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.
Chicago Bears Big Board 1.0, Number 4: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
When the Bears are on the board, Smith-Njigba and one of his teammates, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., could both be available still. If it’s between the two of them, Poles should go with Johnson, as much as some might want the former.
Chicago’s offensive line might just be a right tackle away from being set, believe it or not. It seems odd to admit that, but take a look:
LT: Braxton Jones
LG: Lucas Patrick
C: Cody Whitehair
RG: Nate Davis
RT: Paris Johnson Jr.
You could argue that Patrick and Whitehair switch spots, potentially, as that’s been alluded to.
Johnson is the best offensive tackle in the draft, bar none. Peter Skoronski projects much better as a guard, due to his shorter arms. Johnson, though, stands 6-foot-6, weighing 313lbs and boasting 36 1/8″ arms.
For a man of his size, Johnson is extremely athletic. He’s accustomed to working with mobile quarterbacks, and will help protect another former Ohio State Buckeye in quarterback Justin Fields, who so happens to be electrically-mobile.
One might think the Bears could move back a couple of picks and still end up with either Johnson or Smith-Njigba, and they could be right. But, the safe move would be snagging Johnson here.
Chicago Bears Big Board 1.0, Number 3: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
It wouldn’t be the sexy pick, and would give similar feelings to Poles drafting a pair of defensive backs with his first two picks a year ago, but Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez would be very difficult to pass up here, if he’s on the board.
Gonzalez is widely-regarded as the draft’s top cornerback, alongside Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon. The former Duck is 6-foot-1, ran a blazing 4.38 in his 40-yard dash at the combine and leapt to a 41.5-inch vertical. So, go ahead and slap the “size and speed combination” label on him, because it certainly applies, here.
The Bears have Jaylon Johnson on the outside, and Kyler Gordon very well might be most comfortable in the slot. If Gonzalez is the pick, then Gordon definitely stays inside, and that would work to the entire secondary’s advantage.
Gonzalez has the strength, size and athleticism to get on the nerves of most opposing receivers, regardless of their skillset. He’s great at cutting routes shorts and making his target uncomfortable, especially when he works down the sideline. Giving Gonzalez the other outside job would make this Bears secondary nearly unstoppable going forward, assuming the team generates a pass rush, that is.
Chicago Bears Big Board 1.0, Number 2: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Now, we’re coming into the murky waters. Let’s just put it this way, short of the next guy on this list being available, if Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson so happens to be on the board at no. 9 overall, the Bears should rush to the podium. It’s not even a question. He’s the pick; case closed.
You’re looking at a 6-foot-6, 270-pound monster off the edge who will come in and instantly become the Bears’ best pass rusher. This is a position the Bears have needed to fill for a long time now, especially after ridding the roster of the aging Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn over the last year or so.
Wilson is big, strong and has a huge wingspan, allowing him to get past opposing tackles and wreck the run plays before they even begin. As a pass rusher, it’s his natural athleticism and raw power that work together to display a dominant performance at times.
If the Bears’ draft started out with Wilson, Poles would be batting 1.000 to begin. This is a guy who has posted 27.5 tackles for loss, including 14.0 sacks, over his last two collegiate seasons.
Chicago Bears Big Board 1.0, Number 1: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
Finally, we come to maybe the most polarizing player in this year’s draft class. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was, at times, looked at as the best overall talent among his peers, over the past several months.
But, some off-field issues combined with questions regarding his taking plays off, here and there, have put a damper on his draft stock. Could this simply be an instance where many of the talking heads attempt to drain his stock, and he goes on to become a great NFL player?
One could only hope so, if he ended up in Chicago. The interior lineman is one of the most physically-imposing player in the nation, and many have compared him to the likes of Aaron Donald, which is scary, but high praise all at once.
Carter has the athleticism at 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds to get off the line of scrimmage like that of a linebacker or edge rusher at times, getting into the back field in a hurry and destroying plays before they even develop.
The interior of the Bears’ line was terrible a year ago, as they were gashed by the run over and over again. Carter’s presence changes things from Day 1. But, will he be there? If he is, this is a no-brainer.