The Chicago Bears trade down multiple times in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft

Chicago Bears – Pick No. 35: Josh Downs, WR – North Carolina

My top receiver prospect as of now coming out of this draft is Jordan Addison. He was the second receiver taken in this mock draft behind Quentin Johnson. I would have loved to select either of those players, but as I said, this mock draft was all about acquiring additional draft capital. The Chicago Bears have plenty of holes to fill and coming away with 13 picks, five in the top 50 and eight in the top 75 allows Ryan Poles the ability to fill some of those holes.

Some have Josh Downs as a first-round receiver, but I don’t see him being selected until very late in the first if he does go that early. Personally, I have him as a high, second-round draft prospect and that’s where he fell in this mock draft.

Downs projects as a slot receiver in the NFL. Adding him to the roster allows Chase Claypool to play mainly on the outside and Darnell Mooney would play as the Z or flanker position. Downs is fast but not a one-year wonder like Velus Jones, Jr. In 2021, he caught 101 balls for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns. To date, he has 83 catches for 929 yards and 11 touchdowns. He lacks size at only 5’10” and 175 pounds, but his 4.3 speed makes up for it. Landing him here would be fantastic.