Grading the Bears’ 5th-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears made two selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, both on the defensive side of the ball.

Their first fifth-round selection, No. 148 overall, was spent on Oregon’s hard-charging inside linebacker, Noah Sewell. At pick 165, GM Ryan Poles went back to the secondary and chose Minnesota defensive back Terell Smith.

Sewell (6-foot-1, 246 pounds) is a physical linear athlete with good instincts and a finisher’s mentality. He totaled 56 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2022.

“Inside “backer possessing throwback demeanor as a physical but limited prospect,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in his scouting report. “Sewell has good power to take on blocks and muddy the middle, but his lack of pursuit speed and change-of-direction quickness prevent him from consistently making the stop. He needs to become more anticipatory and read play development more effectively, as he’s missing the tools necessary to overcome missteps.”

Sewell won’t challenge for starter’s reps on the Chicago Bears defense, but he should provide a toughness upgrade on special teams.

Bears add depth to secondary with Minnesota’s Terell Smith

Smith (6-foot, 204 pounds) is another big athlete added to the Bears” secondary. He ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and will add more competition to an expanding group of cornerbacks.

“Ascending cornerback with an outstanding combination of size, speed and toughness,” Zierlein wrote. “Smith’s technique and game film improved from 2021 to 2022. He stays low and patient in his backpedal. He has above-average footwork for a cornerback his size, which allows him to mirror the release and stay connected to the deep route. He’s experienced in playing all forms of coverage, but he’s best from press and off-man. Smith is a reliable tackler with a playing disposition that matches expectations for NFL run support. The on-ball production is a little light, but the traits and talent are in place for a starting role at outside cornerback in the future or a transition to safety.”

Bears co-director of player personnel Trey Koziol on CB Terell Smith: “I thought with his instincts to play off the ball this year was something that made him unique with his skill set. … I thought he showed anticipation and confidence.”

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) April 29, 2023

The Bears spent a second-round pick on Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. He should factor into the starting lineup in 2023. Smith is more of a developmental player whose speed and effort will move him up the depth chart rapidly. Smith was viewed by some draft analysts as a potential Day-2 pick.

Overall, the fifth round was productive for the Chicago Bears. They added quality football players who will improve special teams while adding more toughness and speed to the roster. There’s a chance one of them can emerge as a starter like Braxton Jones did in 2022, but I think there’s a better chance Sewell and Smith will serve as quality backups early in their careers.

GRADE: B