We know that Ryan Poles is wanting to trade out of the top spot in the 2023 NFL Draft. In fact, a majority of us have been saying this as soon as Houston beat Indianapolis, but the national media outlets wanted to have talking points and make it seem like the Chicago Bears would be better off drafting one of the 2023 quarterback prospects and trading Fields. If you have been following this site for quite some time, you know that we are a collective of writers, and not a single one of us thought Fields being traded was a real possibility.
Recently, I paved the way for Ryan Poles to come away smelling like roses in the free agency process. If he follows the blueprint I created, this team will be set up for a very successful 2023 NFL Draft. This 2023 mock draft is going to be based on that blueprint. Without specifics, the team needs to sign two defensive ends, a defensive tackle to be the new 3-tech, a right tackle, and bring in a wide receiver worthy of being a WR1 - even if on the older side. Check out the specifics of how and who I brought in by clicking here.
The Chicago Bears have a perfect draft to go with a perfect free agency
Now, onto the 2023 mock draft. This franchise cannot build just for 2023. This season is supposed to be a season of growth with the hope of making the playoffs. The roster will not be set up to be a Super Bowl contender. However, as soon as you make the playoffs, anything can happen. Even if they fall just short though, the season could still be a success. We need to confirm Justin Fields can still grow as a passer. We need to see the defensive line come away with more than 10 of 20 total sacks. I don't ever want to see a safety lead the team in sacks again.
Here is how Ryan Poles can do just that, and then set the team up to be a Super Bowl contender in 2024 and beyond.
The Chicago Bears trade back with the Indianapolis Colts
The Chicago Bears are on the clock in this Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator and I am playing the part of Ryan Poles. As soon as the draft starts, I had 12 teams interested in trading up. Houston was not one of them. It should be noted that I don't think Houston is truly interested in giving up too much to move up from two to one in reality anyway. In the end, I made a trade with the Colts to move down from one to four. Here is what the trade looked like.
In order to receive the Colts' first-round picks in both 2024 and 2025, I had to send back a future fourth-rounder. That's a small price to pay to make this deal work. I also had to drop down from their 2023 third-round pick to their 2023 fourth-rounder. The difference was roughly 30 picks. I want this mock draft to be realistic. I'm not about to get expectations up for something better because it really is not likely to happen.
Now, Ryan Poles stays within the top five, gains an early second-round pick and nets two future firsts. Not a bad way to start this mock draft. Let's see how the top four picks shake out though. The Colts took C.J. Stroud first overall and the Texans took Bryce Young. Will Anderson went off the board to the Cardinals at three. I could take Jalen Carter, but at this point in time, I am not touching Carter this early in the draft. I'll let another team take their chances on him.
The Chicago Bears make a second trade with the Patriots
Ryan Poles has six to eight blue-chip players on his board. My assumption is that he is not including the quarterbacks and honestly, I'm not sold that any of them are blue-chip players anyway. They have potential but that doesn't mean they are locks and with Justin Fields on the roster, I think a quarterback early can be scratched off the Chicago Bears draft board.
With two quarterbacks off the board and likely one or two more still to be selected in the top half of this draft, if I am Ryan Poles I'm considering a second trade here. It's not a lock to get a second trade, but moving down to four with the Colts is the best opportunity for that second trade. Moving down to seven with the Raiders or nine with the Panthers means those are likely the only trades that take place for the Bears on Draft Day. If the Colts do not come through for Poles, don't expect two trades but this is the "perfect" draft to go with the "perfect" free agency. Two trades are happening, haha.
In this trade, the key here was staying ahead of the Green Bay Packers and also gaining another future first-round pick. This would give Ryan Poles three first-rounders in 2024 and the ability to move up for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye should Justin Fields prove he cannot progress beyond his 2022 season. I have no doubt he will do that though and these three draft picks will be what Poles uses to land Marvin Harrison, Jr. for the Chicago Bears as I mentioned in the perfect free agency period.
Plus, as I mentioned, between these two trades, Poles recoups two earlier second-round picks than their current second-rounder (54) they received from Baltimore for Roquan Smith. Now, instead of no second-round picks, Poles has two - 35 and 46.
I know what you are thinking. There is no way that Poles moves down from one to 14. I would not be so sure of that. It all depends on who he has as his six to eight blue-chip players. There were other ways to stay in the top 10 should he want. I had a pending trade with the Falcons for 8, 44, 75, and a 2024 third-rounder. However, I felt that the 2024 first-round pick was more valuable than picking six picks sooner. The Patriots selected Jalen Carter fourth overall.
The Chicago Bears add another weapon for Justin Fields
With the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Staying in front of the Green Bay Packers at 15 was important in case they decided to finally select a wide receiver in the first round. Ryan Poles reunites Smith-Njigba with Justin Fields and it feels oh-so-good.
