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
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.
Round 2 via trade (Ravens): John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota
Sorry, but Sam Mustipher isn’t the answer at the center position. Even if the Twitter accounts that are supposedly related to him trash everyone else on the roster that isn’t him, continue to go off; the Bears are not strong enough on their offensive line at the center position and need help. They need someone big and robust enough to handle the role.
That would be Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz. Despite playing at Minnesota, Schmitz is a big, violent, intelligent, and fast blocker off the line. Like Teven Jenkins, who will likely be the only starter returning next year along with potentially Braxton Jones, Schmitz plays with a violent edge similar to Jason Kelce, who has proven to be one of the game’s elites.
The middle of the offensive line should be vastly improved by plugging him in that role and signing another center in the offseason to help with the return of last year’s late-rounder Doug Kramer. Chicago needs players and nasty individuals on their offensive line, and Schmitz, despite a friendly smile, is anything but friendly when playing football. The Chicago Bears need that and fast.
TRADE: Chicago Bears trade their 2023 3rd round pick to the LA Rams for a 2023 3rd and 2023 6th round pick
Round 3 via trade (LA Rams): Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
Big. That’s really what you can say. Big. At 6’8″ and 305 pounds, Blake Freeland is big enough and fast enough to play either left tackle or right tackle and be a mountainous presence in any blocking scheme. Freeland is also fast enough to explode off the line of scrimmage and drive defenders back into their lane, and in case anyone forgot, the Bears don’t exactly have those guys on their team right now.
They may have one guy in Teven Jenkins, and they get another one in John Michael Schmitz, but this roster needs more guys on the front line to allow Justin Fields to do his thing instead of sitting on the sideline in pain or lying on his back on the field. Freeland is a natural pass protector and is not afraid to get down and maul defensive players when running the football.
While some might be concerned about the size and how that can hold up, the Chicago Bears need anyone and anything to ensure that Fields is not scrambling for his life and instead working with precision and accuracy from the pocket and on the move. Blake Freeland is one that can make it happen.
Round 4: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
Despite his six-foot-tall frame, Calijah Kancey is actually one of the most explosive players in college football. Not to mention, there is a Pittsburgh defensive tackle that currently plays in the NFL that is a bit undersized yet very explosive and dominant. You might remember him; it’s the guy that the Bears could have had back in 2014 had he not gone one pick earlier.
This is not to say Kancey is Aaron Donald. That’s a bad take. However, during his career as a Panther, at least over the last two seasons, Kancey has recorded seven sacks in each of the previous two years, which comes out to 14 over two years. That can’t be ignored; in the Bears’ case, they need this.
Chicago will likely go after defensive line help in free agency, specifically at the DT role, but they need a younger, cheaper option. That comes with Kancey. His explosive lower body strength, combined with his quick and violent hands, will be a headache for even experienced blockers, allowing the Bears to get after the quarterback quicker and develop a young talent.
Round 4 via trade (Eagles): Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
A burner, an underrated burner. That’s what Rakim Jarrett brings to the Bears. Moreover, it’s a young prospect with tools that can help play to Justin Fields’ strengths. Also, the wide receiver room is open, as there is but limited room for error for those currently on the roster. Most will be gone next year, but Jarrett can help distance himself from the rough group with what he brings to the table.
Strong hands are his best asset. That and his first step quickness off the line of scrimmage, and the ability to run deep routes, if necessary, help him stand out. That’s part of why early on in the season, several people considered him a high second or third-round pick, but things changed during the year, and there are some questions.
While Jarrett can undoubtedly run, he’s had some troubles with the route tree, and run/pass blocking hasn’t been seen. That’s not to say he can’t do those things, but the Terrapins’ offense never saw Jarrett in much of that role. Also, going from over 800 yards in 2021 to under 500 in 2022 is a significant flag of concern, but Jarrett still has enough tools for the Bears to take him here and see what he can bring to the table. The Bears’ wide receiver core is rough, and there’s nowhere else to go but up.
