Chicago Bears Big Board for 1st Round of 2023 NFL Draft 1.0
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has done an impressive job reworking this roster over the past year or so, and now the team heads toward the 2023 NFL Draft in much better shape than they were in his first season on the job.
Although the Bears finished with the worst record in the NFL last year, that might have been close to the plan all along. Poles was never going to try and win last year, but instead, strip down the roster and look to rebuild the right way.
Now, it appears the team has their franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, and a whole lot of draft capital to work with in the next couple of years.
After trading the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers and moving back to number nine, Poles is likely to have a good amount of options depending on how the draft falls. If things fall the right way, and mostly logical, the team’s “Big Board” should look as follows. We profile the top five options.
Chicago Bears Big Board 1.0, Number 5: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
For weeks, if not months now, Bears fans have been salivating over the thought of Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba coming to Chicago. Especially before the Bears traded for D.J. Moore, Smith-Njigba was high on fans’ wish lists.
Now, the Bears don’t necessarily need him, but if he’s there at no. 9, and appears to be the best option, then Poles has to get a little greedy and pull the trigger.
Smith-Njigba is regarded as the top wide receiver in the draft by many, and does a lot very well. He’s best in the slot, but can line up everywhere, truthfully. At 6-foot-1, 196lbs, he possesses prototypical size. He’s a great separator and knows how to work the middle of the field, always appearing open.
Why would the Bears overbuild the receiver room? Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney are free agents in 2024, for one, so it very well could be just Moore and Smith-Njigba as the top two going forward.
But, Poles has to go best player available, and if that’s Jaxon, then he’s the pick.