Chicago Bears 7-round Mock Draft: Bears go OL, DL with first 4 picks

The Chicago Bears are in a great position at the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. There’s a good chance that the top player at their biggest positions of weakness will be available, even after trading out of the first pick.

The Bears’ list of roster needs remains long. General manager Ryan Poles must add a right tackle to protect Justin Fields, and the three-technique defensive lineman that’s so important to coach Matt Eberflus’ defense is still missing.

The pass rush and depth in the secondary should also rank high on Poles’ wish list.

With all that in mind, let’s run another Chicago Bears mock draft and see how many needs (with value) the Bears can fill in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 9: Jalen Carter | DL | Georgia

No one could’ve predicted the Chicago Bears trading out of the No. 1 pick, landing WR DJ Moore, a future first-rounder, and Jalen Carter with the No. 9 selection. But that’s what happens when a blue-chip prospect suffers from the kind of pre-draft process Carter has.

Even with his legal matter behind him, Carter’s maturity has been questioned by NFL teams that are hesitant to invest a top draft choice in him. The fact he couldn’t finish his pro day due to conditioning issues didn’t help his cause.

But we’ve been down this road before. Some of the best players in the NFL entered the league with questions similar to Carter’s, only to prove on and off the field that the concerns were overblown.

Carter has game-wrecking potential and would fill the most important role on the Chicago Bears defense: the three-technique. Without an established veteran to make Matt Eberflus’ defense go, Carter at No. 9 would be a home run, even if he has some character concerns.

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

Bears fans who want Ryan Poles to draft a right tackle in the first round get their wish in Round 2 with Jaelyn Duncan. One of the top players at the 2023 Senior Bowl, Duncan has taken strides in restoring his preseason first-round draft stock. While he probably hasn’t done enough to climb back into the top 32, he shouldn’t wait long to hear his name called in Round 2. He’s a plus athlete with good length and plenty of power to hold up on the edge in the NFL. Duncan would be a plug-and-play starter for the Bears in 2023.

Round 2, Pick 61: Keion White | Edge | Georgia Tech

Another need area for the Bears’ defense is edge rusher, which they fill with one of the more appealing prospects at the position in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder finished the 2022 season with 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He didn’t start playing defense until 2019 — he began his college career as a tight end at Old Dominion. Despite being an older prospect (24), White is still growing as a pass rusher. He’s also a hustler on the field, which will endear him to Eberflus and the Bears’ coaching philosophy.

Round 3, Pick 64: John Michael Schmitz | OC | Minnesota

The Chicago Bears appear prepared to slide Cody Whitehair to center after signing guard Nate Davis in free agency. And while that may be a fine strategy for 2023, a long-term answer at center is required. Enter John Michael Schmitz, who many value as the top center in the 2023 NFL draft. He has immediate starter’s upside, but centers tend to slide a bit later than pre-draft projections. There’s a good chance JMS will be on the board at this point in the draft, and if he is, he’d be a fantastic value selection for Poles.

Round 4, Pick 103: Darius Rush | CB | South Carolina

Cornerback isn’t an overwhelming need area for the Bears, but it doesn’t mean they can ignore the position entirely. Let’s face it, after Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, the rest of the cornerback depth chart is questionable. Enter Rush, who, at 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds with 4.36 speed, possesses the traits defensive backs coaches dream of. He’s relatively new to the cornerback position, making it safe to predict his best football is ahead of him.

Round 4, Pick 133: Dontayvion Wicks | WR | Virginia

The Bears’ big splash at wide receiver this offseason was the acquisition of DJ Moore. It’s allowed them to ignore wideouts in free agency, but I still expect them to draft one in the 2023 NFL Draft. Enter Wicks, whose down year in 2022 will make him an incredible value on Day 3. He set Virginia’s school record for receiving yards with 1,203 in 2021 and profiles as a quality WR3/4 on the next level.

Round 5, Pick 136: Tyjae Spears | RB | Tulane

Spears is one of my favorite running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft. He offers a unique skill set to what Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman bring to the Bears’ running game. He’s stronger than his 5-foot-10, 201-pound frame suggests, he runs with good pad level and contact balance. His explosive open-field ability and second gear make him a threat to flip the field on one touch. Spears will outplay his eventual draft position, and if he lands in Chicago, he’d emerge as a big piece of the offense by the end of 2023.

Round 5, Pick 149: Isaiah McGuire | Edge | Missouri

The Chicago Bears add another edge rusher here on Day 3 in McGuire, who had a productive 2022 season, totaling a career-high 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He’d add quality depth with the upside to earn meaningful reps early in his career, possibly as a rookie.

Round 7, Pick 218: Jake Haener | QB | Fresno State

Adding PJ Walker could push quarterback off the Bears’ list of 2023 NFL Draft targets, but it’d be nice if Chicago adds a player like Haener with one of their two seventh-round picks. Haener is undersized at 6 feet, 207 pounds, but he’s a good processor with a high football IQ. Even if he maxes out as a quality backup, he’ll be an asset in the quarterback room. And, hey, you never know with quarterbacks. See: Brock Purdy.

Round 7, Pick 258: Jaylon Thomas | OT | SMU

Let’s finish this 2023 mock draft with another offensive lineman. Thomas is a good athlete for his size and has the functional strength required to compete in the NFL. There’s a chance he’ll get kicked inside to guard, and at this point in the draft, adding players with positional versatility is a plus, especially for a Chicago Bears offensive line in the midst of a transition.