The Chicago Bears have aggressively filled some of the biggest needs on the roster this offseason, which could open general manager Ryan Poles to choose the best available player in the upcoming NFL Draft, perhaps even the runway to emerge with the best player in the draft.
After fortifying both lines of scrimmage with consistently productive veterans, the Bears could add a dynamic running back such as Ashton Jeanty to help Caleb Williams and the offense or perhaps a franchise offensive tackle to round out a rebuild along the offensive line or even some help on defense.
Or Chicago could get bold.
In Pro Football Focus analyst Mason Cameron’s latest mock draft projection, the Bears trade up to the No. 2 overall pick in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, sending picks No. 10, No. 39, No. 148, and a first-round pick in 2026, to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
“The Bears evidently believe their roster can win now,” Cameron writes for PFF. “And have been aggressive to maximize that opportunity. What’s more aggressive than jumping into the top three to grab the best pass rusher in the class? Dayo Odeyingbo is a solid veteran signing, but Carter’s 93.0 PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets would raise Chicago’s defense into the upper echelon and is well worth the price needed to acquire him.”
Carter is arguably the premier prospect in this class, and a consistently dominant and disruptive edge defender who has only improved since switching positions prior to the 2024 campaign.
NFL sources dismiss Abdul Carter injury concerns ahead of the draft
Questions and concerns about Carter’s health of dogged the former Nittany Lion standout with 23 career sacks throughout this pre-draft process.
Carter elected not to work out at the NFL Combine, after his medical exam turned up a foot injury, and sat out Penn State’s pro day while still recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff quarterfinal victory over Boise State.
However, sources inside the league don’t believe that either the Tennessee Titans or Browns at the top of the draft board believe those concerns.
“Zero concerns,” one source told me Friday, “None whatsoever that I’ve heard from the Titans or the Browns,” added another.
If Carter is fully healthy, or will be by the time the Bears kick off this September, he certainly has the potential to be the kind of player who elevates an entire defense. Potentially even worth the significant draft capital in a trade such as Cameron’s scenario to go and get.
Chicago Bears linked to “explosive” pass rusher with 13.5 sacks
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