Since the conclusion of the regular season, both the Bears and their fans have been heavily focused on the upcoming NFL draft. While free agency and potential contract extensions, such as for Jaylon Johnson, are on the horizon, the allure of the No. 1 overall pick, with the possibility of drafting players like Caleb Williams or trading for multiple picks, has captivated the NFL world.
However, the Bears’ draft decisions extend beyond the top pick, as they hold a total of six draft picks this year, with the potential for more depending on compensatory and supplementary picks yet to be awarded by the league. Compensatory picks are granted to teams that lost more valuable players in free agency than they signed, based on various factors like salary, playing time, and postseason awards.
As of now, the Bears are not projected to receive any compensatory picks, as the signings of Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Nate Davis, DeMarcus Walker, Andrew Billings, and Robert Tonyan outweigh the losses of David Montgomery and Riley Reiff in terms of value. However, last season, the Bears ended up with an unexpected seventh-round compensatory pick, used to select safety Kendall Williamson.
The current list of Bears’ draft picks includes:
– No. 1 overall (via Panthers)
– No. 9 overall
– No. 75 overall
– Fourth-round pick
– Fourth-round pick (via Eagles)
– Fifth-round pick
The Bears acquired the Panthers’ first-round pick through a trade last year, and their additional picks involve various trades and swaps with other teams. The exact positions of the fourth-round picks and beyond are yet to be determined, pending the announcement of compensatory picks for this year’s draft.