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What draft analysts think Bears will do with No. 9 pick

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With the NFL Draft just one week away, several analysts have updated their mock drafts. While all of them are predicting that the Bears will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1, here's what they think they'll do at No. 9:

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune (April 13)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 11 and take Washington tackle Troy Fautanu
Comment: The Bears could be leaning offense with their second pick after Caleb Williams, and that means a choice between a receiver and protection for the quarterback. Fautanu is athletic and moves well and could step in as the Day 1 starter at left tackle.

Will Brinson, CBS Sports (April 16)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: It makes sense to pair Williams with a young wideout. Williams and Odunze as a first-day haul will generate boffo ratings for the Bears.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (April 17)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment:
With only four draft picks this year, general manager Ryan Poles will be enticed by trade-back opportunities here to recoup draft capital. But when the Bears are feeling left out in the second round, they can throw on Odunze highlights and feel just fine about this decision.

Jared Dubin, CBS Sports (April 15)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: Dropping Caleb Williams into a situation where his top three receivers are DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Odunze is one of the most enviable situations imaginable. If Odunze makes it to this pick, the Bears can't get to the podium quickly enough.

Nathan Jahnke, Pro Football Focus (April 17)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade up to No. 6 and take LSU receiver Malik Nabers
Comment: The Bears have the fewest picks in this draft, but that hasn't stopped rumors of Chicago trading up to pick one of the top three wide receivers. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is used to having three strong wide receiver options during his time with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, and a trade-up for Nabers could give him his best wide receiver trio yet.

Tyler Forness, The Sporting News (April 16)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 14 and take Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell
Comment: The Bears missed out on the top three receivers so they get the fourth best guy in a trade back. Mitchell is a true X-receiver who can thrive in a vertical role. With Keenan Allen and DJ Moore playing the Z and slot, Mitchell can be the big receiver they use as a vertical threat.

Ryan Fowler, Draft Network (April 15)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: With Caleb Williams at QB, Rome Odunze would immediately provide a WR1a next to DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. The latter isn't 25 anymore, and Odunze has the skill set to dominate for a long, long time at the NFL level. He sits hip-to-hip with Marvin Harrison Jr. on a few teams' boards.

Sean Hammond, Shaw Local News Network (April 14)
No. 9 pick: Washington receiver Rome Odunze
Comment: The Bears might consider trading down, but not with Odunze dropping to them at No. 9.

Vinny Iyer, The Sporting News (April 17)
No. 9 pick: Penn State tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Comment: The Bears should covet Fashanu's combination of power and athleticism as a needed left-tackle upgrade for Caleb Williams.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today (April 15)
No. 9 pick: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: The allure of equipping Williams with another top-tier receiver will be strong, especially if Nabers or Rome Odunze are still available. But both Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus know how difficult it is to find premium pass rushers after they paid up at the trade deadline last year to land Pro Bowler Montez Sweat. Verse could step in as a complementary piece and quickly make his mark both in generating pressure and holding firm against the run.

Saivion Mixson, The Sporting News (April 15)
No. 9 pick: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: With the top receivers gone, the Bears return to their roots and help bolster head coach Matt Eberflus' defense. Florida State's Jared Verse complements Montez Sweat well as they continue to build the roster around Williams.

Marcus Mosher, 33rd Team (April 16)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade down to No. 13 and take Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy
Comment: The Bears miss out on the top three receivers at No. 9, making a trade down much more palatable. They pivot to defense at No. 13, taking arguably the best defensive player in the class. Byron Murphy is an incredible athlete who should be a disruptive player immediately.

Peter Schrager, NFL.com (April 16)
Pick: Bears trade down to No. 15 and take Alabama tackle JC Latham
Comment: After piling up more draft capital by trading back, the Bears still land a stud offensive tackle. Latham could be the second OT taken on draft night -- some teams like him that much. If the board falls this way, Chicago adds a big, pedigreed bookend who can join last year's first-round tackle, Darnell Wright, in protecting the new franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams.

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (April 17)
No. 9 pick: Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
Comment: This could be a trade-down spot, but without a trade partner, the Bears go with an NFL-ready rusher in Verse.

Nick Wright, Fox Sports (April 15)
No. 9 pick: Bears trade up to No. 5 and take Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Check out the Bears' home and away matchups for the 2024 season. (Photos via Chicago Bears, NFL and AP)

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