2023 NFL Draft: 3 Players the Bears should avoid at No. 9 overall

The 2023 NFL Draft is now just a few days away. We’ve talked ad nauseam about the players and prospects we like, the ones we hope the Chicago Bears can draft. But what about the players that we’re not so high on?

I’ve noticed in many mock drafts three players in particular that are popular choices for the Bears at No. 9 that I would not be too happy about. Let me be clear: I wouldn’t be mad if the Chicago Beras take these players at 9, but they aren’t my first choice.

Who are they? Let’s take a look.

Lukas Van Ness – Defensive End, Iowa

In previous mock drafts that I’ve done, I said that Van Ness would be a steal in the late second round. But at ninth overall? That feels like a massive reach. He has some nice stats from college, but we all know that stats don’t tell the whole story. In the case of Van Ness, most of his sacks and big stops come from simply bull-rushing his opponent. That won’t cut it against the grown men he’ll face in the NFL.

This isn’t to say I think Van Ness will be a bust. I think he can be very good, but it will likely take a few years before he becomes Pro Bowl caliber at his position. He doesn’t have the pass-rush techniques to win at the next level, which he can’t learn and master overnight.

With the ninth overall pick, the Chicago Bears must get a player ready to make an impact immediately, and I don’t believe Van Ness is that guy.

Any Cornerback

Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon are extremely talented cornerbacks, possibly even better than any cornerback from last year’s draft. However, Chicago’s secondary is one of the team’s last places needing immediate help. Could they be better? Absolutely. Should Ryan Poles draft a cornerback? Definitely, but not at ninth overall.

This year’s cornerback class is deep, and several Day 2 and even early Day 3 prospects could immediately impact the Chicago Bears defense. Guys like Riley Moss, Cam Smith, Julius Brents, Cory Trice, and more.

Suppose the Bears come away from the first round with Gonzalez or Witherspoon. In that case, their secondary will be arguably among the very best in the league, but with the defensive and offensive lines still in dire straits, that wouldn’t feel like a wise allocation of a premium pick.

Tyree Wilson – Edge, Texas Tech

I’m in the minority here, but I would not feel good if the Chicago Bears selected Tyree Wilson. He was an absolute monster in college until he injured his foot. An injury that required surgery. For a big, explosive edge like Wilson, that’s one of the worst possible injuries to suffer. Guys like him generally have a hard time getting back to form. Look at Khalil Mack after his foot surgery, still a very good player but no longer the game-wrecking force of nature he was before.

Wilson is still young, so there’s a chance he’ll be fine and get right back to terrorizing quarterbacks. The risk, however, is simply too high to roll the dice at No. 9.