Round 5: Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Those slot receivers that are unknown tend to be the guys that make the plays and move the chains. As much as Darnell Mooney has been an explosive player for the Bears, he’s more of an outside player that is equally dangerous inside as he is outside. But Chicago needs that slot wideout to make plays with Mooney and Claypool, Velus Jones Jr, and newly acquired Rakim Jarrett.
Look no further than Purdue and wideout Charlie Jones. A name that sounds simple but has a significant upside. A playmaker in college, Jones has shown an ability to fight for the football despite his size at six feet tall. Not to mention, Jones is very good at running routes and having the physical and mental toughness to line up and make a play when his number is called.
So why is it late in the draft? As good as he is with initial quickness, Jones doesn’t have breakaway speed and is primarily someone who can help move the chains in certain situations. It’s not the end of the world, but that may sometimes limit him with the Chicago Bears. Still, he will be worth the selection if Chicago chooses to add him to their roster.
Round 5 via trade (Ravens): Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan
After what we saw against Ohio State, Michigan football players need to be given more attention, particularly the offensive line. The Wolverines racked up 45 points, and the bully-ball mentality that they showed against a Buckeye team that going into the contest was high scoring. But the Chicago Bears aren’t looking for flash; they are looking for a mean-streak player. That would be Ryan Hayes.
Sure, Hayes may not get the credit other offensive linemen will likely get this season, but he has been a fundamentally sound blocker and has the ability to switch inside to guard or play right tackle if necessary. That makes life all the more easier for the Bears if they decide to let Cody Whitehair walk, allowing Hayes to potentially slip inside to left guard with Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, John Michael Schmitz, and Blake Freeland.
Hayes is a low-round pick because of questions of whether or not he can play fast consistently enough to stick at tackle, but if he moves inside to guard, the questions will decrease, and the Bears will have another large building block in front of Fields. The only question is whether or not a Michigan player will be happy with protecting an Ohio State quarterback, but for the sake of this pick, let’s say they become best friends.
Round 6 via trade (LA Rams): Josh Newton, CB, TCU
Jaylon Johnson is talented but inconsistent. Kindle Vildor has struggled, and rookie Kyler Gordon is, more or less, a slot cornerback that can play outside when needed. In other words, the Chicago Bears’ cornerback core is a bit shaky. Normally, starters don’t come in the sixth round or later rounds unless you happen to be Seattle and find them at every opportunity, but the Bears need some help. That’s where Josh Newton comes in.
TCU is one of the only unbeaten teams in the country, much to the chagrin of several analysts and certain college football fanbases (Alabama), but the Horned Frogs have a roster loaded with talent and players that could potentially make a statement at the next level; Newton is one of them. Though he is just six feet tall, he plays with a scrappy edge that gives him a leg up on some of his fellow draft mates.
One of the knocks on Newton is that, at times, he can be a bit overwhelmed, and his tackling needs a tweak. That’s often the case with a lot of cornerbacks that go late. Having said that, the Bears mostly picked up this draft choice from the Rams to take a flier on a player with athletic upside. That is something Newton has, and he might just be a special teamer, a backup, or used in plays where his athleticism can be utilized. Plus, you open your doors to more people when you aren’t a good football team. Every bit of help counts.
Round 7: Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah
Running backs and Chicago. With the exception of Curtis Enis and, to a degree, Cedric Benson, ball carriers usually find a groove with the Windy City. Khalil Herbert has shown that he can carry the load, and David Montgomery, though hurt at times, is a balanced weapon out of the backfield. The Bears may need a bit more explosiveness from their backfield.
That’s the middle name of Tavion Thomas. Sure, the Utah Utes aren’t the same team that went to the Rose Bowl and went pound for pound with THE Ohio State, but the program has several quality players that can make an impact on the next level if given the opportunity. Thomas can certainly do that. So far, he has rushed for 687 yards, a year after he ran for over 1,000 yards. That is concerning in a few ways but not detrimental.
Thomas is more of a power-back kind of guy that can explode in open space but not so quickly as a one-cut-and-go type of runner. That said, he is fast with the ball in his hands and can be used in a variety of ways, particularly in the pass-blocking game. He’s not afraid to get his head down and stall defenders, giving enough for the Chicago Bears to consider him a flier prospect that can help more than hinder.