The Chicago Bears trade down in the first round again in this full 2023 mock draft

Another prospect seems to fall to the Chicago Bears

5th Round | 148th Pick | Emil Ekiyor, Jr., OG - Alabama

Just like Brandon Joseph, I'm not sold on the idea that Emil Ekiyor, Jr. falls to the fifth round. I have an early-to-mid third-round grade on Eklyor. However, I have seen him all over the place on other analysts' rankings. If he is here, you don't hesitate to take him even if you don't have room for him right away. He could be that good and landing him two rounds later feels like thievery.

Ekiyor projects as either a starting left or right guard. He is scheme versatile and could easily fit into this Luke Getsy offense. He is a physical presence on the field, but can disappear at times. He needs to continue to work on his fundamentals. He can get too low or too high at times, allowing defenders to knock him off balance. That inconsistency is why he won't go earlier in the draft.

When it comes to his game, he is both a solid run-blocker and pass-blocker. He doesn't project to be elite in either area though. He's a guy who could walk onto a team with a bad offensive line and compete to start right away, or he could find himself as a backup, pushing to start -- similar to Braxton Jones last season. For a more realistic option here at pick 148, Alex Forsyth from Oregon or Jaxson Kirkland out of Washington would make sense as interior linemen prospects.