Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft: Bears address the trenches and trade down in full mock

Chicago Bears Draft Pick No. 133: Andre Carter, EDGE

The next five on the board:
Dorian Williams
Roschon Johnson
Andre Iso
SirVocea Dennis
Tyler Scott

I cringed when I watched Andre Carter at the NFL Combine, but that doesn't mean he will go undrafted. He is one of the better prospects to enter the NFL draft as a military member, and he was productive during his junior season. Carter is a different prospect from the rest of the group. He has the rare physical gifts that can get him into the NFL with the military determination to improve his craft. Carter's injury last season is a concern since durability is one of the key factors the Chicago Bears look for in their defensive ends.

However, Carter is consistent when it comes to his overall play grades. Poles and Eberflus took a traits-based player last season in Robinson, and Trevis Gipson is entering the last year of his contract. During this draft, the Chicago Bears would still be building the roster for the future and present. Now if the Bears pick Tyree Wilson instead of Skoronski, this draft pick could be traded, one of the three receivers could be had, or the running back.

That is the beauty of the draft. It is all about how the board falls and thinking ahead as to what players will still be available. Carter is 6'6 1/2" and 256 pounds. Some talk about him getting bigger and filling out his body. He is the correct size in this scheme but needs to become stronger and play to his size. That is where NFL coaching and training will elevate his progress. By year two, he can be the Bears' starting weak-side defensive end.