The 2022 NFL season is officially over. Ryan Poles’ former team, the Kansas City Chiefs were crowned Super Bowl 57 champions. This is the second time in four years that the Chiefs have found themselves atop the NFL. Patrick Mahomes is a big reason why, but let’s make sure to give credit to head coach Andy Reid as well. He had the Chiefs competing with Alex Smith under center as well. Can the Chicago Bears find a similar formula? Are the Super Bowl-losing Eagles a better blueprint? Well, Poles and former Eagles’ administrator Ian Cunningham have seen both.
Maybe the Chicago Bears general manager and assistant general manager can come up with their own strategy that incorporates what they believe to be the best approaches from both of their former clubs. What we do know is that Poles stripped down the team and is looking to build it back up. He has the most salary cap space in the league (something that might be a little over-valued, to be honest) and the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears have many suitors for the first-overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft
What he doesn’t have though is a second pick in the top 50. As they sit, the Chicago Bears would be picking first overall and then not again until 54. The 54th-overall pick is the second-rounder they received in the Roquan Smith trade. For Ryan Poles to spice things up a bit this April, he needs to find a trade partner that gives him more draft capital within the top 50 this year along with future draft capital for 2024.
In this mock, he wasn’t able to trade down twice as many Bears fans would hope, but he does get his bang for his buck by swapping first-rounders with the Panthers.
The Chicago Bears trade back with the Carolina Panthers
Let me start off by saying, I fully expect Ryan Poles to make multiple trades in the 2023 NFL Draft. That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will make two trades within the first round. Instead, I am going to guess he moves back and even up throughout Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft. We saw him turn five picks into 11 last season. I only made the first-round trade in this mock, but I think in my next one I’ll focus on trades in the later rounds. For now, here’s how things shook out in the trade with the Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers are now being led by former Eagles offensive coordinator (won a Super Bowl in 2017) and former Colts head coach Frank Reich. Reich likes quarterbacks and just struggled with revolving veterans in Indianapolis. You’d have to think the team isn’t looking to count on Sam Darnold in 2023. Instead, I would peg them as a team likely to select a quarterback with their first-round pick. In this scenario, they move up from nine to first overall.
The trade netted the Chicago Bears two second-round picks this year, a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick. Not to mention, this trade keeps the Chicago Bears in the top 10 when they swap firsts. One of those second-round picks is in the top 40, giving Chicago the opportunity to land two of the best prospects in the league.
Chicago Bears select a defensive end with their first-round pick at ninth overall
1st Round | 9th Overall | Tyree Wilson, EDGE – Texas Tech
With Will Anderson, Jalen Carter and Myles Murphy off the board, the Chicago Bears look to the third-best prospect at the EDGE position. Bryan Bresee was another option and if his medicals come back in a positive light before the draft, he could be the better option here. We all know how much Matt Eberflus covets a top-tier 3-technique.
Taking Tyree Wilson here would not be a bad choice though. Wilson is a monster athlete with a 6’6″ and 275-pound frame. If you look at his film though, he doesn’t move like a man this big. In his sophomore year (first year at Texas Tech), Wilson only played 388 snaps, but still recorded two sacks and six pressures. In his junior year, he played almost double the amount of his sophomore snaps and recorded seven sacks and 37 pressures. This past season, Wilson saw fewer snaps due to a foot injury but finished with another seven sacks and 50 pressures.
Wilson has the size, speed and strength to become a dominant force in the NFL. He is quick enough and fluid enough to get around the edge no matter the type of blocker. He has quick hands too which allows him to engage blockers immediately but can use some NFL coaching to help him develop a larger and better amount of counter moves. As good as he is at getting to the quarterback, Tyree Wilson needs to improve as a run-stopper. He makes for a great prospect though and will fit in nicely for a Chicago Bears team that struggled to collect sacks.
Chicago Bears turn their attention to the offensive trenches next
2nd Round | 39th Overall | Dawand Jones, OT – Ohio State
After addressing the trenches on the defensive side of the ball, Ryan Poles flips and turns his attention to the offensive side of things. This time, Poles looks to Justin Fields’ alma mater, Ohio State. Paris Johnson, Jr. is the top offensive tackle prospect from Ohio State, but after the Chicago Bears missed out on him, they look to add his counterpart, Dawand Jones.
I wasn’t as high on Dawand Jones before seeing him at the Senior Bowl. Jones is a massive man at 6’8″ and 360 pounds. I was afraid he lacked the ability to move quickly enough for the type of offense the Chicago Bears run, but he proved to be lighter on his feet than I originally thought. He will need to play right tackle in the NFL, meaning that Braxton Jones is likely to hold down the left tackle spot unless the Bears are able to add more talent in free agency.
Jones showed up big time at Senior Bowl practices and even proved himself during the actual game. He could struggle at times with speed rushers, but his extremely long arms allow him to put his hands on defenders quickly. He doesn’t fit the mold we have seen Ryan Poles covet for his offensive linemen though. Should Poles not like Jones’ size, then Blake Freeland could have been an option here instead. Freeland could actually line up at left tackle. He went one pick prior to Jones in this mock or I would have likely taken him instead.
