The Chicago Bears are sitting atop the 2023 NFL draft, where there are no shortage of options at first overall.
While the expectation is GM Ryan Poles will look to trade back and acquire additional draft capital, there’s always the chance Chicago will be picking first.
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks revealed his first 2023 mock draft, where he has the Bears staying put at No. 1 and drafting a cornerstone player on defense in Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
Head coach Matt Eberflus needs a disruptive edge rusher to make his version of the Tampa 2 defense work.
If the Bears remain in the top spot, it’ll come down to a choice between Anderson and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Chicago’s defensive line was easily the weakest link on defense last season, and it needs to be addressed — both along the interior and off the edge.
Ideally, the Bears will be able to find a trade partner inside the top-10, where they’d have a chance to land Anderson, Carter or another defensive prospect. The quarterback-needy Colts have emerged as an early favorite suitor among draft analysts.
If that were the case, Chicago would not only be able to trade back for additional compensation but also land either Anderson or Carter at No. 4, as two of the top four teams (Colts and Texans) are definitely in the mix for a quarterback.
