OK, then what? After likely drafting Caleb Williams at No. 1, here are 11 players the Chicago Bears might target at No. 9.

The suspense regarding what the Chicago Bears might do with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft has been gone for weeks.

The team’s predraft connection with USC quarterback Caleb Williams has strengthened during an extensive getting-to-know-you process. Within league circles, it’s pretty much unanimous: The Bears will draft Williams with the top pick Thursday night, then sit back to see how the board unfolds before they go back on the clock at No. 9.

General manager Ryan Poles is excited about the flexibility he likely will have with the team’s second top-10 pick, while coach Matt Eberflus said at last month’s owners meetings he expects the Bears to land a “blue player” at No. 9, the color-coded label that indicates the highest level of prospect. That means the Bears anticipate adding an immediate impact starter.

Eberflus also said he would zero in on prospects who can either help his quarterback or affect the opposing team’s quarterback. So it could be a decision between adding protection or weaponry to aid Williams’ development or bolstering the defense with a playmaker on the edge or in the interior.

With all of that in mind, here’s our list of 11 prospects who could make sense for the Bears at No. 9.

Joe Alt

Notre Dame offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-9, 321.

Why the Bears will draft him: Alt is widely regarded as the top tackle in a loaded class, a plug-and-play starter who might be as close to a sure thing as any prospect in this draft. In a word, he’s reliable, boasting impressive football intelligence and situational awareness. Alt is a finisher as a run blocker and draws praise for his graceful footwork and ability to play under control. His father, John, was a first-round pick in 1984 and a two-time Pro Bowl tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the early 1990s. His older brother, Mark, played professional hockey. As Audacy NFL insider Brian Baldinger said, “He has been trained to be an athlete.” Alt doesn’t make many mistakes and thrives thanks to his size, length and feel for the position.

Why they won’t: Simply put, Alt isn’t likely to make it to No. 9. It’s also possible the Bears feel comfortable enough with incumbent left tackle Braxton Jones to invest in another position. Still, if Alt is available, he would be hard to pass up. Some talent evaluators see a need for refinement in the way he leans forward immediately after the snap, but that’s nitpicking on a prospect this clean.

Analyst’s take: “If you had told me he had been playing offensive tackle since the moment he came out of the womb, I’d buy it. He has incredible length right off the bat. But he’s incredibly composed as well. I’d have thought a guy that big and that new to the position might have moments where he kind of looks like a deer on ice. Maybe he has a play where the defensive end just catches him. But that’s rarely the case. He is constantly in control. And there weren’t too many moments this past year where he either got himself in trouble or got himself in trouble and was unable to make his way back into the play.” — Field Yates, ESPN

Malik Nabers

LSU wide receiver

Height, weight: 6-0, 199.

Why the Bears will draft him: Nabers became LSU’s career leader with 189 catches for 3,003 yards during an All-America junior season in which he was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. He was Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels’ top target, with nine games of 100-plus receiving yards. Yates called Nabers “the most explosive player in this entire draft,” and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah called him “a stick of dynamite.” And that was before Nabers, who can line up outside and in the slot, ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at LSU’s pro day. Yates noted Nabers’ 27 forced missed tackles in 2023 and his 10 catches for 171 yards in a loss to Alabama. “He’s just running right past a Nick Saban-coached defense and secondary at a different speed,” Yates said. “It’s not just the stuff down the field that’s going to matter at the NFL level. It’s taking a short play and turning it into a 40-, 50-, 55-yard gain.”

Why they won’t: Nabers might not be there at No. 9. The latest three-round mock draft from Yates and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had the New York Giants taking Nabers at No. 6. The Bears also might opt to focus on other positions of need, given that they already have DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called Nabers’ size and play strength “average,” while NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said Nabers needs to polish his route-running skills. But Jeremiah argued there’s more to Nabers’ route-running abilities that he can show at the next level.

