Chicago Bears clinch No.1 overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears clinched the most coveted spot in the 2024 NFL Draft on Sunday afternoon. The Bears officially have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They got that pick from the Panthers last year, when Carolina traded up for Bryce Young.

In the latest mock draft by CBS Sports, they have Chicago selecting former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams with the top overall pick.

Here’s a bit more information on the trade that made it possible for Chicago to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Bears trade with the Panthers secured the top pick

There were plenty of questions about what direction the Chicago Bears would go with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Those were answered — and in a big way.

The Bears traded the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the news. ESPN’s Adam Schefter then reported Chicago will get wide receiver DJ Moore, the No. 9 overall pick and the No. 61 overall pick in 2023, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024 and the Panthers’ second-round pick in 2025 in return.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcast throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.