Chicago Sun Times

The Bears’ decision with the top pick in the NFL Draft next month seems clear: Teams will hound them with trade offers, but they’re best served to stay put and draft a rare prospect in USC quarterback Caleb Williams. With so much attention on that franchise-altering move, their other first-round pick — No. 9 overall — often gets overlooked. But it’s hugely important. General manager Ryan Poles has fixed a lot of problems on the roster in the last two years, but some of the most crucial boxes remain unchecked. The Bears still need help at three premium positions, other than quarterback: defensive end, wide receiver and offensive tackle. That means there’s essentially no wrong answer as Poles weighs the options at those spots with the No. 9 pick. And before that, he has the third-most salary-cap space in the NFL ($78.7 million) when free agency starts next Monday.