Analyst’s take: Kiper said teams could put the names of Nabers, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Washington’s Rome Odunze in a hat and be satisfied with whichever one they pick: “I don’t think you can go wrong with any one of those three. I’d be shocked if we’re sitting here in three, four years and you guys are looking at me saying, ‘What happened with one of these three? Why are they a bust?’ I see all three of them being great in the NFL.”

Rome Odunze

Washington wide receiver

Height, weight: 6-3, 212.

Why the Bears will draft him: Odunze has been lumped in with Harrison and Nabers as the top three receiver prospects in this draft. The consensus within the league is Harrison will be gone by No. 9, and Nabers may be off the board as well. But if Odunze is available, it would give Poles the opportunity to pair Williams with an elite pass-catching weapon he could grow with for years to come. Odunze is coming off a dazzling final year at Washington with 92 catches, 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns to help propel the Huskies to the national title game. He’s a fluid athlete whose production on contested catches turns heads. Jeremiah likens Odunze to Larry Fitzgerald given his ability to track the football and attack it at the moment of truth. Odunze is also a coach’s dream who would easily assimilate into the culture at Halas Hall, showcasing elite football intelligence, a strong work ethic, team-first leadership skills and physical and mental toughness.

Why they won’t: With Moore and Allen already in the Halas Hall receivers room, the Bears might not feel compelled to add another pass catcher at the expense of an elite prospect at another position of greater need. Odunze also isn’t considered an NFL-caliber burner and might have difficulty consistently creating separation at the next level. In some league circles, there are concerns about his ability to produce in the intermediate passing game. Questions also linger about his impact as a run blocker.

Analyst’s take: “When I watch Rome play, I feel like I feel like he’s a bigger, stronger, faster Garrett Wilson. His body control is electric. His ability to track a deep ball (is terrific). He has the ability to use a body that’s 6-3 and 200-plus pounds. But he is so fluid. When he comes out of his breaks, it’s just so smooth. His eyes are fast and his hands are slow, meaning he never shows his hands until he has to show them. And then he’s got route-running ability to be able to beat people, to stack corners. He’s a very advanced student.” — Baldinger

Laiatu Latu

UCLA edge rusher

Height, weight: 6-5, 259.

Why the Bears will draft him: Latu is The Athletic’s third-ranked edge rusher in this draft after a fifth-year senior season at UCLA in which he had 13 sacks and led the nation with 1.8 tackles for a loss per game (21½ total). Those numbers, which helped him win the Lombardi Award, came on the heels of a junior season in which he had 10½ sacks and 12½ TFLs. Kiper called him “a toolsy pass rusher who has a variety of moves and always has a plan of attack.” The Bears have a huge need for a pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat, and Latu, who has persevered through a neck injury that nearly ended his career, is “the most natural pass rusher in the draft,” NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks said.

Why they won’t: The biggest question with Latu is his medical history. In 2020 at Washington, he suffered a neck injury in practice that forced him to miss the season. Washington staff advised him to medically retire, and he said he had neck fusion surgery. After getting a second opinion, he transferred to UCLA to play his final two seasons. The Bears would have to be completely comfortable with Latu’s medicals to draft him this high — or they might deem another edge rusher less of a risk. As far as his game, multiple analysts suggested he needs work against the run.

Analyst’s take: “Latu is a technician, man. I compare him to Trey Hendrickson. He is really good with his hands. He can win a variety of ways. He has a natural feel for pass rush. Some parts of the pass rush remind me of wide receivers. There’s route runners. There’s an artistry to it. Latu is an artist. He is really, really gifted that way.” — Jeremiah

Dallas Turner

Alabama edge rusher

Height, weight: 6-3, 247.

Why the Bears will draft him: Eberflus would love to add teeth to his pass rush and find a complement to Sweat up front. Turner’s explosion is undeniable. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at the scouting combine and also posted a vertical leap of 40½ inches. Turner is blessed with a hard-to-handle combination of length and quickness and has shown a variety of pass-rush moves. He plays with a high motor and has instant-impact potential. He had 10 sacks and 14½ tackles for a loss last season, answering questions about whether his production could match his talent.

