Sadly for the Bears, both teams were already better. "He projects to be a plug-and-play right tackle, and the Bears would probably prefer to have Wright on the right compared to Teven Jenkins, who was better at guard last year. Dexter and Pickens must be more consistent in the NFL. Robert Zeglinski, For The Win, USA Today Sports. Chicago Bears news: The Bears have made 95 first-round picks in NFL Draft since 1936. Staying upright all season is the first step in being able to evaluate Fields. Hell learn from Eddie Jackson. Thats why its so critical for the Bears to, for the first time, get an accurate read on Fields. 2021 Bears coaching staff The coaching staff for next season is set. Poles pulled off a blockbuster trade for a play-making receiver in March when he acquired DJ Moore from the quarterback-needing Carolina Panthers. While he needs to get stronger, hes young and will have time to do it, and so the ceiling is really high. Add another draft like this weekend, and Chicago may be the NFC North's biggest threat in 2024. "After trading out of the No. Like Pace, I get a little itchy when a guy I like is there a few picks early, so Id take LaPorta with No. Alyssa Barbieri. Some Bears fans out there might not take kindly the projection of Bijan Robinson the dreaded Round 1 running back at Pick 9 after entering this offseason with the top overall pick, but exiting this Draft with one of its few blue-chip players AND DJ Moore AND a future Round 1 pick AND two Round 2 picksthats a compelling case for a job well done by Ryan Poles. The Bears were on Johnson's shortlist of preferred teams, after his no income tax preferences were ruled out because they don't need an offensive tackle. 20, No. And others inside the league think the Bears are leaning toward Johnson. It's time for our first NFC North . ", Pro Football Focus: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa. Rausch spent two-plus years on the Chicago Bears' developmental team before beginning a 10-year career as a social worker. Sign up for our newsletter and have updates delivered to your inbox! Lawyer and Attorney Services: Law Offices of A. Peter Rausch, Jr., Lodi On The Rush, Football Aftershow host David Kaplan and Bears writer Alex Shapiro discuss the latest news and rumors around the Chicago Bears search for a new head coach and GM to replace Matt Nagy . Another player I have not yet watched college tape on, (Travis) Bell reportedly had a solid pro-day performance but will need to overcome a lack of length. "The 21-year-old is coming off a brilliant senior season that saw him allow just eight pressures and zero sacks for the Vols. Pro Football Focus Brad Spielberger has Chicago selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. with the ninth pick. 1 overall pick to the Panthers. The best draft pick the Eagles made last year wasnt a draft pick at all. With the Bears' last pick in the draft at No. NFL Drafts top cornerbacks dont expect Bears to pick them, Offensive line is vital for Bears as they eye options in draft. Fans can also listen to the draft on ESPN Radio. Follow him on Twitter:@ChrisFSims. Second, last year Breer's mock draft was the most accurate mock according toFantasy Pros. The over-under on correct picks is 0.5. Chicago added 10 new players through the draft and potentially filled some major needs. Van Ness' 27.7% pressure rate on true pass sets in 2022 ranked fourth in the FBS," PFF wrote. 56 From Jaguars, Select CB Tyrique Stevenson April 28th, 2023 at 7:52pm CST by Ely Allen The Bears will climb five spots for a cornerback. 14. The Titans are rebuilding their offensive line after cutting left tackle Taylor Lewan and center Ben Jones to clear salary-cap space and losing right guard Nate Davis to the Bears in free agency. Current team members are listed in bold. But at this point, Noah Sewells natural size-speed combination might be worth the dart throw. The Bears are really looking to upgrade the athleticism and quickness in their defensive line rebuild but its a little odd they took Pickens after just getting the similar Dexter in the previous round out of the SEC. If Levis falls past the QB-needy Raiders at No. So, they give the Bears the No. Wright watched the draft at a hotel in Knoxville with family and friends. Is this a little high? As with Johnson, theres still some improvement needed in pass protection especially since Wright doesnt have the same kind of length as Johnson but hes a clean prospect who can play on the left or right side. The former Georgia star is a big, strong, and twitchy athlete and should give Chicago a playmaker to build around on the defensive front. Dexter is young at just over 21 years of age. But this, at least in my mind, would be the floor for Johnson, a high-character, tall, long 21-year-old who looks like he came off a left tackle assembly line. Johnson is a versatile offensive lineman with the size and athleticism to play on the inside or at tackle, with his 36 1/4-inch arms landing in the 97th percentile among tackles. Chicago Bears all-time roster. This is the fourth Big Ten player in my mock draft. Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. 1 pick. Perhaps if Pace consulted more people like, you know, his coaching staff he wouldnt have made one of the biggest draft blunders in recent history. Skoronski is the best offensive lineman in the class for many people, and although my top lineman, Paris Johnson, is available, the Bears opt to add Skoronski, who is plug-and-play at either tackle or guard. Whether hes a guard or tackle, Skoronski will be the next Kyle Long, a future Pro Bowler who somehow sells jerseys. ESPN's Mel . Round 7, Pick 218: Travis Bell, DT, Kennesaw State. Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Wright may have been my favorite player to watch in the pre-draft process because he moves with an explosiveness and agility that belies his 333-pound frame. The Bears came into the draft with 10 picks, including two second-rounders at 53 and 61 and the first pick of the third at No. 1 slot back in March, the Bears do what they couldn't in free agency: land a splashy offensive tackle. King has the Bears taking Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. in the 2023 NFL Draft. (Photo of Peter Skoronski: Kirby Lee / USA Today). Round 3, Pick 64: Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina. I. Still, I think thats an intriguing possibility here, too. April 1, 2023 12:58 pm CT. After trading the No. Smith has plenty of upside and could prove to be a late-round steal for Chicago. I mentioned to an ex-Bears scout a few months ago that I thought (Tyler) Scott fit what the Bears might target in this draft. "Helping QB Justin Fields is a priority, and Wright has been steadily impressing teams along the run up to the draft," Davis wrote. Wright played a big role in Tennessee going 11-2 and finishing sixth in the final AP poll. Here's a final dive into 2023 NFL mock drafts. Hes a 65, 330-pound mauler with smooth recovery footwork and violent hands. In this mock he falls some because I just don't see the twitchy explosive play that you get from guys like Von Miller. That's what kind of happens when you post the league's worst record. He could go before Illinois CBDevon Witherspoon. 9,"Jeremiah wrote. For The Win: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia - TRADE! 112 pick (fourth round) and 2024 third-round selection. This is classic playing the board from Chicago. He joins Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool in a receivers room that looks a lot better than it did this time last year. There are a lot of red flags to Jalen Carter, his talent might outweigh the red flags for some organizations, and he might very well be picked [earlier], but you look at how this process has gone for him, and it has not gone well. Smith was a standout at the Shrine Bowl. His alleged last words to a fellow hiker was, "I'm going to be the first person to get proof there's a Squatch here. Coaches love his work ethic and selfless nature. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for two first-rounders, two second-rounders and wide receiver DJ Moore. 33 for the trouble, but an AFC executive told me he didnt think the Texans liked Levis. 2023 NFL mock draft: Chicago Bears select OT Peter Skoronski 9th Chicago Bears hold the No. Jones is still growing as a blocker but spent the last two seasons protecting Stetson Bennett en route to back-to-back national titles. NFL Draft Profile: Peter Skoronski, Offensive Lineman, Northwestern (Perhaps on a David Montgomery run.) Chicago also got a fourth-round pick in 2024. Adding arguably the top cornerback prospect in the draft would go a long way for the Bears secondary. Overall, the mock draft economy remains strong, despite the blatant copying that goes on in non-The Athletic mocks. Hurts went 14-1 as a starter, won the NFC and signed a contract with the largest average annual salary in NFL history. In any case, Dexter is a 6-foot-5, 310-pound athlete with upside. I think the Bears take Jalen Carter. 