Bears NFL Draft big board: Caleb Williams and 50 more prospects of interest

At the NFL owners’ meetings last month, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles explained why he’s OK with having only four picks in this year’s NFL Draft.

“If we don’t move at all, I think that’s 25 picks in three years, which is over eight and some change,” he said.

He also traded picks in this year’s draft for veteran starters: a second-rounder for defensive end Montez Sweat, a fourth for receiver Keenan Allen and a fifth for starting center Ryan Bates.

All three players will have important roles during a season in which the development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams — the presumptive first pick — will supersede everything else at Halas Hall.

The same simply wouldn’t be expected of three rookies, especially two Day 3 selections.

It also helps that the Bears have nine picks — including two in the second round — in next year’s NFL draft.

But will Poles stick to that? There already are rumblings that the Bears are looking to move down from the No. 9 selection. Of course, that’s if the team’s draft board tells them to do that.

Beyond Williams, here’s a look at 50 additional players from a variety of positions who could interest the Bears during this week’s draft, along with where they rank in Dane Brugler’s top 300 rankings and some key questions.

No. 1 pick

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Key question: Who is the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback after Williams?

The Bears didn’t host any other quarterbacks at Halas Hall. They showed up en masse for Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy’s pro days while a smaller contingent attended Drake Maye’s.

But my best guess would be McCarthy. The Bears have to continue to be fans of his after they select Williams, too. The numbers would favor the Bears considerably at No. 9 if four quarterbacks are drafted within the first eight picks.

“Overall, McCarthy’s evaluation feels incomplete, which creates even more projection than normal, but his passing skills, pocket athleticism and mental makeup are all ascending and create optimism for his NFL future,” Brugler wrote in “The Beast.” “Although bumps along the way should be expected, he has the package of tools to become an NFL starter early in his career.”

The more demand there is for McCarthy, the better things will be for the Bears in the draft. The ninth pick could also be a better option for teams looking to trade up. It wouldn’t be as expensive as a top-five selection. But there is also an interesting scenario in which the Minnesota Vikings trade up for McCarthy and the Bears face the Chicago area native twice a season.

“It’s a difficult evaluation because you can see him do everything you want him to do or you need a big-time quarterback to do, it’s just the numbers in terms of the volume is not there,” said NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah during a recent conference call.

“Everybody that was at the pro days that I talked to said he threw it as well or better than any of the top quarterbacks. He’s got a big-time live arm. You’ve got enough size, a guy that’s still growing. He’s got a big arm. He’s incredibly smart. There’s things you can latch on to there, and you’ve just got to have faith. Some do and some don’t, in terms of what you’re buying there.”

No. 9 pick

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
3. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
5. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
6. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
7. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
9. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
12. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
14. Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama
16. Byron Murphy, DT, Texas

Key question: How desperate are the Bears to find a pass rusher in this draft?

At the owners’ meetings, coach Matt Eberflus wanted everyone to know that pass-rush help could come from the inside as much as the outside.

“That the inside piece is also something that we should be looking at, and it’s important that we do that,” he said. “Direct line to the quarterback.”

If the Bears covet Murphy as their future three-technique tackle, the best decision would be just taking him at No. 9 — not trading back and then hoping he’s there for you to take.

With Murphy, the question for the Bears is whether they’re OK looking past his less-than-ideal measurements. The Bears projected Gervon Dexter as a fit at three-technique and selected him in the second round last year. He’s 6-6 and 310 pounds with 32 1/4-inch arms. Murphy is 6-foot and 297 pounds with 32 3/8-inch arms. But Murphy’s lack of height can be an advantage against some linemen.

“With his disruptive energy, both as a pass rusher and versus the run, he projects as an impact starter who can play shaded nose or three-technique, similar to Grady Jarrett,” Brugler wrote.

Trade-back options

13. JC Latham, OT, Alabama
17. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
18. Graham Barton, C, Duke
20. Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
22. Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
23. Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
24. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
26. Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
28. Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
32. Marshawn Kneeland, DE, Western Michigan
34. Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
35. Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri

Key question: Would the Bears still trade back if one of the top three receivers is available at No. 9?

That would seem to depend on which team is calling and what it’s offering in terms of compensation. But as crazy as this might sound, I wouldn’t rule it out.

Harrison, Nabers or Odunze would immediately improve the Bears offense this season and beyond for Williams. But the Bears still need help on the offensive and defensive lines.

The Bears’ acquisitions of DJ Moore and Keenan Allen are examples of how good receivers can be added by teams through trades. They also join a long list of examples that includes Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, A.J. Brown, Jerry Jeudy and Calvin Ridley.

It can also happen with pass rushers. The Bears just did it with Sweat. It also wasn’t long ago that the Bears acquired Khalil Mack from the Raiders.

Lockdown, blue-chip offensive linemen just seem more difficult to find. You either have to draft them or sign them to massive contracts in free agency.

Day 2 options

47. Christian Haynes, OL, UConn
50. Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
54. Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
56. Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
60. Mike Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
61. Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
65. Adisa Isaac, DE, Penn State
68. Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
70. Cole Bishop, S, Utah
71. Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
74. Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
76. Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
78. Austin Booker, DE, Kansas
79. Kameron Kinchens, S, Miami
87. Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
92. Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon
93. Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
94. Jonah Elliss, DE, Utah
105. Calen Bullock, S, USC
109. Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin
111. Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
113. Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Georgia
117. Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
125. Mason McCormick, G, South Dakota State
134. Gabe Hall, DT, Baylor
138. Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
159. Jha’Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane
172. Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
182. AJ Barner, TE, Michigan

Key question: Are the Bears comfortable sitting through the gap between the ninth and 75th picks?

It’s a wait that will test the patience of Poles, assistant GM Ian Cunningham and others in the Bears’ draft room. Players that the Bears have spent months scouting and now love as potential fits for their team will be taken — and they won’t have an opportunity to do anything about it.

Sure, it helps to have nine picks next year. The Bears will get an opportunity to load up with a large draft class again.

Or they can use some of that future capital to trade back into this year’s draft and target players they covet.

(Top photo of Byron Murphy: Ricardo B. Brazziell / USA Today)