Chicago Bears: 5 current players that could be replaced in the NFL Draft
By Ryan Heckman
As April nears, we are that much closer to the 2023 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears are already one of the biggest winners during the initial wave of free agency, but with the draft right around the corner, things could be getting even better.
Of course, the team traded the number 1 overall pick in the draft to the Carolina Panthers, moving back to number 9 while netting a bunch of draft capital and landing wide receiver D.J. Moore.
With plenty of capital to work with in the draft, and an ever-changing roster under general manager Ryan Poles, what could the draft hold for a team on the rise?
Better question, what might the draft mean to some of the existing players on this roster? There are a handful of guys who might see their roles get replaced come draft weekend, starting up front on offense.
Chicago Bears players who could be replaced in the 2023 NFL Draft: Teven Jenkins, OT
Teven Jenkins wasn’t a Ryan Poles pick, and dating back to last offseason there have been plenty of rumors and much uncertainty when it comes to his future in Chicago.
Jenkins was originally drafted as a tackle, but later on moved to guard where he looked a bit more comfortable. Now, the Bears have Nate Davis, Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick on the interior, presumably. That means Jenkins would likely move back to tackle, and on the right side, if he had a shot at sticking within the starting five linemen.
Still, there is no guarantee he ends up starting, nor even remains on the team. A trade could still happen, while he holds some value and untapped potential.
Should the Bears find a tackle within the top three rounds of this year’s draft, Jenkins’ spot as a would-be starter is just about done for. In fact, that might even spell a trade once and for all. Whatever has happened behind the scenes for Poles to not necessarily trust Jenkins is still an unknown. But, if Poles drafts a tackle, we’ll know almost for certain what the future holds for the former second-round lineman.