Bears Talk Mock Draft 1.0: Chicago Bears load up on offense in 7-round mock draft

The Super Bowl is in the books, and with the arrival of the 2023 offseason, the Chicago Bears will be front and center in almost every major NFL storyline. Armed with the most money to spend in free agency and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Bears will own the next three months of the football calendar.

General manager Ryan Poles’s decisions in free agency will go a long way in dictating the Bears’ 2023 draft plan. Still, a few reasonable predictions can be made right now, even before the first veteran free agent is added in March.

Chicago is expected to trade out of the No. 1 overall pick, which they do in Bears Talk’s first official 2023 mock draft. In this mock, Chicago trades the No. 1 pick and a fourth-round selection (No. 104) to the Indianapolis Colts for No. 4 overall, a second-round pick (No. 35), and a 2024 first-rounder.

It’s an ideal trade scenario that allows the Bears to land one of this year’s top non-quarterback prospects while still loading up with valuable picks in 2023 and 2024.

Let’s get started. Here’s the seven-round haul Poles lands in this Chicago Bears mock draft.

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Round 1, Pick 4: Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama

The Bears trade back and still land Will Anderson Jr., a player many consider the best non-quarterback in the class. Anderson’s elite pass-rushing skill set makes him worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. Chicago ranked last in the NFL in sacks in 2022, making Anderson a no-brainer pick. With Micah Parsons-like upside, Anderson would instantly become the centerpiece of the Bears’ defensive rebuild.

Round 2. Pick 35: John Michael Schmitz, Center, Minnesota

The Chicago Bears use the pick they received from the Colts on John Michael Schmitz, a plug-and-play center prospect who’d be the most talented pure pivot guy the Bears have rostered since Olin Kreutz. Schmitz had a strong performance at the 2023 Senior Bowl and could sneak into the back half of the first round, but if he’s on the board when the Bears pick in the early second round, Ryan Poles will rush to the podium. Schmitz represents a massive upgrade over Sam Mustipher and would raise the standards of interior offensive line play in Chicago.

Round 2, Pick 53: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

The rebuild on the offensive line continues with the Chicago Bears’ second second-round pick. Jaelyn Duncan is a lean and athletic right tackle prospect who will fit what Ryan Poles looks for from an athleticism and body type standpoint. The Maryland standout was considered a first-round player at the start of the 2022 college football season, but his stock cooled after a down year. The Bears benefit in this mock draft, landing an instant starter at right tackle with Duncan.

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Round 3, Pick 64: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

More offense for the Bears in this 2023 mock draft. This time, it’s at wide receiver. Rashee Rice had some first-round buzz entering the 2023 Senior Bowl, but he was one of the more disappointing players at the all-star game. As a result, he’s expected to slide into Day 2, and I think there’s a good chance he becomes a big-time value pick in the third round. The 6’0′, 200-pound wideout excels in contested catches and has an exceptional catch radius. The 2023 NFL combine will be critical for his draft stock — how fast is he? Regardless, if he’s on the board at this point in Round 3, the Bears will add an immediate contributor to the passing game.

Round 4, Pick 134: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama

Justin Fields would be thrilled with how the first four rounds of this Chicago Bears mock draft have gone. With this pick, the Bears make their third selection along the offensive line. Tyler Steen may not be a blue-chip prospect, but he has starter’s upside at right tackle, and at worst, he’ll provide quality depth as a swing tackle in the NFL. Those guys have value. By adding Steen in the fourth round, the Bears hedge their bets that they’ll exit the 2023 NFL Draft with an upgrade at right tackle.

Round 5, Pick 138: Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina

The Bears can’t completely ignore defense after the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. And with the three-technique being such a critical role in Matt Eberflus’ system, they can’t come away from draft weekend without at least one prospect who fits the position’s requirements. Zacch Pickens is a toolsy defensive lineman who will benefit from NFL coaching to reach his full potential. He isn’t a plug-and-play starter at this point in his development, but he projects as an eventual starter at some point early in his career. Adding a guy like that on Day 3, at such a critical position in the Bears’ defense, is a huge win.

Round 5, Pick 151: Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma

Running back could be a significant need for the Chicago Bears if David Montgomery departs in free agency. And if Eric Gray is on the board in the sixth round, he’d be the ideal replacement. Gray is a hard-charging runner who runs with similar pad level and contact balance as Montgomery. He isn’t as big (5’9′, 210 pounds) as the Bears veteran, but his impact on collision is equally as effective. Gray is a strong jump-cutter like Montgomery, too. Gray’s straight-line speed is the big question he has to answer at the 2023 NFL Combine. As a late-Day-3 pick, Gray represents excellent value as a rotational piece to the Bears’ running game.

Round 7, Pick 221: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

Why not close out this mock draft with another pick on offense? Justin Fields gets a new pass-catcher in the seventh round, and he’s a good one. Jonathan Mingo is one of the most physically impressive receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, standing 6’1′ and 226 pounds. His body type is similar to Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown. Mingo isn’t a speedster and is more of a contested-catch guy, but that’s OK. His frame and baseball-mitt hands make him open even when he’s covered.

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