I am still riding the high from the Chicago Bears victory over the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. In fact, I drank too much of the Kool-Aid and put money on them to not only cover against the spread next week when facing the Cowboys but also put money on them to win outright. I know, crazy!
Even with the Bears coming off a big win, I know that this team is not close to being ready to compete for a Super Bowl. Well, when I say close, I mean in 2022. With over $100 million in salary cap to spend next season and a nearly full set of draft picks, I am hoping this team can make a quick shift between 2022 and 2023.
When we look at the wide receiver position, there isn’t much available on the free agent front. Offensive line looks slightly better, but this team needs to keep building through the draft either way. We just saw two rookie defensive backs help lead the Chicago Bears to a win over the Patriots. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker weren’t the only young players making an impact. Khalil Herbert, Dominque Robinson, and even Braxton Jones were making plays at different times throughout the game.
The Chicago Bears should be able to draft a player who adds much-needed talent
Right now, the Chicago Bears would pick 14th overall should the season end today. This is four spots later than they were picking prior to the win over the Patriots. I don’t expect many more wins to come this season, but it’s likely the team finds themselves drafting their first pick somewhere between 10th and 18th overall.
This will put them out of the running on players like Will Anderson (EDGE) and Jalen Carter (DT). Wait, defense? Yeah, these two are close to being locks to find immediate top-level success at the NFL level. The only hope that one falls is a huge run on quarterbacks.
This also means that the Chicago Bears are likely out on the top offensive linemen too. Two of Broderick Jones, Paris Johnson or Peter Skoronski will likely be off the board. Let’s look at seven prospects who have a chance at being available when the Bears pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and can still help propel the team into Super Bowl contention.
Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Jordan Addison, WR – USC
There are four wide receivers in this 2023 NFL Draft class who should go in the first round. I’m not locked into my draft analysis yet and have not started my own rankings yet either. Therefore, any of the receivers mentioned on this list are not necessarily in order of how I would rank them come draft time next year. The thing is, the Chicago Bears can’t really go wrong with any of them.
First up is Jordan Addison out of USC. Addison isn’t extremely tall, but at 6’0″ he does add some size that the better receivers on the Bears roster lack. Addison is coming off a very solid sophomore season. He caught 100 balls for 1,593 yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns. Even as a freshman, Addison caught 60 balls for 666 yards and four touchdowns.
Addison just dodged a major knee injury, but we will have to see if it affects the rest of his final season at USC. He already has seven touchdowns on the year. Addison would make for a great addition to this Bears receiver group. He’d fit in nicely with Justin Fields due to his deep speed ability. Addison isn’t what I’d call elusive, but he can make cuts to shake defenders out of their shoes. His route tree is solid and his hands are above average. He would instantly push to be the WR1 on this team and help push the offense into Super Bowl contention.
Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Kayshon Boutte, WR – LSU
Another wide receiver who could be available to the Chicago Bears is Kayshon Boutte. Boutte hasn’t seen the same success as Jordan Addison due to a leg injury that cut his season short last year. In only six games, Boutte finished with 509 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. I’d be concerned with the leg injury though as he has not looked as solid in 2022.
Boutte brings a similar skillset to the table as Addison does. He has deep-threat speed, can run multiple routes and has above-average hands. His ability to shake defenders is a notch behind Addison in my opinion and if I were ranking these two right now, Addison would get the nod for me. That said, Boutte could also help push this offense into Super Bowl contention.
Boutte is also 6’0″ and the one area I find him to be ahead of Addison is his start and stop ability while running clean and crisp routes. It can really throw defenders off and gives Boutte the ability to separate in a way we aren’t seeing on the current roster. My fear here would be his leg injury though. We will need to get a clean bill of health at the NFL Combine for me to feel better.
Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Quentin Johnston, WR – TCU
TCU has been churning out some serious prospects as of late. If you want to see some serious size added to the Chicago Bears roster then Quentin Johnston is the guy. He stands 6’4″ and is easily the best of the taller receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Johnston is a precise route-runner who is also a vertical threat. He has great body control and can make some contested catches with his high-point leaping ability. Johnston isn’t afraid to make contact going across the middle. He will fight for additional yardage. Johnston would make for a nice addition to the Chicago Bears wide receiver group.
