Is it too early for Chicago Bears fans to look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft? Maybe. But, if we're being honest, Thursday night's loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 6 was a painful dose of reality for the 2022 season.
The Bears aren't completely out of the race in the NFC North. They're three games behind the division-leading Minnesota Vikings (5-1) but only one game behind the Green Bay Packers (3-3). They remain ahead of the Detroit Lions (1-5), too.
The NFC wild-card race looks like it will be wide open, too. The New York Giants (5-1) and Dallas Cowboys (4-2) lead the pack right now, but there's a cluster of six 3-3 teams. The Bears -- believe it or not -- are still within striking distance.
But if we're being realistic about this team, the odds Chicago goes on a run and makes the playoffs are low. And that's OK. This season wasn't supposed to be super competitive despite the endless optimism that comes with offseason hype. Instead, the main objective in 2022 was and remains the development of Justin Fields. It hasn't been great so far, but there are a lot of games left to play for Fields to get hot.
One of the main reasons Fields hasn't had a chance to get going is his supporting cast. There's a very real talent deficiency in Chicago that requires a lot of work to repair this offseason. The NFL Draft will offer the Bears a great opportunity to inject young talent into the roster, especially with GM Ryan Poles armed with his first-ever first-round pick.
Bears currently slotted just outside top 10 picks in 2023 NFL Draft
Through six games of the 2022 season, that first-rounder is just outside the top 10 at No. 11 overall. It's the same pick the Bears used to select Fields in the 2021 NFL draft.
Chicago has two glaring roster needs that have been exposed through six games: offensive line and wide receiver. The 2023 NFL Draft has several prospects at both positions who'd be welcome additions, including two or three wide receivers and a pair of offensive tackles who could challenge for top-10 consideration. There's also the whole quarterback dilemma, too. If Fields bottoms out over the next 11 games, the Bears could benefit from the 2023 draft class. As many as three quarterbacks could be top-10 picks this year.
Bears fans should keep hope alive for a competitive 2022 and, maybe, a wild-card run. But keep an eye on the 2023 NFL draft, too. It's where this team needs to hit (and hit big) to get back to consistent winning over the next several years.