I had Smith-Njigba and Jordan Addison in the same tier of my wide receiver rankings for the upcoming draft. They are the only two that I gave first-round grades and both are low. I don't make drastic changes to my draft board based on the NFL Combine, but I use it as a tool to help solidify my original thinking or possibly make slight changes. Smith-Njigba had a great Combine and I swapped him and Addison in my rankings. Reuniting him with Justin Fields is also a big selling point for me.
Now, in 2024, you target Marvin Harrison, Jr. and you have Smith-Njigba to pair with him. Maybe you keep one of the multiple WRs heading into the final year of their contracts. Don't forget, DeAndre Hopkins also has a year left on his contract. It's possible that Chicago trades him to another team or you just have all three receivers and let Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool walk in free agency. The wide receiver group quickly went from one of the worst to one of the best in just two seasons.
The Chicago Bears add some protection for Justin Fields
It might be a little early to take a center, but I was a fan of John Michael Schmitz prior to the Senior Bowl and I am an even bigger fan now. He impressed me on many levels while watching drills and also played well in the game. Schmitz brings a vocality and leadership to the offensive line in a way that we haven't seen since Olin Kreutz was anchoring the offensive line.
Schmitz doesn't have the same mean streak as Kreutz did, but that does not stop him from getting physical on the field. Sam Mustipher will make a fine backup and the addition of Schmitz will allow Ryan Poles to move on from Lucas Patrick. Patrick struggled as the center and at guard. He can be cut, saving the team nearly $4 million dollars against the salary cap.
Sam Mustipher is not vocal enough when playing center. James Daniels had the same issue here in Chicago and this is why he couldn't remain at center. Instead, they moved Cody Whitehair back to center despite him being a better a left guard. We won't have that problem if the Bears draft and start Schmitz in 2023. He can be the anchor this offensive line needs and set the tone with Teven Jenkins on his right side.
The Chicago Bears continue to add bodies to the offensive line
Dawand Jones was a player I highly considered at 35. However, since I added Mike McGlinchey in my mock free agency signings, it didn't make sense to draft Jones that early. However, Ryan Poles made it clear he wants to find value in the draft and not only focus on the best player available. To be honest, though, they coincide with one another and that's why I took Dawand Jones now. I did not expect him to fall this far and honestly, he might not during the actual 2023 NFL Draft.
It should be noted that if the Chicago Bears sign Orlando Brown, Jr. (I didn't in my mock free agency), then instead of bringing in a veteran right tackle, the team drafts Dawand Jones and makes the right tackle spot an open competition between Jones and Braxton Jones. We can call it the "keeping up with the Joneses" competition.
Dawand Jones is a massive human being and despite his size, he moves pretty well. Unfortunately, his feet don't move well enough to be a left tackle, and would have to play on the right side. In my mock free agency, I brought in Mike McGlinchey on a three-year deal. Dawand Jones can push him for the starting spot. Not to mention, depth is key for offensive lines these days. I can at least justify having the 46th-overall pick in a developmental phase. I can't justify it as well with the 35th spot.
Ryan Poles gives the Chicago Bears another offensive weapon
I am a big fan of Cole Kmet. However, the Chicago Bears need to add a tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft or in free agency. Since I didn't add one in free agency worthy of mentioning, I turned to the draft for help. Who doesn't love a tight end from Iowa? To get the 71st-overall pick, I traded 64 (received in prior trade) to the New Orleans Saints for 71 and 115.
Sam LaPorta is 6'4" and 250 pounds. He had a good Combine and showed his speed. He struggled to find the end zone at Iowa. He has five touchdowns in four years. Last year he only had one. That said, he has gained over 600 yards per year over the last two seasons.
The 40-yard dash does not mean everything, but LaPorta was the third-fastest tight end at the 2023 NFL Combine. He ran a 4.59 - slightly faster than Luke Musgrave. He has solid hands and doesn't need to use his body to make catches. He has a solid route tree and is able to gain yards after the catch. He's an average blocker and struggles with making the tough, contested catches in traffic.
The Chicago Bears look to the defensive side of the ball
The defensive side of the ball needs to be addressed too. I'll be honest, I wanted to go with a defensive end much earlier in the draft. Unfortunately, things just did not work out as I planned. Ryan Poles brings in another Ohio State Buckeye with the 94th-overall pick in the third round. I had to trade up to get him though. I sent picks 103 and 150 to the Eagles for 94.
Zach Harrison has not lived up to expectations. He has never seen more than 3.5 sacks in a season. Why would I draft him now then? Even though Harrison did not show up on the stat sheet, he has shown flashes of what he could become. His 6'6" and 270-pound frame makes him the perfect type of pass rusher for a 4-3 defense.