The Chicago Bears land my favorite second-round prospect
2nd Round | 54th Overall | John Michael Schmitz, C – Minnesota
I already had John Michael Schmitz as the highest-rated center available in the 2023 NFL Draft. I am hoping that the Chicago Bears find a way to snag him. I’ll be honest, I don’t foresee him falling to 54, but if he does, Ryan Poles better snag him. Actually, if he’s in his sights, he might need to trade up to grab him. That’s how much I believe Schmitz can help turn this team around in 2023.
If the Bears are able to draft Schmitz, then the team can cut Lucas Patrick. Schmitz would be an instant upgrade over both Patrick and Sam Mustipher. At 6’4″ and 320 pounds, he’s a little bigger than I think Poles would like, but he is the type of center the Chicago Bears need. He has a high motor and a mean streak. He’d pair nicely next to Teven Jenkins.
Schmitz’ biggest flaw is his footwork, but that can be improved with NFL coaching. He makes up for it with his ability to get up off the snap. He has the strength to drive opponents forward or even put them on the ground — something we haven’t seen from Sam Mustipher or Lucas Patrick. I think it’s time to stop looking for the little, supposedly more athletic guys and instead put in guys who have a nasty streak. Players more like Teven Jenkins.
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears continue to add to the trenches
2nd Round | 62 Overall | Cody Mauch, OG – North Dakota State
Another player who has some nasty to his game is North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch. Mauch may have shown too much at the Senior Bowl to remain a late second-round pick. That said, he still has some work to do and I don’t think he’s shown enough to be a first-rounder despite what some fans and even analysts are saying. The second round is perfect for him, but I’m just not sure he falls to 62. If he does, Ryan Poles should look to replace Cody Whitehair with another Cody.
If the Chicago Bears were to follow this mock draft in April/May, then the offensive line could look very different. It isn’t often that a team relies heavily on rookies to start, but with five picks inside the top 75 (after the trade with Carolina), Poles will need to see a large portion of them succeed. Cody Mauch could take over at left guard, John Michael Schmitz can be the new starting center and Dawand Jones can push to start at right tackle. This doesn’t even include what they may do in free agency.
Cutting Cody Whitehair and designating him as a post-June 1st cut would save the team an additional $9.9 million in salary cap space. They don’t need that money but Whitehair to me is replaceable — especially at his current cost. Mauch has fantastic technique with his footwork. He can be a mauler for this team and brings some versatility with him seeing he’s been a tackle during his collegiate career. Teams (and I) view him as an interior lineman though due to his shorter arms. Having him, Schmitz and Jenkins on the inside would be a nasty trio.
The Chicago Bears finally draft an offensive weapon for Justin Fields
3rd Round | 65th Overall | Luke Musgrave, TE – Oregon State
I think if you have read my content before, you know that I am a Cole Kmet stan. I have been telling fans he’s better than his stats show for the last few seasons. He led the team in touchdowns this season with seven. I never would have suggested adding a tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft — especially in the second round. After punting on wide receivers though, drafting Luke Musgrave might be the next best thing.
Having Kmet and Musgrave together isn’t a problem because Musgrave is a very different type of tight end. He can use some work on developing his blocking, but he also isn’t horrible to the point he cannot be on the field in those situations. That said, Kmet has improved as a blocker since entering the league and can be that guy while Musgrave is used more as a receiver. That’s not to say Kmet can’t catch. I just think that Musgrave can be another receiving weapon and could even help free up Kmet for that matter.
Musgrave hasn’t had much production when you look at his stats. His NFL projection is based on his physical attributes and blips of film we have seen. In 2021, he caught 22 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown. This year he only played in two games before a knee injury derailed his season, but he was on pace for over 800 yards and roughly five to six touchdowns. He excelled at the Senior Bowl too, showing how fast he can be. He has solid hands too. He needs to refine his route tree, but he should be a mismatch nightmare for most linebackers trying to cover him.
The Chicago Bears go back-to-back offensive weapons for Justin Fields
4th Round | 104th Overall | Trey Palmer, WR – Nebraska
I try not to let the Senior Bowl influence my draft grades too much, but another player who stood out to me and I would be happy to see taken in the fourth round is Nebraska WR, Trey Palmer. After three, lackluster performances in his first three seasons, Trey Palmer transferred from LSU to Nebraska. Palmer broke out for the Cornhuskers with 71 catches for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns.
What I like about Palmer is his ability to track the football and catch with his hands more often than with his body. He has great speed but is a limited route runner. He has decent size at 6’1″ and 180-190 pounds. His ability to shake guys off the line of scrimmage is what makes me excited but what would make Justin Fields excited is his ability to catch the deep ball.
Nebraska WR Trey Palmer just took a man’s soul pic.twitter.com/gfWigIbYWe
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) February 1, 2023
What concerns me the most is if he cannot burn his defender, he has a tough time finding separation. This is what we have seen from Velus Jones already, but Palmer is at least a better receiver in that he has great hands. Suffers from some concentration drops, but was seen less in Nebraska this season. For anyone who wants Jalin Hyatt, getting Trey Palmer here is probably going to be a better value.