9 and No. He played there before moving to Florida for his last year of high school. Mostly recovered from a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2022 season, Smith should be ready to wreak havoc in Week 1. NFL.coms Rhett Lewis has Chicago getting protection for Fields with the selection of Skoronski at ninth overall. Carter could become Poles own Chris Jones. 64. Sporting News Vinnie Iyer has the Bears shoring up the offensive line with the addition of Johnson with the No. He dropped out of college shortly after his appearance in Rudy. He slips a bit, and the Bears hit a home run at No. Where 19 local prospects were taken in the NFL draft, including 4 each The year before was almost as bad among quarterbacks who have thrown 250 or more passes, Fields has the two worst percentages since 2010. He has the athleticism to be a star, but his tape doesnt foresee that just yet. Stevenson was Iyer's favorite pick so far by the Bears, basically calling the pick a boon for the secondary. Chicago acquired a 2024 first round pick, a 2025 second round pick and wide receiver D.J. Peter Tom Willis: Florida State: C.J. Try a week on us. Round 4, Pick 115 (from New Orleans): Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas. As of June of 1992 his whereabouts are unknown, he was last seen in Grand Teton National Park hiking into the wilderness. 53, Poles continues to help out the defense by selecting Gervon Dexter, a defensive tackle from the University of Florida. But since that seems unlikely, the UGA blindside watchdog gets the call. Unfortunately he succumbed to the academic pressures of attending the school. Not only does he wear that weight well, but he also has elite proportional length, with arms over 34 long. In the latest round of NFL mock drafts, there seems to be a consensus among most experts that the Bears will use their first selection on an offensive tackle. Cornerbacks often struggle to be on an island at first, but that probably wont be an issue for Stevenson. The former Ohio State teammate of Bears quarterbackJustin Fieldsstarted in 2021 at right guard before moving to left tackle, but hes a perfect fit in this scheme wherever Chicago ultimately puts him, with great movement skills at the second level for Chicagos outside-zone rushing attack. He allowed just eight total pressures in 2022. Round 4, Pick 133 (from Philadelphia): Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati. Moore. What a huge win this would be for GM Ryan Poles. 1 pick to Carolina in March. As it is, he should be able compete and work to build strength and size, but its not a given that he wont lose some of what makes him so good. "A physical blocker with a smooth drop step and lateral slide, Wright acquitted himself well at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. 10 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving quarterback Justin Fields more protection after trading . The Bears clearly signaled their intention to build aroundJustin Fieldsas their QB1 when theytraded out of the first pick. The Bears add a mid-round gem of a running back in Johnson, who didnt get as much limelight due to playing behind the drafts top running back Bijan Robinson, but he will fit in well in Chicago. (AP Photo/John Amis, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The Minnesota Vikings? Latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Top Prospects, Bears Picks and Analysis Thats how I felt when I realized the NFL Draft is upon us and Ive yet to participate in a mock draft. The Bears clearly had no intention of drafting Jalen Carter and allowed the Eagles to switch spots so they could take Georgias star defensive tackle. Carter has been projected to Chicago dating back to when they had the No. But characters always gonna be important for us.. "What a better way to fix the issue than by drafting Skoronski, Pro Football Focus highest-graded pass blocker (93.0) in all of college football in 2022? Moore) and linebacker (T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds) and guard (Nate Davis)," King wrote. Jennifer Aguilar, who was born and raised in La Villita, takes the helm of the local chamber of commerce, which not only advocates for businesses but runs the Mexican Independence Day parade. We could see a run on tackles in the teens," Kiper wrote. We do analysis of our own mock drafts, and everyone seems to love the blanket coverage. "While he needs to get stronger, hes young and will have time to do it, and so the ceiling is really high.