7 sleeper prospects the Bears should consider in 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is upon us, and the Chicago Bears. The mock drafts are finished. Big boards are complete. Now, it’s time to uncover some sleepers in this year’s draft class who’d be quality mid-to-late-round picks for the Bears.

Here’s my definition of a sleeper: A player who has starter’s potential but isn’t getting much hype in draft media. Some of these players may be familiar to you if you’re an avid reader of Bears Talk, but outside of here, you probably have not heard much about them.

Let’s jump right into it with the most important position, the quarterbacks.

Tyson Bagent – Quarterback, Shepherd

2022 stats: 400/572 (70% completion), 4580 yards, 41 touchdowns, 8 interceptions

Bagent ends his college career as the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy (the Division II Hiesmann) winner and an NCAA record 159 total touchdowns. Yes, he comes from a small D2 school. No, he did not face much NFL talent there. But he did enough to get an invite to the Senior Bowl this year and frequently looked like the best quarterback in attendance.

He won’t start immediately and needs to land with the right coaching staff and mentors at quarterback, but with his undeniable talent, I would not be surprised to see Bagent one day starting for an NFL squad.

Mohammed Ibrahim – Running Back, Minnesota

2022 stats: 320 carries, 1665 yards, 20 touchdowns

At 5-foot-8 and 203 pounds, Ibrahim is a bruising running back with a powerful, compact frame that helps him easily break tackles. He doesn’t have breakaway speed at the second level, so you shouldn’t expect to see him take a 60-yard carry to the endzone, but he’s the kind of guy that wears a defense down. Keep handing him the rock, and by the third quarter, those linebackers and defensive backs will be tired of getting run over by him.

His potential in the red zone is off the charts, and I could see him filling a role like Jamaal Williams did for the Detroit Lions.

Payne Durham – Tight End, Purdue

2022 stats: 56 receptions, 560 yards, 8 touchdowns

Durham is your classic Y tight end. He’sa big guy who mostly acts as an extra offensive tackle but can also catch the ball. Not a savvy route runner, but he has reliable hands and the strength to carry defenders for extra yardage, like this insane catch and run against Maryland.

Chicago Bears fans should see shades of Cole Kmet in Durham’s game, which is good news for him. In the right offense, Durham could be a stalwart starting tight end.

Charlie Jones – Wide Receiver, Purdue

2022 stats: 110 receptions, 1361 yards, 12 touchdowns

Chuck Sizzle got a lot of attention during the CFB season, but lately, his name seems to have faded out of the mainstream. But Jones was far and away one of the most productive receivers in the country last year, his first year in an offense that actually used him. His testing at the NFL Combine was better than expected. He clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash and a 1.51 10-yard split.

It’s hard not to see Jones succeeding in the NFL with what he showed in his final season. The physical traits match the production, and that’s what NFL teams like to see.

Joey Fisher – Offensive Line, Shepherd

I first noticed Fisher while watching Tyson Bagent. I couldn’t help but notice the right tackle tossing pass rushers around like rag dolls. I interviewed him earlier this month. You can read that here. Thanks to his tenacity and attitude, he sounds like the kind of dark horse offensive lineman that fans will love.

He’s still raw in his technique and would need to be coached up, but he has the intangibles that lead to success in the NFL.

Thomas Incoom – Defensive Line, Central Michigan

2022 stats: 21 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 13 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss

Incoom terrorized the MAC in 2022, as you can see from his final stat line. He’s a pass rusher with a motor that runs white hot. He has good size and athleticism to succeed in the NFL. There will be an adjustment period as he goes from a smaller school to the best of the best. But with a good coaching staff and his willingness to learn and improve, I don’t see any reason to doubt that he could be a reliable starter in the league.

Aubrey Miller Jr. – Linebacker, Jackson State

2022 stats: 65 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 passes defended

Considered by many to be an NFL Combine snub, Miller brings proven experience and high-character leadership to the table. He’s played as both the MIKE and WILL linebacker, so he also has positional versatility. He’s reliable in stopping the run, in coverage, and in diagnosing the offense. There are really not a lot of negatives to say about him.

While early in his career he may be relegated to a special teams role, he has the goods to be an NFL linebacker.