The Chicago Bears get creative with their next draft pick
4th Round | 134th Overall | Keion White, DL – Georgia Tech
I think it’s safe to assume that Ryan Poles wants to build through the trenches should he follow this mock draft. Five of the first seven picks are on the offensive and defensive line. I have already said that I can see Keion White playing both as a 4-3 defensive end or even as a 3-technique. In this case, I think the Chicago Bears are excited to see him fall this far in the draft and take him with the same thought. They can bring him into camp and let him compete at both positions to see which one he excels at most.
Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus may not want to double-down with a pick like this, only because Keion White somewhat reminds me of Dominique Robinson in that he is very raw. He played tight end previously and transitioned to defensive end in his second season with Old Dominion before transferring to Georgia Tech. He came away with 7.5 sacks last year.
I was hoping to see more flashes from him at the Senior Bowl (yep, another one from the Senior Bowl) but his game film speaks for itself. Plus, he’s 6’4″ and weighs 280 pounds. Even with that size, he has great movement though. He possesses solid lower-body strenght and a high motor. However, he needs to be more consistent with his pad level and that could be why he dropped this far.
The Chicago Bears add running back depth in the fifth round
5th Round | 138th Overall | Eric Gray, RB – Oklahoma
I am a big David Montgomery fan, but I’m also not a big fan of the running back position — at least from a second contract standpoint. Unless you are able to sign the back on a very team-friendly deal, then I’d look to replace him. I don’t hate the idea of bringing Montgomery back in 2023, but it has to be for a reasonable price. To help soften the blow of losing him, the Chicago Bears look to Eric Gray.
Some have Eric Gray listed as 5’9″ and under 210 pounds. Others list him at 5’10” and just over 210 pounds. Either way, Gray is a versatile running back who can take a handoff or catch a ball out of the back field. He caught 23 balls in 2021 and 33 last year. He exploded on the ground this season though, gaining 1,316 yards on 216 carries. He proved he can handle a relatively full workload and could make for a solid backup to Khalil Herbert or whoever the team signs in free agency this offseason. Gray has a nose for the end zone too. He finished the year with 11 rushing touchdowns.
Gray is slightly faster than Montgomery, but is a definitely a contact-type runner like Montgomery. He has solid balance and is able to gain extra yards when needed. He doesn’t have the same balance as Montgomery, who is constantly spinning and breaking tackles. That said, I think Gray would be a solid addition to this roster should Montgomery go and an upgrade over Trestan Ebner.
The Chicago Bears double-dip at receiver in the late round
5th Round | 160th Overall | Jayden Reed, WR – Michigan State
When it comes to these late picks, they are all basically dart throws. We all know that the Chicago Bears need to find weapons for Justin Fields and that’s the attempt here with Jayden Reed. Reed would be a different type of receiver than they currently have. He is not the fastest and doesn’t show the athleticism that we have seen Ryan Poles covet in his first year as a general manager. That said, he could be the different type of receiver the Bears need.
Some sites have Reed at 6’0″ and others have him at 5’11”. Either way, he doesn’t have elite speed but what he does have is the ability to make catches over the middle while in traffic. Right now, Darnell Mooney is probably the best option for that on the roster.
Jayden Reed looked faster at the Senior Bowl, but he is going in the fifth and sixth rounds of mock drafts for a reason. He uses his body too often when making catches and he has a difficult time separating when pressed in coverage. He had a better season in 2021 with 10 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards receiving. Despite having nearly the same amount of catches last season as he did in 2021, Reed only had five touchdowns and 636 yards receiving.
At this point, you are looking for special teams help and Reed brings that with experience as both a kick returner and punt returner. His ability to run through contact will help him with yards after the catch and in the return game.
The Chicago Bears do what Ryan Pace never did and draft a QB
7th Round | 221st Overall | Malik Cunningham, QB – Louisville
We all know how Ryan Pace said ideally, he’d like to draft a quarterback every year. During his time, he only drafted Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. Ryan Poles didn’t draft one last year, but he decides to pick one up this year in the beginning of the final round. With some of the better late-round options off the board, the Chicago Bears add Malik Cunningham to the roster.
Cunningham is not similar to Justin Fields despite what anyone may tell you. That said, his play is somewhat similar to how Fields played last season. I know, that sounds confusing, but Justin Fields was never a run-first quarterback until last year. Malik Cunningham is a run-first quarterback who gained over 1,000 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. Last season he added another 560 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Chicago Bears take next step in moving out of Chicago
The Chicago Bears are one step closer to a new stadium outside of Soldier Field. They closed their deal to purchase Arlington Park in Arlington Heights.
That said, Cunningham is fairly accurate with short and intermediate throws. What he struggles with is deep balls. He constantly throws the ball over receivers’ heads. He does have a quick release though and gets the ball out quickly. He would be a solid developmental quarterback to add to the roster. Just look what Brock Purdy did for the 49ers this past year despite being the last pick in the draft. Teams need to make these dart throws.