The Chicago Bears welcomed 10 new faces to their roster during the 2023 NFL draft, where general manager Ryan Poles found some impact players and got great value.
Whether it was landing studs like Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson and Zacch Pickens on the first two days or finding great value on Day 3 with Roschon Johnson, Tyler Scott, Noah Sewell and Terell Smith, Poles’ second draft class has the potential to be an impactful one.
With that in mind, here are our projections about the roles that the Bears’ 10 draft picks will serve in their rookie seasons.
OT Darnell Wright
2023 role: Day 1 starter
Darnell Wright was the best pure right tackle in this draft class, and he’s an immediate plug-and-play starter for the Bears. Wright will anchor the right side of the offensive line, where the onus will be on keeping Justin Fields upright. Fields was sacked 55 times in 15 games last season, and Wright will be a big part of keeping Fields clean.
DT Gervon Dexter
2023 role: Day 1 rotational piece
Gervon Dexter was brought in to shore up the defensive interior, and he should be an immediate rotational piece for this Bears defensive line. While Dexter has versatility at 3-technique and nose tackle, he figures to serve more in that 1-technique role behind projected starter Andrew Billings. We’ll see if Dexter can push Billings for playing time as the season wears on.
CB Tyrique Stevenson
2023 role: Potential Day 1 starter
Tyrique Stevenson has the potential to challenge for a Day 1 starting role in the secondary. Stevenson will work exclusively on the boundary, which means he’ll be competing with veterans Kindle Vildor and Jaylon Jones for that CB2 spot behind Jaylon Johnson. Last year’s top rookie pick Kyler Gordon figures to be the guy at nickel.
DT Zacch Pickens
2023 role: Day 1 rotational piece
Zacch Pickens was another solution in addressing the league’s worst defensive line from a season ago, where he’s expected to be an immediate rotational piece alongside fellow rookie Gervon Dexter. Pickens also has versatility along the interior, but his best fit is at the 3-technique spot. Pickens could push starter Justin Jones for playing time as the season develops.
RB Roschon Johnson
2023 role: Rotational contributor, potential future starter
Roschon Johnson has the potential to be the biggest surprise this season. He has a lot of upside as a three-down back with receiving and pass blocking ability. Johnson figures to start at third on the depth chart behind Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, but could certainly challenge for more reps as the season progresses. Many believe Johnson could become the starter by season’s end.
WR Tyler Scott
2023 role: Rotational contributor, special teams
Tyler Scott should be an immediate rotational contributor on offense, where Luke Getsy can really use his speed. While the wide receiver group is crowded — led by DJ Moore, Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney — Scott should compete for that fourth spot with Equanimeous St. Brown and Velus Jones. He also has a chance to make a significant impact on special teams, as he served as a gunner at Cincinnati.
LB Noah Sewell
2023 role: Backup, special teams contributor
Noah Sewell joins a revamped linebacker group that consists of starters Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Sewell will compete with Jack Sanborn and free-agent addition Dylan Cole for the SAM role. But even if he doesn’t win the job, Sewell has a good chance to lock down a roster spot given his contributions on special teams, where he figures to start his rookie year.
CB Terell Smith
2023 role: Backup, special teams contributor
Terell Smith will start his rookie season as a reserve at cornerback behind expected starters Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and fellow rookie Tyrique Stevenson. While Smith could potentially develop into a starter down the line, his biggest contributions should come on special teams in 2023.
DT Travis Bell
2023 role: Potential rotational contributor, special teams
Travis Bell has already endeared himself to this Bears staff, now he has to prove he’s worthy of a roster spot. With Justin Jones, Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens the rotational core along the defensive interior, Bell isn’t expected to see many reps on defense early on but could contribute on special teams. He could very well push for a roster spot and develop into a rotational contributor down the road.
S Kendall Williamson
2023 role: Backup, special teams contributor
Kendall Williamson has the potential to establish himself as a key special teams contributor during his rookie season. With DeAndre Houston-Carson still unsigned, there’s a reserve safety role to be filled, and Williamson’s special teams contributions could land him that spot.
