2024 NFL mock draft, post-Super Bowl edition: The Bears dilemma ends with a new QB

The Chicago Bears have a good problem.

They have a young quarterback, Justin Fields, who has shown flashes of brilliance in an uneven career. He wrapped up his third season as a pro with a 4-3 record in his final seven games, averaging more than 250 total yards a week thanks to competent passing and an electric run game.

The Bears also have the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which features a pair of electric quarterback prospects jumping into the league after accomplished college careers. Caleb Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy. Drake Maye threw for nearly 8,000 yards over the last two seasons.

Both could be upgrades over Fields. Either would be cheaper to roster than a player whose salary jumps to $22 million if Chicago picks up his 2025 option. But neither is a sure thing, and the price of a trade down the draft board could encompass all the pieces needed to make Fields a Pro Bowl quarterback and his Bears a playoff team.

So there’s the conundrum. Does Chicago risk its future on Williams’ electric playmaking? Opt for Maye’s steadier play? Keep Fields and auction the pick off for a treasure chest? See if another team will give up premium assets for the opportunity to unlock Fields’ potential?

For our first mock draft of the 2024 offseason, the Bears are keeping the pick. But they may not be drafting who you’d expect.