A week and a half to go, and Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles will find himself in position to continue this franchise’s total 180.
Already, Poles has been lauded for his work done via free agency and, of course, the big trade from no. 1 overall. Adding D.J. Moore, more draft capital and some legitimate starters in free agency are just a few things Poles has done to turn fans’ heads.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, Poles could continue making moves. If I was a betting man, I’d bet there was a higher likelihood that Poles moves back again from no. 9 than staying put.
If he does, here is an example of what the Bears could do to kick off our latest mock draft.
The Chicago Bears move back with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft
The Bears move back eight spots while netting a second rounder and fourth rounder from Pittsburgh, giving them a couple of additional picks in the top 120 overall. At no. 17, the best player on the board was undoubtedly Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, therefore Poles brings him to Chicago.
Kancey is a no-doubter type of pick. He’s going to come in and be a difference-maker immediately. The 6-foot-1, 281-pound defensive tackle is one of the best overall defensive players in this class. Lining up on the interior, he uses his combination of strength, speed and athleticism to make some plays reminiscent of a more raw Aaron Donald.
As a defensive lineman, Kancey ran his 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.67 seconds. In his final season with the Panthers, Kancey totaled 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and a total of 31 stops. He also missed two games, making those numbers even more impressive.
The Bears have had a hard time showing anything from their defensive line, both against the run and getting after the quarterback. That changes right away, from the moment Kancey is selected. He is exactly what the Bears need, especially sitting at pick 17. This pick is a home run for Poles, and he’s only getting started.
Before Day 1 is over, the Bears find another way to get back into the first round by trading up with the Buffalo Bills.
In this deal, the Bears send both of their second-round picks, plus a fourth rounder to the Bills, in exchange for pick no. 27 in the first round and a third rounder coming in at no. 91.
If the Bears had stayed at pick no. 9, then a guy like Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. would have been a phenomenal pick. But, since the team is now back at the tail end of the first round with their second selection, a nice consolation prize becomes Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison.
This is the pick Bears fans have been waiting for. Leading up to the draft, the number one need, other than defensive line, was to find another starting tackle. With Harrison in the fold, the starting five linemen are now set.
At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Harrison is the ideal size for an NFL tackle. He packs a punch with strong hands and has tremendous length. He isn’t as athletic as some tackles, but that’s not necessarily a detriment to his game as a right tackle. Should he have been a left tackle, Harrison’s lack of speed and agility would be a bigger concern.
With their only pick in the second round, the Bears have a very difficult time not selecting Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann. This pick might cause the team to move on from longtime veteran Cody Whitehair, but it would be for the better of the organization’s future.
Tippmann is a physical freak for his position. Standing 6-foot-6, he looks taller than any center you’ve probably seen recently. But, for his size, he also moves extremely well. Tippmann’s footwork is top notch and he can get out and pull with the best of them. It almost looks hilarious to watch his tape, sometimes, because of how well he moves.
Many of his scouting reports say he fits best in a zone rushing scheme, so he’ll plug right into the Bears’ offense. Being able to move the way he does is going to come into play many times, too, playing in front of a mobile quarterback like Justin Fields.
Finally, the Bears won’t have to deal with watching Sam Mustipher whiff time after time, standing around as though he’s pretending to look for work. Tippmann is a high football IQ player who comes in with a ton of experience and is NFL-ready from Day 1.
In the third round, the Bears focus on defense. At cornerback, the team is set with Jaylon Johnson on the outside and Kyler Gordon in the slot. But, adding Syracuse’s Garrett Williams now completes the starting cornerback room, pushing Kindle Vildor to the bench.
Williams is a little undersized at 5-foot-10, but is one of the most technically-sound defensive backs in the draft. He was flagged for zero penalties over his past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. The fact that he’s so technically great allows him to match any receiver and just about any route, regardless of how fast his opponent might be.
With Williams in the fold, the Bears’ secondary is set with he and Johnson on the outside, Gordon in the slot and Vildor a valuable reserve.
Later in the third round, the Bears could be looking at a Bilal Nichols type in Karl Brooks, only a player who is even quicker and more dynamic. Brooks can play a couple of spots up front, but has the speed off the edge to play defensive end in the Bears’ scheme.
He plays with every ounce of effort on every snap, so he’s certainly a Matt Eberflus type. He’s not someone who you’ll have to question in regards to effort. The fact that he comes from a smaller school might matter to some, but his intangibles are that of which you look for in an NFL player. Brooks uses his hands well, plus has instinctual footwork. He’s a naturally smart player, as well as a leader.
At one point during his collegiate career, LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was looked at as a possible Day 1 pick. Now, after a disappointing 2022 season, Boutte will likely be a Day 3 pick, but one with plenty of upside if he can find who he was over his first two years with the Tigers.
Boutte has the potential to be a great slot receiver who can get open and make plays with the ball in his hands. At 5-foot-11 and 195lbs, he has fair size and a strong frame. He’s not fast, but he’s more quick than anything. He ran a 4.5, which isn’t bad by any means. But, his speed shows up more so after the catch.
With Boutte coming in as the possible WR4 or WR5, he’ll be a luxury pick at this point.
The Bears’ back field is a two-headed monster right now, with D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert battling for touches. Filling out the running back room in the fourth round, the Bears draft Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn.
Standing only 5-foot-5, Vaughn is small in stature, but plays much, much bigger. He’s fearless with the rock, being able to run between the tackles no problem. He’s a strong, compact frame that churns through would-be tacklers and doesn’t stop his legs until he’s on the ground.
Vaughn is also a natural catcher of the football and can run routes from either the slot or out of the backfield when needed. Throughout his college career, Vaughn tallied nearly 4,900 yards from scrimmage and 43 total touchdowns.
In the fifth round, the Bears revert back to the defensive side of the ball, and specifically the defensive line. It’s an area the Bears still need to continue addressing and overhauling, creating healthy competition and finding the best rotation possible.
Texas’ Keondre Coburn would be a solid pickup here in the fifth and could become part of the rotation right away. He’s a big man at 6-foot-2, 332lbs. He’s a wide load and a powerful body that can help control gaps in the run game, but also has the ability to bull rush from time to time.
Once again going with defensive line, the Bears draft another edge rusher. This time, it’s San Jose State’s Viliami Fehoko. For starters, all you need to know is that he is the second cousin of Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea. He’s an edge rusher, but plays with the same aggression and nastiness that you’ve seen out of Vea in the NFL.
He might be a little light to play defensive end, but again, the fifth round and later is where you find guys you can experiment with. These are the players who will provide key, specific lifts for your teams and can help in situational football.
Over the last three seasons, Fehoko has been a game-wrecker in the back field, as he has posted 44 tackles for loss and 22 sacks.
Finally, in the seventh round, Poles continues the streak of defensive linemen. Like he did last year with the offensive line, taking dart shots, he does the same thing here late in the draft on the defensive side of the ball.
At pick no. 218 overall, the Bears go with Western Kentucky defensive lineman Brodric Martin. Like the aforementioned Coburn, Martin is a big man, weighing over 330 pounds. He is yet another wide body that can eat up space and help stop the run. He’s a powerful, strong player that can push opposing offensive linemen off their base often.
The biggest thing Martin will have to do to earn a spot on the roster is to improve his quickness just a bit. Posing such a big, threatening body is a good thing, but he’s not very quick off the ball. His lateral movement is almost non-existent, as well. But, as an interior lineman whom the Bears will use to stop the run and in goal line situations, that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker.