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Chicago Bears Mock Draft: Build trenches, compile victories

By Sravan Gannavarapu

Houston Texans mock draft: Will Anderson Jr. #31 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Houston Texans mock draft: Will Anderson Jr. #31 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bears lost an ugly game to the New York Jets, which re-emphasized their need to build through the trenches in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears are not a good football team. They are far from it, as they sit at 3-9 with five games left in the regular season. Having said that, there is a silver lining involving the NFL Draft.

Because other teams with a losing record, like the Bears, won their respective games, Chicago moves up the draft board and is heading towards a top-three pick. Despite not having their own second-round selection due to the Chase Claypool pick, the Bears still have a second-rounder due to the Roquan Smith to Baltimore trade.

Currently standing, the Chicago Bears have nine draft picks. In this mock draft, we add a minor trade to make sure the Bears have ten choices. Each player selected has a specific profile that fits the scheme and notable traits that, if appropriately utilized, can result in the team getting better.

This doesn’t consider what the team will do in free agency, which will also likely be used in the trenches. Let’s take a look at this Bears mock draft, starting with a prospect that is arguably the best player in the entire 2023 NFL Draft.

Chicago Bears 2023 mock draft: Starting off with a bang

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – OCTOBER 1: Will Anderson Jr. #31 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 1, 2022, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 49-26. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – OCTOBER 1: Will Anderson Jr. #31 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 1, 2022, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 49-26. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Round 1: Will Anderson, DE/OLB, Alabama

Justin Fields is the priority for the franchise. That said, the Chicago Bears don’t have someone opposite from him on the other side of the ball to help that unit. That comes in the form of the most feared pass-rusher to come out of college since Von Miller, and we know how that turned out. Meet Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr, or don’t meet him.

The last three seasons have been a coming-out party for the Crimson Tide pass rusher, with 34.5 sacks, including a 17.5 sack season in 2021. In simpler terms, Anderson can get after the quarterback whether he lines up with his hand down or naturally standing up. He can flat-out get to the quarterback. That’s what the Bears need at this point.

Chicago just can’t seem to apply pressure on opposing signal-callers, and they need someone to come into that role and be that pressure cooker. Finding a 3T would be ideal, like a Jalen Carter, but Will Anderson Jr has been the best player in college football for the past two seasons, and with a high draft pick, the best player possible is the one you go with, and that’s what the Bears do.

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