NFL Rumors: Bears, Jets Linked as Trade-Down Candidates at Picks 9, 10 in 2024 Draft

The Chicago Bears and New York Jets are seen as two of the most likely candidates to trade down in the 2024 NFL draft.

Field Yates of ESPN reported teams have identified the Bears as a trade-down candidate if they hope to recoup picks later in the draft. Chicago has only four selections at the moment, though two of those come in the first nine picks.

The Jets sent their second-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for one series of Aaron Rodgers and have less of a pressing need in the top 10 after adding Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses at the two offensive tackle spots.

The Bears are expected to take USC's Caleb Williams with the top pick in the draft and then have a number of areas they could address later in the first round. They already checked off one major box by trading for Keenan Allen earlier this offseason, but offensive tackle and edge rusher are two spots Chicago could target.

The B/R Scouting Department has the Bears taking Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse in their latest mock draft. Who general manager Ryan Poles targets in a trade-back scenario would depend on how far the Bears move back. Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu could be an option if they move back only a few spots—perhaps in a deal with the Denver Broncos or Las Vegas Raiders—or Poles could look at UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu or Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims if Chicago goes into the late teens or early 20s.

The Jets have been heavily linked to Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at No. 10, but they'll have a plethora of other options if they move back. LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be a home run across from Garrett Wilson, or the Jets could explore one of several interior offensive linemen who should be available in the middle of Round 1 (Troy Fautanu, Taliese Fuaga and Jackson Powers-Johnson being the names worth watching).