2023 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears find multiple suitors for No. 1 pick

The Bears could get their socks knocked off by an offer from a team hoping to select QB1. Most believe Bryce Young is the top quarterback in this draft, but is he worth trading away multiple firsts?

Chicago also could fall in love with Jalen Carter, a franchise-caliber defensive tackle, and just take him instead. If, for some reason, the Bears can’t find a deal they like, drafting Carter would hardly be anything to sneeze at.

Anderson gives me serious Khalil Mack vibes, which makes this perfect for the Bears, particularly after trading back. In the trade, the Bears get this pick, the Colts’ selections in Round 2 and Round 4 along with a 2024 first-round pick and third-round pick plus a 2025 second-round choice.

When Bears general manager Ryan Poles addressed his team’s draft approach in his post-season press conference, he emphasized three areas: pass rusher, offense and cornerback — “premium positions.” Pass rusher doesn’t just mean edge rusher, either, and a three-technique defensive tackle is paramount to Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme. In a trade-down, the Bears can recoup the early second-rounder they lost in the Chase Claypool trade while still having their choice of any non-quarterback.

Following some hints and connecting a few dots leads me to believe the Bears will have Georgia’s Jalen Carter, who earned pass-rushing grades of 88.9 and 90.0 the past two seasons, at the top of their board.

The trade-back for the Chicago Bears provides them with a significant influx of resources and puts them in a more appropriate range to select an offensive lineman. Peter Skoronski is a technician with good mobility and coordination. A college left tackle, Skoronski could kick inside to guard and help the Bears get their best five blockers on the field for Justin Fields.

No one is willing to meet the Bears’ demands to move out of the top spot, and they won’t want to risk missing out on an elite talent like Carter. He will make an immediate impact on the Bears’ struggling defense with the ability to disrupt in the run-and-pass game.

What a win for the Bears, who move down three spots, load up on additional picks, and still land one of this year’s top overall prospects at a huge position of need. Carter is a disruptive force at the point of attack, and would give the Bears an immediate cornerstone around whom they can rebuild their once proud defense.

Then, there’s the matter of the Chicago Bears, who do not need a quarterback, owning the first pick in the 2023 draft. In this case, the Indianapolis Colts give Chicago their first-round (fourth overall) and second-round (35th overall) picks, as well as their 2024 first-round pick, for the right to trade all the way up and take their quarterback of the future.

The Bears very well might trade this pick, but they aren’t doing so here because this mock draft does not predict trades. They keep Justin Fields and add a potential All-Pro defensive tackle in Carter. The Bears need to add some blue-chip talent to their roster and Carter certainly has a chance to be that.

Chicago attempts to upgrade its pass rush with the selection of Will Anderson Jr. The Bears want to move back from No. 1 overall without sacrificing the chance to select a top defensive talent like Jalen Carter or Anderson. A three-way trade with Carolina and Arizona makes that possible as the Cardinals trade back to pick up additional draft capital in Monti Ossenfort’s first year.

After trading back and acquiring significant capital, the Bears have a few avenues at their disposal. In this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, they give Justin Fields — and Darnell Mooney — some reinforcements. Jordan Addison is hands down the best separator in the class and will make Fields’ life that much easier as a passer.

For many, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter is the best prospect in the entire draft. Georgia’s imposing defense was a big reason for their back-to-back national championships, and Carter played a massive part for both units. His strength and power at the point of attack command double teams each drive, but his ability to push the pocket and penetrate is a massive plus for the NFL.

The Bears, picking first overall for the first time since 1947, shouldn’t need to consider QB with the passing and running ceiling of big-armed Justin Fields. The ideal scenario is trading down for extra first-down selection power with a team looking to jump the Texans for a particular franchise QB. If the Bears stay, they should look to get familiar defensive pop. Anderson would give them a new Khalil Mack after also saying goodbye to Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith on the second level.

There’s a strong possibility Chicago trades down, but if they don’t, the choice is likely between Carter and Will Anderson. The team can’t go wrong either way. Carter has a chance to be an elite interior pass rusher at the next level and showed off in his final college season with three sacks and seven tackles for loss in 13 games.

The Bears will be listening for just about any offer they get, but if they stay put atop the draft, Anderson will land in the Windy City after being the best defensive player in college football the past two years by a wide margin.

Based on what we saw out of second-year QB Justin Fields in 2022, I don’t expect the Bears to select a quarterback, which means they will probably try to trade out of the No. 1 spot. If they do, I will likely project them with a different player, but for the time being I’ll keep them at No. 1, and I think the odds are high that they will select a defender unless they trade down far enough to put them in reasonable range for a wide receiver or offensive tackle.

But I also don’t think they will want to trade down that far.

The No. 1 defender selected I expect to come down to Anderson and DT Jalen Carter.

Given the premium based on pass rushers, I’m going with Anderson at the top of the draft. A two-time unanimous All-American, he’s worthy of No. 1 consideration regardless of whichever team ultimately makes the pick.

Chicago trades back twice in the first round to land a playmaker in Johnston, who adds size and a deep threat to the Bears’ offense. He’s shown an ability to play outside and in the slot or in motion as a ball carrier. Although the Bears are still searching for WR1, Johnston could be the man for the job.