This 2023 Mock Draft has Bears landing elite defensive prospect after trading down

In a perfect world, the 2023 NFL Draft will allow Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles to leverage the No. 1 overall pick in a trade with a quarterback-needy team willing to part with future first-rounders to move up for their preferred passer.

The growth of Justin Fields in 2022 allows Poles to move down, knowing he already has his franchise quarterback. And with that knowledge comes great flexibility, and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler presented one possible trade scenario in his latest 2023 mock draft.

Brugler has the Bears trading back to the No. 4 overall pick with the Indianapolis Colts, securing a haul of draft picks to slide down just three spots.

In this hypothetical trade, Chicago gets the No. 4 and No. 35 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and the Colts’ first-round pick in 2024.

Bears trade back and still land elite 2023 NFL Draft prospect

In Brugler’s 2023 mock draft, the Bears stay at No. 4 (although they could realistically trade back again with another QB-needy club) and select Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter.

“For the next few months, Bears fans will be debating between Anderson and Jalen Carter,” Brugler wrote. “In this scenario, the decision is made for them. Carter is young, which is evident in several areas of his game, but it is also clear how uniquely talented he is with his combination of body control and power. His block destruction and disruption are special.”

Carter and Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. are the top two non-quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. They each offer elite upside, putting Poles in a near-can’t-lose situation. No matter who he targets and ultimately selects, he’ll earn high marks in post-draft grades.

Could the Bears trade back twice?

Brugler’s mock draft has the Carolina Panthers selecting Ohio State’s CJ Stroud one pick after the Bears at No. 5 overall. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that Chicago and Carolina would strike a pick swap, guaranteeing the Panthers their quarterback while still resulting in the Bears landing Carter.

As for the second-round picks, Brugler has the Bears using the selection they received from the Colts on LSU edge rusher BJ Ojulari and the pick they acquired from the Baltimore Ravens in the Roquan Smith trade on Cedric Tillman, the playmaking wideout from Tennessee.

To sum it up, the Bears end this mock draft with Jalen Carter, a plug-and-play elite three-tech prospect, BJ Ojulari, a consolation prize for passing on Will Anderson, who will instantly upgrade sack production, Cedric Tillman, a big-bodied downfield playmaker, a 2024 first-round pick, and you could find a way to count Chase Claypool as part of their second-round haul.

That certainly feels like a big step forward.

The 2023 NFL Draft will present Poles with a rare opportunity to rebuild his roster for sustained success. This Chicago Bears mock draft is just one of many scenarios that could come across his desk, making Poles the most powerful GM on draft weekend.

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