Chicago Bears: Mocking The 2023 Mock Drafts

With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a week away, we look at what draft experts expect the Chicago Bears to do with their top pick.

Well, the 2023 NFL Draft is less than a week away. With that, the mock draft season is about over. We have seen so many different players linked to the Chicago Bears when they pick at nine in the first round.

General manager Ryan Poles has a lot of flexibility. There are a number of ways he can go due to the number of holes on the roster. Additionally, he can trade down and pick up more picks. He already traded the number one pick to the Carolina Panthers to move down to nine. They picked up the ninth pick, the 61st pick, and an extra pick in 2024 and 2025.

As a result, the Bears have two first-round picks in 2024. That could speed up the rebuild. Poles might decide to trade down some more and amass even more picks. He reiterates time and again how he wants to build the team mainly through the draft.

While we wait for Poles and the Chicago Bears to make moves, let’s take a look at what some of the draft experts think he will do in the first round. Here is a sampling of choices.

Peter Schrager, NFL.com: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

This is a surprise for many. The Chicago Bears picked a cornerback in two of their last three drafts. There will be a lot of confused people if Poles goes that way again with Christian Gonzalez. This is what he said.

The Bears have so many needs, and snagging a top cover man with the ninth overall choice makes them better tomorrow.

Arjun Menon, Pro Football Focus: Paris Johnson, Jr, OT

Paris Johnson Jr. is the prospect that most analysts expect Poles to select. This is the time to give everything that quarterback Justin Fields needs to thrive. He showed last season what he could do with his legs. He finished with the second-most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback in NFL history.

Now is the time to see what Fields can do with his arm. He showed some elite talent in college. Now he has to show it at the professional level. Poles has to give him the tools to do it.

[T]he Bears should pivot back to offense with their first pick and reunite Fields with tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who allowed a 4.4% pressure rate on true pass sets in 2022, good for 20th in the FBS despite it being his first year starting at left tackle. Johnson played right tackle in 2021, which is where Chicago has its biggest hole along the offensive line.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

When the Bears had the top pick, there was talk about whether they go with Will Anderson Jr or Jalen Carter. Once they moved down, the thought was they would not get either.

Then Carter got into trouble after a drag racing incident. He took care of his legal problems that stemmed from it and is once again ready to focus on football. This could be big for the Bears to trade away the top pick and still get the prospect they coveted to begin with.

The Bears spent a lot of time with Carter during the offseason so they might a lot of interest in him. Brugler acknowledged that.

The Bears have spent considerable time with Carter throughout the process to better understand him as a player and person.

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Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Some other draft experts project the Bears to go with Peter Skoronski, who played locally at Northwestern.

The one problem with Skoronski is that he projects more as an interior lineman rather than at tackle. The Bears’ big need is at tackle, however.

They also need to focus on improving pass protection for Justin Fields after upgrading his wide receiver corps with new No. 1 D.J. Moore. Staying local for Skoronski makes sense as a means to that end with his plus athleticism made for long-term left-side success.

Skoronski had some success as a tackle in college but the pass rushers are quicker, faster and more athletic at the pro level. Having long arms can help keep them at bay.

Carmen Vitali and David Helman, Fox Sports: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

Sticking with the undersized prospects, Fox Sports goes with Calijah Kancey. At 6-foot-1, 281 pounds he is lacking the size for a defensive tackle. However, his athleticism is off the chart and he is explosive off the snap. He needs to use that explosiveness to get past offensive linemen before they devour him.

The Bears are between a rock and a hard place with their interior defensive line rotation. They’ve addressed some of the outside rotation, recently signing Rasheem Green, but Chicago still lacks a blue-chip three-tech. Kancey could potentially turn into that and open up opportunities for the outside guys with the way he collapses the pocket.

Justin Melo, The Draft Network: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

As I mentioned, an option for Poles is trading down. This is what Justin Melo of The Draft Network addresses. He has the Bears trading with the Pittsburgh Steelers and moving down to 17. The Bears also receive the 49th pick this year and a second-round pick in 2024. Poles gets to add picks this year and next year. This is a win for Poles and the Chicago Bears.

Darnell Wright could be a great pick here. Scouts might not think of him as a good pick at nine and think he’d be better at 17. He could end up being a steal.

Anderson is on the record as saying the most difficult offensive lineman he ever faced in college was Wright. When Tennessee upset the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022, Anderson tried everything to get past Wright. He tried a bull rush and tried to finesse him. Nothing worked and he never came close to the quarterback.

Darnell Wright could be Chicago’s target in a trade-back scenario. The Bears decide to continue investing in the development of franchise quarterback Justin Fields. Braxton Jones has taken steps forward at left tackle. Wright is plug-and-play at right tackle.

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

At 6-foot-5, 268 pounds, Myles Murphy has the perfect size you want in an edge rusher. Additionally, he is very athletic. He explodes off the snap and can do it all. In 2022, Murphy has 6.5 sacks, 40 tackles (11 for loss), a forced fumble, and two pass breakups.

The Bears had trouble with their pass rush last season, finishing last in sacks and quarterback hurries. Murphy helps improve that going forward.