The addition of Keenan Allen makes a wideout at No. 9 less vital, and Chicago could view Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright as their starting OTs. Drafting either position would provide depth, and it will likely depend on how the draft falls. If one of the top three receivers falls to them at No. 9, it’d be hard for Ryan Poles to pass up, given Allen is in the final year of his contract.
With a slew of QBs and offensive playmakers expected to go in the first eight picks, the Bears could have a dynamite defensive player fall to them at No. 9. Pairing Sweat with a rookie who owns upside could make Eberflus’ defense exponentially more potent in 2024.
Then there is the trade option. Following the Allen swap, the Bears currently have four draft picks: No. 1, No. 9, No. 75, and No. 122. Poles could look to trade the No. 9 spot and recoup more selections to bolster the end of the roster. The haul would have to be enough to convince Poles to eschew snagging another potential game-changing talent in the top 10.