Chicago Bears Draft: 4 prospects who could fall on Day 2

In Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, we saw the Chicago Bears make a trade. It was a bit controversial, as Ryan Poles passed on Jalen Carter and decided to move back one pick with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Poles and the Bears took Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright at no. 10, giving the team a rock-solid starter at right tackle and effectively rounding out their starting offensive line, for now.

Wright was the correct pick, but on Day 2, it gets a little muddier.

Who do the Bears hope falls to them in Round 2 or Round 3? Sure, they could trade up. But, that’s not necessarily Poles’ style. There are some talented players still out there, and if any of these four were to fall, Poles would have a difficult time not bringing them to Chicago.

Day 2 prospects who could fall to the Chicago Bears in 2023 NFL Draft: John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

The Bears proved they were all-in on Fields with the Wright pick, so why stop there? If Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz is on the board late in the second round, he would be a strong selection for the future of this franchise.

Chicago may not keep Cody Whitehair around, depending on how the rest of the draft goes. Or, they could choose to part with Lucas Patrick. The odds of one of those guys getting let go after the draft, should the Bears draft an interior lineman on Day 2, is very high.

Schmitz is one of the best remaining linemen available, and so happens to play a position the Bears saw get ugly, in a hurry, last season. Thankfully, Sam Mustipher is no longer a worry. But, as Whitehair ages and with the potential for the Bears to save some money by cutting him, a simple swap for Schmitz makes sense.

Schmitz stands 6-foot-4, weighing 301 pounds and is best in a zone scheme, which the Bears run. He’s a powerful drive blocker, which is essentially the opposite of what we saw out of Mustipher last year. This is a home run pick if he’s there at 61.