Chicago Bears 2023 Draft: The players Ryan Poles should have drafted at each pick

Pick No. 165: The Chicago Bears should have drafted Terrell Smith

The Chicago Bears are showing their cards when it comes to cornerbacks. They focused on long and lean players who have a violent streak. Riley Moss isn't as violent as Tyrique Stevenson, but Terrell Smith has that hard-hitting approach to his game. Just like with Noah Sewell, no one in the vicinity of this pick stand out as a clear-cut option I'd prefer. The Bears need help at corner and adding another one at this point in the draft should help with depth.

Smith and Moss are very similar in size, just like Stevenson. They both project as outside corners, leaving the slot position for Kyler Gordon to hold down. The team does not know for sure if Jaylon Johnson will be returning for a 2024 season. His contract is up at the end of the year unless Ryan Poles extends him during the offseason. It's possible that the team is hoping to groom Terrell Smith to start in 2024.

Smith had his best season last year. He finished the year with two interceptions and allowed 58.5% of his targets to be completed. He is not a finished product but can help out on special teams while providing some solid depth at the cornerback position.