The Bears sit atop the 2023 NFL Draft with the first overall pick, which they should trade and rack up additional draft capital.
There are a number of teams that seem like contenders for Chicago, but the Colts have been the popular team in draft simulations everywhere.
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema shared his latest mock draft projections for the first round, where he brought the Bears back from No. 1 – only with the Texans, not their divisional rival.
In this scenario, Chicago acquires additional draft compensation while landing a dominant three-tech Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 2 to advance Matt Eberflus’ defense.
When Bears general manager Ryan Poles addressed his team’s draft approach at his postseason press conference, he focused on three areas: pass rusher, offense and the cornerback – “positions of choice”. Pass rushing doesn’t just mean edge rushing either, and a three-technique defensive tackle is paramount to Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme. In a trade, the Bears can recoup the first second round they lost in the Chase Claypool trade while still having the choice of any non-quarterback.
After some hints and connecting some dots, I think the Bears will have Georgia’s Jalen Carter, who has scored 88.9 and 90.0 the past two seasons, at the top of their table.
If the Bears can find a way to trade while landing a generational talent on defense, like Carter, it’s a win.
But when you look at the compensation — a first in 2023 (No. 2), a second in 2023 (No. 34), a fourth in 2024 — it’s hard not to wonder if this is the best option for Chicago. The Colts, for example, would have to pay a lot more to move up three spots. In that position, the Bears could still land Carter or Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
Although, if this is the only offer made in Chicago – which seems unlikely – it’s still a deal you’d expect the Poles to accept.
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Bears 2023 Complete 7-Round Draft: Pre-Senior Bowl Edition
