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.

2. Bijan Robinson

Texas running back Bijan Robinson is being touted as one of the best running back prospects in recent memory. Robinson is seemingly able to do everything, and has a strong build while running a 4.46 40-yard dash. He is extremely explosive, with tremendous acceleration that leaves defenders in the dust. Additionally, his agility and acceleration allows for him to quickly change direction while maintaining his speed. Finally, he is able to sustain hits, as he has solid balance after contact.

This run against Oklahoma shows how good of a player Bijan Robinson really is. He is able to change direction, break tackles, and seamlessly navigate through an entire defense on his way to a touchdown. Considering all these positives, the question remains: how could he fall down to the 9th spot?

The answer is simple. Bijan Robinson is caught in a paradigm shift in the NFL, where the importance of running backs is minimal. There have been seemingly countless situations in which running backs have proven to be replaceable, and the usage of a top pick on this position is looked down upon. Robinson is unfortunately in the league at the wrong time, as a player of his caliber may even have number 1 overall rumors.

Despite this, the bottom line is that he can alter an offense, which should not be scoffed at. Many teams are still considering taking a shot at Robinson, and while the Bears do have a solid running back room, Ryan Poles may be pressed to look at the best overall player left on the board.

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba showed in his college career that he has the tools necessary to be a top-tier slot wide receiver. The 21-year-old recorded 1,606 receiving yards in 13 games in 2021, which was 3rd in college football that year. After that campaign, he was limited to just three games in his junior year as a hamstring injury sidelined him. Since then, JSN has seemingly healed from his injury and did combine drills.

Regarding the positives, Smith-Njigba has shown that he is an elite route runner with excellent separation ability. He has an uncanny ability to get open on short and mid-routes and turn them into more yards after the catch, and he has shown an ability to be a deep threat as well despite lacking top speed.

Smith-Njigba’s highlights from the 2021 season are outstanding, and it leaves NFL scouts raving about his potential in the league. One main concern, however, is his small body of work. He played just 23 games in college and faced a big injury. The wide receiver is two years removed from his outstanding season, and the Bears would be taking a big risk at a position that they may already have set.

With D.J. Moore’s addition to a wide receiving corps that includes an 860+ yard receiver in Chase Claypool and a 1000+ yard receiver in Darnell Mooney, it seems that Justin Fields has enough weapons to thrive in the future. However, Fields does have a relationship with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The two played together at Ohio State for one year before Fields got drafted, and they have spoken about reuniting in the NFL. This would bring some chemistry to the team, as Fields has only demonstrated a connection with Darnell Mooney.

Overall, the Chicago Bears have plenty of options with their first round pick this draft. They will likely use this pick on an offensive lineman, but it is definitely worth considering some of the other excellent prospects in the draft even if they may not fit a current position need. There are some players in this draft that can be game changing, and Ryan Poles must put these opportunities under consideration.