Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Day 1

The Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft starts with the ninth selection in the first round. At least, that’s where they’re currently slated to pick. GM Ryan Poles is expected to be active with trades throughout the draft, and there’s a chance he could slide down from No. 9 to a later pick in Round 1.

With that in mind, we’ve constructed our Chicago Bears Day 1 Big Board. It consists of 25 players ranked in the order we’d select them if we were calling the shots inside Halas Hall. Remember: This list doesn’t include quarterbacks.

Once the first round concludes, we’ll have a list of the best available second and third-round prospects for the Chicago Bears. On Saturday, we’ll list the best Day 3 leftovers.

The 2023 NFL Draft is finally here, Bears fans.

Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Big Board

1. Will Anderson | Edge | Alabama

Perez’s Take: Anderson is the dream pick. He probably would’ve been the Bears’ choice had they stayed at No. 1 overall. Anderson’s projection is easy: he’ll be a double-digit sack guy several times during his career. He’s a premier player at a premium position. If he slides to No. 3, the Bears must do whatever it takes to move up.

2. Jalen Carter | iDL | Georgia

3. Paris Johnson Jr. | OT | Ohio State

4. Bijan Robinson | RB | Texas

Perez’s Take: I know running backs don’t belong in the top 10, but Robinson isn’t just a running back. He’s an elite offensive weapon and the best skill player in the 2023 draft. He may be the best all-around football player in the class, too. Don’t knock him because of his position. Draft him in the top 10 and enjoy the rewards.

5. Christian Gonzalez | CB | Oregon

6. Broderick Jones | OT | Georgia

7. Tyree Wilson | Edge | Texas Tech

8. Peter Skoronski | OL | Northwestern

Perez’s Take: I won’t hate it if the Chicago Bears take Skoronski, who could emerge as a decade-long Pro Bowler and All-Pro at guard. Sure, the Bears have bigger needs elsewhere, but the goal for Ryan Poles should be to draft good foundational players. Skoronski is one of them.

9. Darnell Wright | OT | Tennessee

10. Myles Murphy | Edge | Clemson

Perez’s Take: If the Bears miss out on Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson, Murphy would be a great consolation prize. The athletic and powerful edge rusher is being overlooked, and I’m not sure why. Murphy began the 2022 college season as one of the best players in the country, and he did nothing to change that. He’s a plug-and-play upgrade for any defense.

11. Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Ohio State

Perez’s Take: The Chicago Bears don’t need a receiver as badly as they did before trading out of the No. 1 pick, but Smith-Njigba represents a value-over-need selection. The Bears are counting on DJ Moore and Chase Claypool to shoulder the load at receiver in 2023, but Smith-Njigba could end up being a better pro than both of them.

12. Nolan Smith | Edge | Georgia

13. Lukas Van Ness | Edge | Iowa

14. Devon Witherspoon | CB | Illinois

15. Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Alabama

Perez’s Take: Gibbs will provide a rocket boost to any offense he ends up in in 2023. A Jamaal Charles-esque player, Gibbs has the kind of rare speed to take the top off a defense both as a runner and receiver. He’d provide the Bears with an explosive element currently missing from the running game.

16. Zay Flowers | WR | Boston College

17. Dalton Kincaid | TE | Utah

Perez’s Take: Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan are a quality 1-2 punch at tight end, but Kincaid is on another level with his pass-catching upside. He’d do for Justin Fields what Travis Kelce has done for Patrick Mahomes over the last several seasons.

18. Anton Harrison | OT | Oklahoma

19. Bryan Bresee | DL | Clemson

20. Will McDonald IV | Edge | Iowa State

21. Calijah Kancey | iDL | Pittsburgh

22, Joey Porter Jr. | CB | Penn State

23. Quentin Johnston | WR | TCU

Perez’s Take: The only receiver with an Alpha profile in the 2023 draft, Johnston would bring a size-speed combination to the Chicago Bears downfield passing game. He must improve at the catch point, but few players on Chicago’s roster offer the upside in the passing game that Johnston possesses.

24. Mazi Smith | DL | Michigan

25. Deonte Banks | CB | Maryland