Why they won’t: Turner’s best fit may be as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 system as he might lack the prototypical size to function at the highest level as a hand-on-the-ground end in a 4-3 defense. At times Turner can be ordinary as a run defender. He must add strength to become a standout in the NFL. If asked to play closer to the ball in a 4-3, he might struggle initially to win one-on-one against tackles and tight ends.

Analyst’s take: “All the (testing) numbers matched up with what you saw on tape. He’s relentless. He can play either up or down. He gives you a lot of that versatility. Preferably for me, he’s a 3-4 outside linebacker. But with his ability and what he has shown, he can hold the point of attack. He became a much more complete edge rusher this year. He’s not going to be blown off the ball. He held the point. He seals the edge. He got after the quarterback. There are a lot of hats he can wear at the pro level.” — Kiper

Jared Verse

Florida State edge rusher

Height, weight: 6-4, 254.

Why the Bears will draft him: Verse certainly looks the part. He’s big. He’s strong. He has speed off the edge and power to win when engaged. Some talent evaluators see him as the best pure pass rusher in this class, noting his impressive burst and the radar he seems to have for finding quarterbacks as they move inside and outside of the pocket. Verse has a contagious combination of feisty aggression and swagger. He totaled nine sacks in each of his two seasons at Florida State. He may be better suited than Turner for the Bears’ 4-3 defense. Verse spent the first leg of his college career at Albany, where he played both a shortened spring season and a regular fall campaign in 2021.

Why they won’t: Verse has drawn knocks throughout the predraft process for not being a particularly polished tackler, which must become a focal point for improvement in the NFL. He also will have to develop countermoves to flourish as a pass rusher when his initial attack is stymied. It’s possible the Bears may be more attracted to Turner’s brand of athleticism. Or, if they choose to pick a defender at No. 9, they might prioritize an interior pass rusher.

Analyst’s take: “He has all the physical attributes you want. He’s just a powerhouse. Just super strong. He can just destroy an offensive tackle at the point of attack, driving them into the backfield. He can be a little tight in the hips, and you see that when he’s getting after the quarterback. And we saw that a little bit in his (predraft) workouts.” — Kiper

Olu Fashanu

Penn State offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-6, 312.

Why the Bears will draft him: Fashanu was a teammate of Williams at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Along with that interesting connection, Fashanu could be an option for the Bears at left tackle after starting 21 games over three seasons at Penn State. He was named the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year in 2023 after finishing his final two seasons without giving up a sack in 663 pass-protection snaps, according to the school. Jeremiah said Fashanu has “the ideal frame, ideal length.” ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum called him a “plug-and-play starter,” and ESPN’s Matt Miller believes Fashanu has a higher athletic ceiling than Alt.

Why they won’t: As noted earlier, the Bears could opt for a different position of need if they feel comfortable enough with Jones heading into his third season as the starting left tackle. Miller said Fashanu has some issues to clean up in the run game, but he has worked with offensive line coach Duke Manyweather to home in on some of those fixes. Tannenbaum and Jeremiah noted Fashanu’s performance against Ohio State in 2023 wasn’t great. “He got in some trouble where his eyes were kind of in the wrong place,” Jeremiah said. “He gave up his chest and got bulled and moved around a little bit, but on the whole his tape is pretty solid.”

Analyst’s take: “If you can’t get Alt, it’s not a consolation prize to get Fashanu. … If you can’t get the Notre Dame left tackle, go straight to Penn State and get another 10-year starter.” — Miller

JC Latham

Alabama offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-6, 342.

Why the Bears will draft him: Latham is an absolute mauler in the run game, a massive tackle who prides himself on his physicality. Like Darnell Wright a year ago, he has impressed league evaluators with how fluidly and purposefully he moves at his size. His dexterity and power are real. And he has the requisite strength to halt pass rushers when he’s in the right position. He also offers position flexibility with evaluators seeing the potential to use him at guard.

