Bears GM Ryan Poles admits Chicago will use 2023 NFL Draft to upgrade offensive line

If you believe what Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles said at the NFL Owners Meetings Monday, you have to pencil in an offensive tackle to the Bears in the first round of your 2023 NFL mock drafts.

Poles met with some of the Bears beat reporters in Arizona and confirmed that the odds Chicago will land a starting right tackle at this point in free agency are low. Instead, the Bears will use the draft to build their offensive and defensive lines.

Poles didn’t mince words when asked about the remaining free-agent offensive tackles.

“When you get to this point of free agency, it drops off,” Poles said via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “The salaries drop off, talent, experience drops off. You do have a wave of players, offensively and defensively, that will go through the draft because they kind of want to see how everything settles. So we’ll keep an eye on those players.

“But right now, to improve our team, I think we got to look to the draft.”

Chicago Bears have plenty of options to upgrade offensive tackle in first round

The Chicago Bears currently hold the ninth pick in the first round. Sure, an offensive lineman could be picked before the Bears are on the clock. But it’s more likely Chicago will begin the run on tackles in the first round.

Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. is an ideal fit because of his experience, athleticism, and physical makeup. Georgia’s Broderick Jones has the most upside, he’s the best athlete of this year’s offensive tackles. Indeed, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is a quality prospect, but he figures to play guard in the NFL. I don’t think he’ll be in the Chicago Bears” first-round plans.

At this point in the 2023 NFL Draft process, there’s little doubt the Bears’ main priority will be upgrading the offensive line. The quality of prospects who will be available in Round 1, coupled with the lack of talent left in free agency, makes offensive tackle an obvious choice.