Ranking 6 sleeper edge rushers for Chicago Bears in 2023 NFL Draft

It will be interesting to see how and when the Chicago Bears address the edge rusher position in the 2023 NFL draft. They have four names right now with Rasheem Green, DeMarcus Walker, Trevis Gipson, and Dominique Robinson, but they surely could add some more.

While they may not be able to add a big name, they can continue to add pieces to a rotation and wear teams down with depth. So, who are some sleeper names that may be helpful in the idea of a rotation? These are guys who may be in that round four or five range, and are not the bigger names, but are players who could make an impact in the NFL.

6. Chicago Bears could draft Colby Wooden from Auburn

Colby Wooden checks some boxes that make him a good fit in the mid-rounds. He has been playing significant stats in the SEC for three seasons and put up 100 pressures in that time. What makes Wooden interesting is his versatility across the line.

He is a bit more athletic than DeMarcus Walker, and a bit less powerful, but between the two they can move their edge rushers up, down, and around the line. In 2020 Wooden was mainly an edge rusher but slid inside primarily in 2021. Then, in 2022 he played wherever the team needed him.

That mentality of stepping into any role on the line is also what will appeal his skills to Matt Eberflus. Beyond that, Wooden is a hustler and a fighter. He is best with his hands, and he lays violent punches that harass linemen and makes them work all play long. With him rushing in a rotation, his freshest snaps could come against a tired lineman and create push.

The reality is that while Wooden has the size to play along the line, and can get some push, he is not an overly dynamic athlete. He can lose push along the interior and struggles with double teams, but also is not going to bend and win the edge consistently. This is what has him in the mid-rounds. Still, this is right where the Chicago Bears could have interest in another depth name to compete for snaps.

5. Chicago Bears could draft Isaiah McGuire from Missouri

Isaiah McGuire could give the Chicago Bears a little pass-rush punch on day three of the NFL draft. McGuire is another three-year starter from an SEC school, spending his days as the Missouri edge rusher. He did not move around as much, but he has the prototypical size, length, and strength to play the position.

McGuire is a power player, and his strength is not an issue, although it has to be harnessed. In the run game he can struggle to diagnose, and take shots that take him out of plays rather than setting the edge. Beyond that, while he can win by converting speed to power, he is slow to create any counters off of that.

McGuire has enough speed to give him a variety of moves, but he needs to add more to his plan. Still, for the Chicago Bears, this would be a great addition to the rotation. He can improve as a run defender, and the team can ease him in there, but they also just ask him to push pockets with power during his limited work while he grows.

4. Chicago Bears could draft YaYa Diaby from Louisville

YaYa Diaby took the Junior College route to getting attention from a bigger school like Louisville. He played a bit in 2020 and then started the next two seasons for the Cardinal. Diaby is an interesting player who may have his best days ahead of him.

You can tell that he is athletic by the way that he shoots out of his stance. Louisville took advantage of this and often asked him to slash inside and create stunts and twists. This is when he was best and it showed his athletic upside.

However, a lot of the reason that happened was because he is raw as a rusher. He needs to get better at using his hands and needs to improve his technique anchoring in the run game. Still, the Bears can use him rotationally to shoot gaps in the run game.

They can also use him outside, and someone like DeMarcus Walker and use games and twists to create rush lanes on obvious pass downs. There is enough of a role, and the developmental upside of a starter makes this an intriguing pick.

3. Chicago Bears could draft Ikenna Enechukwu from Rice

Ikenna Enechukwu has plenty of experience with 1,787 snaps over his five year career. He started to ascend as a redshirt freshman in 2019, but his career was stalled in 2020 with the COVID situation. From there, he exploded and became a legitimate starter for the Owls.

In 2021, he lined up almost primarily as a three-technique and slid outside at times. In 2022, he was an edge rusher, who slid inside at times. His profile says that he will primarily be an edge rusher, but his overall athletic profile shows someone similar to Tyquan Lewis, who Matt Eberflus drafted with the Colts.

The ability to rush inside and outside is obviously something that he wants from his rushers. Ikenna Enechukwu even flashed as an inside pass rusher during the Senior Bowl. Ikenna Enechukwu plays a physical brand of football and is not afraid to get his hands on you. He does not have the juice and is a bit stiff on the outside, but he will rough up tackles while working.

Still, he can defend the run on the edge in a way that we know the Bears will value. He can get enough of an inside burst as a pass rusher that the team can find ways to use him if he falls to day three.

2. Chicago Bears could draft Habakkuk Baldonado from Pittsburgh

Habakkuk Baldonado is flying a bit under the radar based on the way his season ended. He got on the field as a reserve in 2019, and then barely played in 2020 with the global pandemic. His best season was 2021, and while he was playing well in 2022, an injury ended his season early and took a little buzz away from his name.

He went to the East-West Shrine game, and started to repair his stock.

What you saw in the video is what you see in his tape. He has a variety of pass rush moves and is not afraid to mix things up in the way that he works. He went to the NFL combine and showed that he does have enough athletic traits to bend around the edge against premier tackles.

There will questions about his anchor and ability to set the edge, and his play has been hot and cold. Still, that is why he comes in on day three. Not many rushers are refined with their hands and their punches, and that could pay off well for Baldonado when his full-time job becomes football.

1. Chicago Bears could draft Zach Harrison from Ohio State

There was a time not too long ago when many thought that Zach Harrison would be the next after the Bosas and Chase Young to leave Ohio State as an elite pass-rush talent. You can see in bits and pieces that the upside is there, but while OSU uncaps it from most, Harrison did not hit.

He has the body type that you would draw up when creating an edge rusher. He has extremely long arms, and that is his best ability as a pass rusher. He knows how to use his long arm and punch and shove linemen into the backfield. The big issue with Harrison is when it comes to counters, and being able to turn the corner.

Harrison has speed and burst out of his stance but he is stiff when it comes to moving around the edge, and his movement is much more linear. Can the team that drafts him get more flexibility out of him? If not, they should at least be able to use him as a power rusher who can use his arms and strength to set the edge.