Why they won’t: Latham started for two seasons at Alabama on the right side of the line, so if the Bears were to draft him, they also likely would be looking to convert Wright into a left tackle. That’s not a non-starter, but it does make the conversation a little more involved. Latham’s quickness is ordinary at best for the next level, and he has struggled at times identifying and handling blitzes and twists.

Analyst’s take: “The best right tackle in this draft is JC Latham. He is just a mauler as a run blocker. He is fun to watch because he just destroys people. And he pass protects very well.” — Kiper

Brock Bowers

Georgia tight end

Height, weight: 6-3, 243.

Why the Bears will draft him: Kiper ranks Bowers as the seventh-best player in the draft and called him a “game-changer” and “a weapon that you can move around.” Bowers was a three-time All-American at Georgia and the first back-to-back winner of the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end. In 2023 he had 56 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games, and over three seasons he had 175 catches for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns plus five rushing TDs. Analysts rave about Bowers’ versatility, speed, ball skills, physicality and competitiveness.

Why they won’t: Analysts say his size is not ideal for a top-10 pick and speculate whether that could limit his blocking ability at the next level. Bowers suffered a high ankle sprain last season that required tightrope surgery, but he missed only two games before returning. The Bears already have two productive tight ends committed to the years ahead after signing Cole Kmet to an extension at the beginning of last season and Gerald Everett to a two-year deal this offseason.

Analyst’s take: “Plays with just tenacity, especially with the ball in his hands. That’s where he is at his best. And the run game, when he can get into guys, he can finish them. He’s not the tallest or longest guy, so there are times he can’t do that. (He can) separate easy. He can go get it. He can climb the ladder and go and get the ball. And really the run-after-catch stuff is what makes him special.” — Jeremiah

Taliese Fuaga

Oregon State offensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-6, 324.

Why the Bears will draft him: Fuaga started 25 games at right tackle over the last two seasons for Oregon State and was a first-team All-American in 2023. He helped the Beavers average nearly 5 yards per carry and 170 rushing yards per game. Jeremiah ranks Fuaga as the second lineman on his list. He called him a “really, really clean player” and lauded his consistency, quick feet and demeanor. He believes he is a plug-and-play option at right tackle.

Why they won’t: Like Latham, Fuaga is a right tackle, and Jeremiah said, “I don’t see really why you would want to move him.” That could mean moving Wright to the left side. Some teams view Fuaga as a better guard option, according to several analysts, and the Bears have multiple starting guard options. Fuaga is The Athletic’s fourth-ranked offensive tackle and 17th-ranked player, and he might be a likelier option if the Bears trade down from No. 9.

Analyst’s take: “Just really consistent. Quick feet. Really explosive and dynamic when he gets into guys. He has some nasty to him. Plays with good temperament. That to me is the plug-and-play (part).” — Jeremiah

Byron Murphy II

Texas defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-0, 297.

Why the Bears will draft him: Miller said he was a little surprised when Murphy declared for the draft because he hadn’t heard a ton of buzz on him. Then, the more tape he watched, the more Murphy climbed his draft board to at least the top 20. Jeremiah said last week that Murphy could be a surprise top-10 pick because of the premium placed on defensive tackles — and the small number of impact players at the position. Three-technique tackle is a crucial position in the Bears defense. Murphy could fit the bill after playing 39 games with 16 starts in three seasons in Texas, though he played primarily at nose tackle in 2023. He had 8½ tackles for a loss and five sacks in his junior season, for which he was named the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year. Analysts rave about his power and quickness.

Why they won’t: The Bears already made a significant draft investment at defensive tackle, adding Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens in the second and third rounds last year, both of whom showed growth in their rookie seasons. So they might lean toward other areas of need, such as edge rusher. Murphy doesn’t have ideal length and size, and as Brugler noted, that likely contributed to his not forcing a fumble in three seasons at Texas.

Analyst’s take: “What Texas asked him to do, he played head-up on the offensive tackle on a 3-3-5 defense, so he was not asked to just pin his ears back and go rush the quarterback, which is what he actually does very well. He’s not the biggest guy … but his quickness and his raw strength are just jaw-droppingly good.” — Miller