The Chicago Bears control the 2023 NFL draft with the first overall selection, where the expectation is GM Ryan Poles will choose to trade back and acquire additional draft capital.
But what if Poles elects to stay at No. 1 — or can’t find a trade partner?
Mel Kiper addressed that exact scenario in his first 2023 mock draft of the season, where he has the Bears staying put at No. 1. But Kiper is quick to point out he expects Poles to try and trade back from No. 1 and earn a haul.
With the top selection, Chicago selects Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who is believed to be the top prospect in this entire draft class.
I thought long and hard about a trade here, with the Colts, Raiders and Panthers as the top candidates to move up for a quarterback. And if I’m Chicago general manager Ryan Poles and I can move down a few spots, add premium picks and still get my choice of the best defensive prospects, I’d make a deal. It takes two teams to make a trade, however, and that’s never a guarantee. For now, let’s stick with the Bears keeping this pick.
Chicago’s roster needs help from top to bottom, but its defense was particularly dreadful in 2022, ranking last in the league in sacks (20) and points allowed per game (27.2). It has to be D all the way for wherever the Bears make their selection. Carter, an explosive interior pass-rusher and run-stuffer, gets the nod over Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. on my Big Board. He’s the best player in this draft, a Day 1 starter in the middle of this defense.
If that is the case — and the Bears stay as is — they’ll have an interesting choice between Carter and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. On the one hand, Carter can be that explosive three-technique that helps power Matt Eberflus’ defense. Meanwhile, Anderson has the potential to be a generational edge rusher.
But Chicago can’t do wrong between the two considering the defensive line was the biggest weakness in 2022, be it along the interior or off the edge.
