Daniel Jeremiah Mock Draft: Bears stay at No. 1, select elite defensive prospect

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah published his first mock draft of the 2023 NFL Draft season, and it involved a selection at No. 1 overall that may frustrate Chicago Bears fans.

It’s not that the player Jeremiah sends to the Bears is bad, instead, it’s the fact that Chicago doesn’t trade out of the first pick that will cause frustration.

To be fair, Jeremiah’s first mock draft doesn’t include any trades. He didn’t indicate whether that was intentional, but this is his first mock of the season. He’s getting his feet wet.

As for the pick? Daniel Jeremiah sends the Bears Jalen Carter, an instant plug-and-play starter at the all-important three-technique for coach Matt Eberflus’ defense.

Daniel Bartel -USA TODAY Sports

Bears GM Ryan Poles has options at No. 1 overall

“I’m sure the Bears would love to trade out of this pick,” Jeremiah wrote. “If that option isn’t available — or the offers fail to meet their asking price — Carter would be an immediate difference-maker on all three downs.”

Jalen Carter:

Highest-graded UGA defender
Highest-graded Power 5 defender
Highest-graded UGA defender in the @PFF_College era (just ahead of Roquan Smith’s ‘17 season)

More eye-popping defensive numbers from the championship season on @ugasportscom https://t.co/ApqUdRtE9q pic.twitter.com/msSEA15JSW

— Brent Rollins (@BrentRollinsPhD) January 17, 2023

Carter is a no-brainer, as is Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. As I’ve said multiple times on The Bears Talk Podcast, general manager Ryan Poles is virtually bulletproof in the 2023 NFL Draft. Even if he doesn’t trade down and uses the No. 1 overall pick on Carter or Anderson, Bears fans will have a hard time complaining about the player. Sure, trading down and gaining future first-round picks is the ultimate goal. But if Poles doesn’t get his price, adding a stud like Carter or Anderson is fantastic.

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