Mel Kiper gives Bears high grade for 2023 NFL Draft class

ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. issued his 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams, including the Chicago Bears, who can proudly hang Kiper’s report card inside Halas Hall.

Kiper gave the Bears and GM Ryan Poles a B+ for their 2023 draft class.

“Chicago had been connected with Darnell Wright (9) for months — I matched this one in my two-round mock draft — mostly because of its gaping void at right tackle,” Kiper wrote. ‘Wright is the best right tackle in this class, a 333-pound lineman who started 42 games in college. He is ready to play right now.”

In their post-draft press conference, the Chicago Bears took the assessment of Wright’s skill set one step further, saying they ranked him as the best offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft. He ended up being the second drafted, Paris Johnson Jr. was selected No. 6 by the Arizona Cardinals.

So, why not an A from Mel Kiper? The longtime mock drafter thought Chicago reached a round early on defensive linemen Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens.

“I was more down on two of its Day 2 picks, as I mentioned Friday, but I get building through the trenches,” Kiper wrote. “It’s just that both Gervon Dexter (53) and Zacch Pickens (64) were a round early based on my rankings. Some of this had to do with getting ahead on the DTs early in a thinner-than-normal class, but I’m grading each class on value, and so the Bears have to get dinged.”

If getting dinged results in a B+? Chicago Bears fans will take it.

Bears had an all-around solid 2023 NFL Draft

I agree with Kiper’s assessment of the Bears” draft class. Darnell Wright in Round 1 was a chalk selection. Everyone knew Chicago would take an offensive lineman, the only question was which one. This year’s offensive lineman rankings varied by analyst, with some having Wright as high as OT1 and as low as OT4. Regardless, he’s a plug-and-play NFL starter and a massive (no pun intended) upgrade for the Bears in 2023.

I’ve warmed up to the Chicago Bears using a second-round pick on Gervon Dexter. At first, it felt like a major reach. He’s raw, wasn’t very productive, and ranked as a fringe-third-round pick on most big boards.

But after listening to Ryan Poles and Coach Matt Eberflus explain how they grade big guys like Dexter — grade the flashes — and how the scheme at Florida prevented him from flashing more, I have some renewed faith that he’ll be a solid pick.

One thing is certain about the Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft class: it will significantly improve this roster with players who can get meaningful reps immediately.

And, hey, if Mel Kiper Jr. thinks it’s a solid group? That’s good enough for me.

“I like what general manager Ryan Poles is building in Chicago,” Kiper wrote, “and 2024 draft capital he acquired combined with another step forward from quarterback Justin Fields means this team will challenge in the NFC quickly — just not this season.”