The Chicago Bears have secured the coveted No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft for the second straight year.
The turning point came as the Carolina Panthers suffered a disappointing 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, while the Arizona Cardinals pulled off a 35-31 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. On the same day, the Bears defeated the Atlanta Falcons 37-17.
The Bears' favorable draft position can be traced back to the trade carried out in the previous offseason with the Panthers. Chicago acquired the ninth and 61st overall picks in the 2023 draft, Carolina's 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver D.J. Moore in exchange for their 2022 top pick.
The trade also brought in two rookie starters for the Bears, right tackle Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Panthers, on the other hand, used its No. 1 pick to select quarterback Bryce Young.
Originally drafted 24th overall by Carolina in 2018, Moore proved to be a valuable asset for the Bears. He delivered an outstanding performance with 92 catches, 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns in a career-defining year.
"To come here, I feel like the No. 1 overall pick," said Moore.
On the flip side, the Panthers likely did not anticipate that the first-round pick sent to Chicago would turn out to be such a high selection. Closing the 2022 season at 7-10 after a strong finish, the Panthers briefly flirted with the playoffs.
Despite some personnel losses during the past offseason, Carolina was expected to be competitive this season. However, Young encountered struggles, particularly at crucial moments, before experiencing an improvement in his play toward the end of the season.
Focus on celebrating home triumphs
The Bears’ win against the Falcons not only marked their seventh of the season but also extended their home winning streak to five consecutive games. Chicago managed to turn around its game after starting the season with a 2-7 record.
While the Bears are currently slated to draft with the first and 10th picks, safety Jaquan Brisker said that the team's focus is on their recent triumph rather than the draft implications.
"Obviously in this case, it is good for us, but we're not celebrating that," said Brisker. "We're celebrating a victory at home, five, six straight in a row. That's huge for us and having momentum is huge."
Chicago's coach, Matt Eberflus, echoed a similar sentiment. He didn't want to dwell on draft matters too much.
"I don't think we're picking tomorrow, you know what I mean? So the focus ... for you to do your job the right way is you got to be here right now, get your eyes forward for the next thing."
When asked about his plan to continue leading the Bears in 2024, Eberflus also responded with a similar focus on the immediate tasks at hand.
"Like I said many times, my eyes are forward on the corrections of this game," he said, underscoring his commitment to focusing on the players, coaches and the overall development of the Bears.
With the focus now shifting to the 2024 draft, the Bears face a pivotal moment, particularly in the quarterback position. Justin Fields, who returned from a thumb injury in Week 11, has shown improvement in various aspects of his play.
Analysts say the team faces decisions about whether to trade the top pick to accumulate more draft capital and build around Fields or use the No. 1 pick to draft a rookie quarterback.
