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Breaking down 10 NFL teams that could trade up to 9th overall with the Chicago Bears during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is set to begin later this week and for the second straight year, the Chicago Bears control the league’s signature event of the offseason.

What Ryan Poles plans to do with the first overall pick is no secret. The franchise will make quarterback Caleb Williams the first overall pick and usher in a new era, hoping to finally land a legitimate quarterback.

But with another first-round pick, 9th overall, everything is on the table. Mock drafts published have Chicago staying at 9th overall and selecting a pass rusher, wide receiver, or offensive tackle. But there are also scenarios where many look at the four picks Chicago has and begin to formulate trade down scenarios from 9th overall.

Nobody, not even the Bears know what they’ll be doing. What happens at 9th overall is contingent on factors out of the Bears’ control. Ahead of Chicago, there could be a potential run on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive tackles, setting up a scenario where the phone could be ringing at Halas Hall on draft night.

But with so many talented players at skill position players on offense, some teams could be willing to get aggressive and move up the draft board to land a building block on offense. That means general managers around the league could be willing to reach into next year’s bag of draft capital and sacrifice 2025 picks if it means a major move up the draft board.

This much is evident: Ryan Poles isn’t afraid to trade down when it comes to matching positional value with draft capital. Last year, he traded down one spot in the first round, netting the Bears an extra day 3 pick. In 2022, his first draft with the franchise, he traded down four times on day 3, showing that he covets extra draft picks whenever he can get them.

Every year and every class is different but the principle remains the same: doing whatever is necessary to maximize draft weekend by adding as much talent as possible.

Let’s get into 10 teams who could trade up to 9th overall.

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It’s an intriguing offseason for the New York Jets, who hope that Aaron Rodgers Achillies are fully healed. After down seasons in 2022 and 2023, the Jets are trying to do everything possible to become relevant in 2024, competing in a division that features big names at quarterback.

Whatever relevant looks like will be up to Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh, and Rodgers, who is itching to return to the field. The Jets are heading into a win-now campaign in 2024 and need to consider doing whatever they can to stack the roster with talent.

With no second-round pick due to the Rodgers trade from last offseason, New York still has a third and two fourth-round picks, along with the 10th overall selection. Trading down one spot is something Ryan Poles has done in the past to net some extra day three draft capital.

The Jets may be willing to stay at 10th overall because of how deep the wide receiver class is but Douglas, who has continued to invest in the offensive line could be enticed to move up the board if either Olu Fashanu (Penn State) or Joe Alt (Notre Dame) make it outside the top seven, giving New York a franchise-caliber tackle to protect their MVP quarterback.

After the Russell Wilson fiasco, the Broncos are looking for fresh life on offense. Whatever that looks like is to be determined but sitting just outside the top 10, it’s no secret that head coach Sean Payton could want his own quarterback to develop.

And with Denver, is where everything gets really interesting for the Bears. Would Chicago be willing to move back three spots, be just outside the top 10 and accumulate extra draft capital?

Not having a second-round pick makes a trade unlikely but Denver does have picks 76, 121, 136, 145, and 147 in rounds three through five respectively. To move up to No.9 overall, Denver would likely be sacrificing 76th overall and one of its fifth-rounders, netting the Bears an extra third-rounder and a fifth-rounder.

At 12th overall, Chicago wouldn’t be picking one of the top wide receivers or offensive tackles but it would still provide Ryan Poles with a chance to accumulate extra picks and address the defensive line. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy (Texas) could be on the board, giving Gervon Dexter a new running mate. Meanwhile, edge rushers Jared Verse (Florida State), Dallas Turner (Alabama) and Laitu Latu (UCLA) could all be options to form a new pass rush duo with Montez Sweat.