Chicago Bears come away with a haul in this updated 2023 NFL mock draft

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.