We’re just over 24 hours from the NFL Draft, and all I can say is finally. Finally, we’re done with the speculation. I’ll never forget the Bears Twitter Civil War of 2024 centered around the Caleb Williams vs. Justin Fields debate. Because I can’t, not because I want to remember it or enjoyed it.

But the past is the past. The future is here, and it looks bright for the Bears.

Ryan Poles smiled when asked on Tuesday whether the Bears were set on taking Caleb Williams at No. 1. I get it; the question had to be asked. The answer was as expected, but we all know that the answer is yes.

“I think everyone’s got to tune in on Thursday to watch and figure out,” the Bears general manager said Tuesday at Halas Hall. “But I feel really good about our process and where we are and where we’re headed. So we know what we’re going to do, but everyone is going to have to wait until Thursday to go there.”

Everyone knows that Caleb Williams is Chicago-bound. There’s no point in lying to yourself otherwise. Ryan Poles was doing his job in his answer on Tuesday. The Bears hosted one quarterback at Halas Hall throughout this process, and it was the one who will be their quarterback of the future tomorrow: Caleb Williams.

With the draft just 24 hours away, it’s time for my fourth and final version of the Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft.

As I’ve said all along, these are exercises. They’re intended to inform the reader about potential prospects who fit the Bears’ draft positioning and needs.

Before we start, here are the previous versions of this exercise:

1.0
2.0
2.1 (Post-Ryan Bates Trade)
2.2 (A Recalibrated Post-Ryan Bates Trade)
3.0

All right, let’s get into it.

Round 1, Pick 1: Caleb Williams | QB | USC

Like I said, there’s no reason to play coy. Caleb Williams’ name will be called first on Thursday in Detroit, and he will be holding up a Chicago Bears jersey when he meets Roger Goodell on the stage.

I spent weeks watching every collegiate game that Caleb Williams ever played, and I came away more convinced than ever that not only is Williams the hands-down top quarterback prospect in the draft, but the gap between Williams and the field is vast.

Since then, Williams has drawn rave reviews from the Bears front office, coaching staff, and team leaders. You can call him whatever you want: Patrick Mahomes-like, Aaron Rodgers-eque. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re calling him the next Chicago Bears quarterback.

Round 1, Pick 9: Rome Odunze | WR | Washington

The addition of Keenan Allen by Ryan Poles this offseason was excellent, but Allen won’t be around forever, even if he signs a short extension with the Bears. Taking a premium wide receiver talent like Rome Odunze to pair with Allen and D.J. Moore in the Bears receiver room is a no-brainer if he’s on the board at No. 9.

I do believe that he will be on the board. I do not buy any of the recent smoke surrounding the Bears’ desire to trade up into the top three-to-five range to select Marvin Harrison Jr. So, it’s Rome Odunze for me here, and I believe that’s the most likely outcome for the Bears at No. 9 tomorrow night in Detroit.

Odunze has excellent hands, a large catch radius, and makes catches through contact. He’s a big wide receiver who can change speeds exceptionally well for his size and has a top gear that allows him to separate on vertical routes.

A couple of quick thoughts on the ninth pick regarding the idea that the Bears should trade back to acquire more assets:

1. With who? Everyone loves to assume they should trade back from nine and envisions them moving back into the teens to take someone like Laiatu Latu or Jared Verse, or even into the early twenties to take a Brian Thomas Jr., but they have to have a willing partner, and quite frankly, I don’t see that coming to fruition.

2. On Tuesday, Ryan Poles made it clear that he’s not itching to trade back simply to acquire more draft capital. “Yeah, things shift and change as you go along,” Poles said Tuesday. “It’s going to be hard to make this team now. It’s going to be really hard to make this team. That doesn’t mean you don’t want more shots later. We’ll always welcome a lot of picks. But it doesn’t force you to panic about the situation we’re in right now with how many picks we have.”

If Rome Odunze isn’t there at No. 9, Texas interior defensive lineman Byron Murphy is who I believe the Bears will take. But again, that’s if Odunze isn’t there.

Round 3, Pick 87 (via DAL): Austin Booker | EDGE | Kansas

While I believe that Poles is okay with taking a premium talent at No. 9, I do think he will make one trade, and it will come in the middle rounds. A team moving up 10-15 spots in round three to snag someone they have their eye on in that range seems much more likely to me than the first-round scenario, given how much more flexibility teams have with the top of their draft board with a plethora of premium talent available at multiple positions of need.

So, we have the Bears dropping back 12 spots in the third round in a trade with Dallas that gives them one additional swing in the fifth round of this draft (No. 174)

With that move, Poles will have to feel that someone they want will be waiting for them at that spot, and I think Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker fits that description.

Booker brings tremendous upside to the table and gives the Bears an intriguing edge rushing prospect opposite Montez Sweat. Booker needs to pack on some pounds but has the burst and speed to chase down quarterbacks and running backs on the edge. He has the moves to win inside as well. He’s a gifted pass rusher available where he is due simply to a small sample size.

Round 4, Pick 122: DeWayne Carter | DI | Duke

With the Bears adding Odunze to the mix at No. 9, we’re doubling down on the defensive line. The Bears love to build in the trenches, and adding a player like Duke’s DeWayne Carter is an excellent addition here.

Carter has a solid first step as a pass rusher and uses powerful punches and leg drives to push through the chest of blockers to collapse the pocket. His motor and effort are unquestionable, and he understands how to attack leverage when displacing the blocker’s hands. He also has the ability on tape to run down plays from behind when necessary.

Matt Eberflus gets his 3T that he’s been talking up for some time and the Bears defensive line looks scary heading into 2024 with Booker and Carter joining the group.

Round 5, Pick 174 (via DAL): Beaux Limmer | C | Arkansas

Ryan Poles said it will be hard to make this team, and he’s not lying. So, if they do add an extra day three pick, it will have to be a swing that makes contact, or it’ll be for naught. Adding Beaux Limmer to the offensive line room is a solid play for the Bears.

Limmer brings plenty of experience, having started 49 games at multiple positions across the offensive line for the Razorbacks. He leans on his high football IQ and physical temperament to produce high-quality snaps at the center position in the run and pass game.

Limmer’s quick first step as a run blocker allows him to be at his spot quickly and gain leverage on defenders. As a puss blocker, Limmer relies on his high IQ to field a variety of moves from would-be pass rushers. He’s always looking for an assignment and moving into help positions when he has time within a play.

More Chicago Bears from Bleacher Nation

• More on the league-wide chatter regarding the No. 9 pick for the Chicago Bears.

More Chicago Sports from Bleacher Nation

Chicago Cubs

• The Chicago Cubs have DFA’d Garrett Cooper.

• Matt Mervis and Hayden Wesneski were called up on Tuesday.

• Here’s a who’s hot and who’s not down on the Cubs farm over the last week:

Chicago Blackhawks

• Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic will be an RFA this summer, but it sounds like he’s hoping to get a new deal done with Chicago.

Chicago Bulls

• Eli has some thoughts on the contract situations for Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.

What’s on deck?

• Cubs vs. Astros | 6:40 PM CT | Marquee