Chicago Bears Draft: Best options at no. 9 outside of OL

The 2023 NFL Draft is approaching, and the Chicago Bears find themselves in an encouraging spot leading into it. Chicago has 10 picks through the seven rounds, including the #9 overall pick and two second-rounders. The Bears traded back from the 1st overall pick in the draft with the Carolina Panthers, which was done for the first time since 2016 and just the second since 2002.

Chicago was able to get a haul from this franchise-altering move, and one of these assets was the 9th pick in the draft. The consensus opinion has been to use this pick on an offensive lineman to protect franchise QB Justin Fields, but the Bears may be pushed to take the best available player on the board, regardless of position. With this in mind, there are a few players that the Bears could consider outside of positional fit.

As the Chicago Bears approach the NFL Draft, they could consider these three players as alternatives to an offensive lineman.

1. Jalen Carter

This is likely the most obvious pick, but one that we would not have expected just two months ago. Carter was considered a top-3 player in the draft and had potential projections to be drafted by the Bears at the number 1 spot. However, the Georgia defensive lineman was charged with reckless driving in which two people were killed. This caused potential concern with Jalen Carter’s off-the-field issues and he slid in mock drafts. However, Carter is hovering around that 8-11 range, with the Falcons, Bears, and Eagles being rumored as potential targets.

On the field, Carter has shown that he is the real deal. He is a beast at the DT position with a 6’3″, 310-pound frame. He has excellent quickness and strength, which allows him to play tremendous run defense and be an impact in the pass game. Carter relies on his tremendous athleticism, and it has yielded results. He was the leader on what was one of the best college defenses of all time in 2021 and carried that intensity over into his final year of college.

Carter would be an excellent addition to Matt Eberflus’ defense, as it could use a quick, strong tackle to disrupt the game. This could help revamp the Bears’ defensive line, which is one of the main needs for the team. The Bears were in dire need of front seven help last season, recording the least sacks in the league and allowing the second most rushing yards. They have already made moves to bolster the linebacker position, with the Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, but there still is work to be done on the line, and Carter would be a perfect fit.