Chicago Bears land a top prospect in full seven-round 2023 mock draft

Chicago Bears Mock Draft, Pick No. 56: John Michael Schmitz, C (Minnesota)

In this pick, the Chicago Bears select the top center in the draft, John Michael Schmitz, from Minnesota.

This is one of those picks that makes way too much sense to pass up. Sure, getting a good receiver for Justin Fields is obviously a priority, but moving on from Sam Mustipher as the center should be seen as a higher priority.

Sam Mustipher has been a liability this entire season, maybe aside from a game or two, but upgrading the interior offensive line should be seen as a crucial part of making the Chicago Bears a legitimate football team.

Whether it’s showcasing lateral quickness in the zone-run scheme, or it’s showing a powerful base in pass protection, John Michael Schmitz seems to be the top center prospect of this year’s draft—or at least in that conversation.

Now, if John Michael Schmitz isn’t available for the Bears here, another center to look at would be Michigan’s Ole Oluwatimi.

If I had to make a guess, the two would likely be drafted in close proximity to one another. As long as the Chicago Bears can ensure an upgrade from Sam Mustipher, that’ll be a win.