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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Alyssa Barbieri

6 Bears ranked among 100 best NFL draft picks by ESPN

NFL experts believe that the Chicago Bears had one of the best draft classes. Whether it was landing a plug-and-play starter in right tackle Darnell Wright, shoring up defensive needs at tackle and cornerback or their Day 3 haul, general manager Ryan Poles’ second draft looks extremely good on paper.

ESPN’s Matt Miller compiled a ranking of the 100 best draft picks. But it’s not a best prospects list. Rather, it incorporates value, scheme fit, need and assets gained/lost in trades.

The Bears had six players who were named to the list, including four inside the top 50. Three of the six players were also Day 3 selections, an indication Poles got immense value.

Here’s a look at those six Bears rookies:

OT Darnell Wright

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Miller’s ranking: 16th

Drafted: 10th overall

Pre-draft rank: 20th

The Bears can roll with Braxton Jones at left tackle — a favorite of mine from the 2022 draft — after trading down twice and grabbing the best right tackle in the draft at No. 10 overall. Wright will be a foundational piece of the offensive line, but I’m also looking at the extra selections the Bears picked up to continue building.

WR Tyler Scott

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Miller’s ranking: 27th

Drafted: 133rd overall

Pre-draft rank: 57th

The selection of Scott at No. 133 was one of the best value picks when graded against my pre-draft rankings, where I had him No. 57 overall. Scott’s speed and vertical ability will work well in a wide receiver room that offers diverse skill sets, and his ability as a return man will also boost the Chicago special teams unit.

CB Terell Smith

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Miller’s ranking: 44th

Drafted: 165th overall

Pre-draft rank: 77th

Smith came at an almost 90-spot value when he was drafted in the fifth round. His speed at cornerback is easy to spot on film, and he has huge developmental upside. Jaylon Johnson is set to be a free agent after this season, and Smith could be his replacement.

RB Roschon Johnson

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Miller’s ranking: 46th

Drafted: 115th overall

Pre-draft rank: 86th

A do-it-all running back with awesome special teams ability and leadership skills, Johnson could be this year’s Dameon Pierce as a third-day back who ends up a lead ball carrier. The Bears have D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert, but a team source told me after the draft that the former Texas backup has the upside to end up Chicago’s featured back.

DT Gervon Dexter

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Miller’s ranking: 68th

Drafted: 53rd overall

Pre-draft rank: 89th

The Bears didn’t add a starting-caliber defensive tackle in free agency, making it the team’s biggest need on defense heading into the draft. Dexter is an upside player who wasn’t used to his full potential at Florida. But in Chicago, he’ll be tasked with lining up at 3-technique and using his great first-step speed to disrupt the quarterback.

CB Tyrique Stevenson

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Miller’s ranking: 82nd

Drafted: 56th overall

Pre-draft rank: 88th

The Bears have thrown a lot of draft picks at the secondary, but the outside cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson remains open because Kyler Gordon is at his best on the inside. Stevenson was a slight reach, but he has the press-man coverage skills and toughness at the line of scrimmage to make up for that as a good scheme fit and need-based pick in Chicago.

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