When we watch his film, a few things stand out. Harrison uses his length to bend around the edge. He is best against bigger, slower tackles. He struggles more against quick tackles who have good balance and an ability to plant and hold the edge. The biggest problem he has though is he seems to only have one move. You never see him make any counter-moves to the inside. His hand techniques need some development as well. However, these things can be taught at the next level.
With the additions of Yannick Ngakoue and Zach Allen, Zach Harrison can be a rotational piece on the defensive line. He is a solid run defender and does not get caught over pursuing and losing containment very often. Adding him in the third round makes perfect sense.
The Chicago Bears add two defensive players to start the fourth round
R4: 106 | Owen Pappoe | LB | Auburn
There are still six picks left in this mock draft. With the trades I made, the Chicago Bears end up with four fourth-round picks. This brings a run of more defensive players. First up is a player who has the ability to push for a starting spot on this roster. Jack Sanborn proved he can handle playing the middle linebacker spot just fine. What this team needs now is a linebacker who can play the weak-side spot. Bobby Okereke was added, but this team needs depth at the position too.
The first of the fourth-round picks (106) was used on Owen Pappoe. Pappoe is smaller at only 6'1" and 225 pounds. He is very athletic and comes with a strong work ethic. His size limits his ability to play the middle though and this is why he makes a better fit at the Will.
R4: 115 | Brandon Joseph | S | Notre Dame
The Chicago Bears defensive backs are the strongest positional group on the roster. They have four legit starters and only need to find one more to play the nickel cornerback spot. I prefer Kyler Gordon on the outside as opposed to the slot. The Bears and Ryan Poles do not go corner though. Instead, with the 115th-overall pick, the Bears choose Brandon Joseph out of Norte Dame.
Joseph is a bigger safety and 6'1" and just shy of 200 pounds. Joseph has shown an ability to be around the football. He has a nose for turnovers despite only finishing with one while at Notre Dame. Joseph used the transfer portal to move from Northwestern. While at Northwestern though, Joseph had 6 interceptions one year and three as a Junior
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears go defense and then add a depth
R4: 117 | Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlionson | CB | TCU
I don't think enough people are talking about the need at cornerback for the Bears. This roster has two starting corners, but the team really could use three. Kindle Vildor isn't an awful option should they not find an upgrade, however, he is nothing more than average to a little below average.
Alan Williams and Matt Eberflus talk Ryan Poles into drafting Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson out of TCU. Hodges-Tomlinson is not big at all. He's 5'9" and under 190 pounds. He brings 4.4x speed to the defense though and isn't afraid to make a tackle. Despite his size, he's a very physical corner and has strong technique with shadowing, hip movement, footwork and hand usage. It's his size that will keep him lower in the draft but he can push to play the starting nickel spot or outside corner depending on where the Chicago Bears want Kyler Gordan to play.
R4: 134 | Chase Brown | RB | Illinois
No offense to Trestan Ebner, but the Chicago Bears cannot count on him to be the third running back this year. Ryan Poles brings in some competition by selecting Chase Brown out of Illinois. Brown has that elite top-end speed (4.43) that can make him a threat to take it to the house any time he gets his hands on the ball. He's coming off back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards. This past year he eclipsed 1,600 yards and finished with 10 touchdowns. He added another three through the air.
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears draft a quarterback
R5: 137: Ronnie Bell | WR | Michigan
We all know that Justin Fields needs weapons. The wide receiver room is shaping up nicely for the 2023 season thanks to the trade for DeAndre Hopkins (mocked in free agency article). They will have Hopkins, Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney this year with the hopes of landing Marvin Harrison, Jr. next year. To help round out the group, the Chicago Bears draft Ronnie Bell in the fifth round.
Ronnie Bell is 6'0" and just under 200 pounds. He is a tactician in how he runs his routes, but those routes are slightly limited. He is a smart player who finds gaps in the defense that allows him to gain additional yardage. He struggles with contested catches though and will only succeed at the NFL level if he can gain separation. He isn't the fastest guy, but his 4.5-speed makes him fast enough.
R7: 220 | Malik Cunningham | QB | Louisville
The current quarterback room is not complete. The Chicago Bears need a developmental guy to sit behind Justin Fields and Trevor Siemian. Malik Cunningham is the guy I'd like to see them look to add late. He has 4.5x speed and brings a similar running style that Justin Fields brings on the field. The difference is, Cunningham has not been the best pocket passer. Despite what we saw from Fields last season, he is a very good pocket passer and Cunningham could benefit from sitting behind Fields and developing. He has elite traits that can help him take over if needed due to injuries.