The Bears are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
By way of Chicago's 2023 NFL Draft trade that sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers to select Alabama star quarterback Bryce Young, the Bears landed Carolina's 2024 first-round pick.
Once the Panthers secured the worst record in the NFL, the Bears were again in possession of the No. 1 overall selection.
Last year, Chicago was confident enough in second-year quarterback Justin Fields to move the pick. This time around, the Bears decided to trade Fields to the Steelers, paving the way to draft their next franchise quarterback first overall.
It appears to be a foregone conclusion that Chicago will take USC star quarterback Caleb Williams with the Panthers' No. 1 pick. But what will the Bears do with their own pick at No. 9?
The Sporting News ranks Chicago's five best first-round combinations in the 2024 NFL Draft below.
MORE: 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Complete 7-round edition
Ranking 5 best combinations for Chicago's two Round 1 selections
1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (No. 1) & Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (No. 9)
The Bears already had a successful offseason by putting high-level, big-play talent around their future rookie quarterback, Williams.
They traded for star wide receiver Keenan Allen coming off one of the best seasons of his career. They also signed running back D'Andre Swift, who had 1,263 all-purpose yards in 2023. Factor in another talented wide receiver D.J. Moore from last year's trade with the Panthers that landed the Bears the No. 1 overall pick, and Chicago is building a lethal offense.
Why not continue to put weapons around Williams?
Nabers might not be on the board at No. 9, but the Bears could build one of the best WR corps in the NFL if he was. Nabers is a versatile playmaker who had 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023. He made life easy for Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and he'd do the same for Williams at the NFL level.
MORE: NFL Draft 2024: Who are the 10 best wide receivers in this class?
2. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (No. 1) & Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama (No. 9)
If you believe that the Bears have enough talent prepared for Williams on offense, that is more than fair.
That's where they could target the other side of the ball with their second top-10 pick, looking for a pass rusher to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
Turner is seen to be the best edge rusher in this draft class, and there is a good chance he is not available at No. 9. But if he was, the Bears could end up with a steal in the Alabama senior.
The 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year registered 22.5 sacks, 120 total tackles and two forced fumbles for his career in Tuscaloosa.
3. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (No. 1) & Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA (No. 9)
Just because Turner is off the board doesn't mean the Bears can't find another talented pass rusher.
The Sporting News' NFL Draft expert Vinnie Iyer projected Chicago to land UCLA EDGE Latu at No. 9, and he would be a great consolation prize to the Alabama stud.
"After adding Allen, Gerald Everett, and D'Andre Swift in free agency, the Bears need to think about pass rush here over offensive skill players for Williams. Matt Eberflus will like this versatile, productive option to pair with Montez Sweat," Iyer wrote in his latest Mock Draft.
The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was explosive this past season, tallying 13.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
MORE: Caleb Williams pro day takeaways: USC QB impresses in official pre-draft workout
4. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (No. 1) & Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (No. 9)
Back to providing Williams with more offensive firepower.
If the Bears aren't going to target defense with their second top-10 pick and Nabers is off the board, Odunze could fall right into their lap.
The Washington star has plenty of fans as an NFL prospect, seen to be in the conversation with Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. for the best wide receiver in this class. Chicago's future quarterback, Williams, even admitted he was a fan of Odunze's game after bumping into him at the airport on the way to the draft.
Odunze registered back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a junior and senior. He tallied 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns during Washington's run to the national championship game. He and Allen would give Williams a dangerous downfield-threat duo.
MORE: Caleb Williams claps back at Greg McElroy on Twitter for adversity comments
5. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (No. 1) & Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State (No. 9)
If Chicago is going to land its franchise quarterback at No. 1, there would be no pushback on providing him with some protection at No. 9.
The Bears' offensive line is projected to be ranked just outside of the top 10 this season, according to ProFootballNetwork. That shows there is confidence in the Braxton Jones-Teven Jenkins-Ryan Bates-Nate Davis-Darnell Wright five-man unit, but insurance never hurts.
Fuaga is widely considered to be the second-best offensive lineman in the 2024 draft class behind Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt. His strength, length and athleticism provide the versatility to play tackle or guard.
