The Ideal Bears Draft Pick at No. 9

Analysis: The possibilities of having shots at Malik Nabers, Marvin Harrison Jr. or even Dallas Turner seem low for the Bears at No. 9 but here are the best picks they can make.

Joe Alt is one massive human being with athleticism and towers over his Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman. / Greg Swiercz / USA TODAY NETWORK

The problem with owning the No. 1 pick and needing a quarterback is everyone knows who you're drafting.

The element of surprise and fun are gone. But the Bears have the chance for fun in Round 1 at No. 9, as well.

With all mystery removed and Caleb Williams the likely Bears' No. 1 pick, there is the problem of who they pick next.

It's an important selection. Williams aside, it would be the earliest they draft since they took Roquan Smith at No. 8 in 2018.

GM Ryan Poles may have tipped his hand a bit about his intention to take someone with the ninth pick rather than move down while he was talking to reporters at the owners meetings. He pointed out how they had 25 picks over three years if things stand as they are, which is a good number.

"I like the numbers," Poles said. "I talked about it when I first got here but we have different tiers on our draft board. I like the numbers in terms of the talented players that can get to No. 9."

He always referred to buckets rather than tiers in the past, but tiers work as well.

"I like where we're at there on top of being set up next year to have a pretty good setup as well," he continued. "I think it matches the draft. I think a lot of guys went back to school this year. I think we're going to see a significant (talent) drop-off. Hopefully some guys squeak through but the way we're set up in the draft this year actually pairs up really well with how I think it's going to play out."

Basically, Poles thinks they will get one of the better players at No. 9 and it could be in a need area.

Trading back doesn't help a great deal because the extra picks acquired might not make them better.

The Bears lack a pick after No. 122 in Round 4 but any picks they might get after that in a trade wouldn't necessarily be needed because the talent level is going to be thinner after so many players decided to stay in school this year rather than turn out for the draft.

Based on need by the Bears and other teams, here are the most likely players available at No. 9 ranked according to being ideal fits.

1. T Joe Alt, Notre Dame

It seems unlikely the draft's top tackle would fall to No. 9 ever because of the premium placed on this position. It is possible because of the three top receivers and four quarterbacks being available, as well.

The interesting part will be if it's Alt and Jared Verse or Rome Odunze are available. Would they take the best player at a critical position, or one of the other two who are not best at their positions but nearly are and are also needs? Personally, if you have the quarterback at No. 1 and already have two good receivers, and you can't have the top pass rusher in DallasTurner, it seems a no-brainer that if Alt is there you take him. Turner is supposed to do a top-30 visit with the Bears. That's fine but they might not ever get the chance to take him with a couple pass rush-needy teams directly ahead of them.

Alt is a tackle in the top 2% in height (6-8 5/8), is 321 pounds, showed he is athletic by running in the top 13% for all combine tackles ever in the 40 (5.05) and broad-jumping in the top 12% ever at 9-foot-4. And he mauls people when he blocks.

You might have Braxton Jones already. You don't have Joe Alt.

You take him now and protect Caleb Williams properly for life, or at least a decade.

Williams has running ability and a pocket presence probably as good or better than Justin Fields had. He still doesn't have Fields' speed to get away from blindside pass rushers. Jones is only going to get so good because he lacks Alt's physical abilities.

The problem the Bears would have with Alt is Jim Harbaugh picks before them at No. 5 and is a practical coach who realizes the importance of a pass blocker for Justin Herbert, and that receivers usually can be found in Rounds 2 and 3. Tennessee could use pass blocking to keep Will Levis from getting separated from his head, as well.

2. WR Rome Odunze, Washington

This would be the optimum in terms of playmaker they could hope to draft, because there is no way Malik Nabers or Marvin Harrison Jr. fall to No. 9. He gives them a dangerous third receiver, one who will learn from two Pro Bowl level receivers while Keenan Allen is still with the team on a one-year deal, then addresses the succession situation should Allen move on elsewhere next year. And the fact he ran a 4.45-second 40, is 6-foot-3, 212 pounds and did a 39-inch vertical leap after making 214 catches for 3,272 yards and 24 TDs at Washington does not hurt either.

A few factors make it possible he'll still be on the board. The four quarterbacks going first, and then two wide receivers and possibly tackle Joe Alt could make this a touch-and-go situation. It basically could come down to whethr Atlanta or Tennessee take Dallas Turner or Odunze. In both cases, they could use a pass rusher. The Titans could use both a pass rusher and receiver.

3. DE Jared Verse, Florida State

The optimum pick at end would be Alabama's Dallas Turner but at least two teams right before them can use a defensive end, and with only four picks they're unlikely to move up ahead of anyone to take a player.

They're going to get either the second-best edge rusher or the third-best wide receiver. Either works. Verse has played only two years at Florida State after transfering from Albany to make 18 sacks and 29 tackles for loss. He ranks in the top 10% ever at the combine for edge players with a 4.58-secon0d 40 and 31 reps in the bench press. And at 6-4, 254 isn't too light to play edge in the Bears' scheme.

4. T Troy Fautanu, Washington State

The reason Fautanu would be ideal isn't that he would be the best left tackle they could put on the field but he might be the best offensive lineman they put on the field next season, although that's probable. He has more athleticism than Darnell Wright did with 5.01 in the 40, top 10% at his position in both the broad jump and vertical. The lack of height (6-3 3/4) might make some concerned, but at the very least he'd make an excellent guard.

And with Teven Jenkins a player who has missed more than half his potential starts and Nate Davis not dependable last year, they can pretty much plug and play Fautanu where they want from Day 1. He does have arm length like a tackle at over 34 inches, so the possibility of replacing Jones exists, as well.

5. TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

They have him visiting Halas Hall for a reason and it's not to be the third tight end behind Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. He would be a weapon unto himself, someone who plays a part in particular packages and is a breakaway threat from numerous spots on the field while the defense is focused entirely on Allen, DJ Moore, Kmet and/or Everett. It's a luxury pick, and the Bears aren't a luxury team yet. That's why he's well down this list. But the possibilities are exciting.

His measurables are not turning anyone's head at 6-3 1/8, 243 and with a 78 1/4-inch wingspan. He ran a respectable 4.55 in the 40 at a pro day. It's how he gets open, where, and what he does after the catch that excites. He could be the best downfield threat as a tight end that the Bears have had since Greg Olsen.

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