He can play against both zone and man coverage. He’s able to create separation with his start-stop ability or by using his body. Johnston has great hands but lacks a full route tree. When it comes to his stats, Johnston had a better year last year than this one. He finished with six touchdowns and 634 yards on 33 catches in his sophomore season. This year, he has 38 catches but only 574 yards and three touchdowns. This isn’t all on Johnston though as TCU doesn’t have an offense that consistently succeeds in the passing game.
Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR – Ohio State
How about bringing in a wide receiver who Justin Fields already has a connection with? We aren’t talking about a Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow type of connection. However, Jaxon Smith-Njigba played with Fields in his freshman year (2020) and although on a limited snap percentage still managed to catch a touchdown from Fields.
Last season, Smith-Njigma blew up on the stat sheet. He finished with 95 catches, 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. This year has been rough through three games, but that has to do with Smith-Njigma dealing with a hamstring injury that has limited his snaps. Don’t let the stats fool you, he has great potential and would instantly push to be the WR1 in the current wide receiver group.
I like that Justin Fields and Smith-Njigba have a prior relationship and somewhat of a connection, but I’m not going to allow that to cloud my judgment. As of now, Njigba wouldn’t be my top receiver of this four. Ryan Poles will need to see how the draft plays out. I know I don’t have them ranked, but Jordan Addison is currently my top choice, but if he goes before the Chicago Bears pick, it might be prudent to trade down, collect some extra draft capital and take the best of who is left from this group. That is if they don’t with a different position all together.
Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: One of these offensive linemen
NFL big boards are going to change drastically between this point in the year and the month of April 2023. That said, I think Peter Skoronski might end up the top OL prospect heading into the draft. I’m not 100% certain of that and therefore, I think if Ryan Poles were to walk away with any of these three options then the Bears are easily on a path to making Justin FIelds’ life easier which in turn will make the Chicago Bears better.
Going offensive line now and taking a WR with the second-round pick — or trading back into the first — might be the best path for this team in 2023.
Peter Skoronski, OT/G – Northwestern
When a team looks at an offensive lineman, they will typically grade them out at their collegiate position, but also might grade them out if they show key attributes at one of the other offensive line spots. Peter Skoronski stepped in to replace Rashawn Slater. I’m not putting Skoronski on Slater’s level, but if he can produce remotely close to it then Bears fans would be happy. Skoronski could be seen as an interior lineman though. If that’s the case he isn’t worth the top spot on Ryan Poles’ big board but could end up being Cody Whitehair’s replacement at guard.
Paris Johnson, Jr., OT/G – Ohio State
Paris Johnson, Jr. is in a bit of a different boat here. Some may see his 2021 film at guard and think he should be one in the NFL too. Others, might see his potential as a tackle and put him higher up on their boards. Personally, I think he will be better suited as a tackle than a guard, but I will need to hold final judgment until I dive deep into prospects after the 2022 season ends.
Johnson was on the team when Justin Fields was still the quarterback at Ohio State but wasn’t really a part of that offense. Maybe this is the reunion that the Bears need instead of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Broderick Jones, OT – Georgia
I would have to assume that at least one of these three linemen would be available for the Chicago Bears. It’s hopeful that a few other names will also emerge to give Ryan Poles more flexibility. If there are more options available at OL and WR, then he can potentially trade back and add more draft capital. Broderick Jones looks to fit the left tackle mold best out of these three but comes with more question marks. He isn’t as technically sound as Johnson or Skoronski, but he exudes elite potential. The problem is, not every prospect hits their ceiling.
Chicago Bears defensive rookies dominate in win over the Patriots
The Chicago Bears went defense to start in the 2022 NFL Draft and many questioned that decision. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker dominated the Patriots.
The Chicago Bears need help. They need talent at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line and probably linebacker. If David Montgomery isn’t re-signed, then the team will need to look for help at the running back spot too. Khalil Herbert is fine, but you need more than one RB in the NFL these days. Any one of these players would help propel the Chicago Bears into Super Bowl contention, but Ryan Poles will need to do way more than count on one addition. These are just the ones that could help make his job easier in 2023.