day with Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. and you would win the draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. is better, just by a shade, than Odunze, than Nabers, and I think that little bit that you see – if you agree with that. If you don’t agree with that, you’re not doing it. But if you think he’s the best player in the draft potentially, you go up and you get him.”
Wiederer also argued that the Bears already have two go-to receivers on the team in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. However, a connection between Williams and Harrison would have the potential to be legendary in Chicago for years to come.