Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft: First-round tiered rankings
By Evan Bruner
Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Tier 1: Dream Selections
This tier is a rather idealistic list of players who will be available at the ninth spot. Admittedly, it’s unlikely that either of the players in this tier will be available by the time Chicago is on the clock.
Still, with the possibility of four quarterbacks going off the board inside the top five, it isn’t entirely out of the question that a premier player falls.
Jalen Carter, DT - Georgia
Jalen Carter has been a highly discussed prospect for over a year, but his stock has been faltering of late. How much teams are impacted by a player’s possible character concerns tends to be a case-by-case basis. The talent level of the player as well as the alternatives available are leading factors.
This leads to the possibility of Carter slipping all the way to No. 9. Sure, the off-the-field issues are worrying, but the truth is without them, Carter is long gone by Chicago’s pick. This would give coach Matt Eberflus a versatile defensive tackle, and one the top talents in the entire class.
Tyree Wilson, EDGE - Texas Tech
The closer we get to draft day, the less likely this scenario appears to be. Tyree Wilson has solidified himself as the No. 2 edge in this draft behind Will Anderson Jr. and has even gained some traction as the top player at his position.
What separates Wilson from some of the other ends that will be featured in lower tiers is that he’s more polished and will need less development. The size, the power, and the motor would make Wilson nothing short of a no-brainer if he happened to be available.