Chicago Bears 2023 Draft Pick Grades

We are now over one week removed from the NFL draft, so let’s take a look at how it went for the Chicago Bears. The Bears did quite well in my opinion in this draft adding quite a bit of talent at positions of need. I do think that they could have added value with certain picks by trading down for extra picks and still snagging the players that they wanted. Overall, I am quite pleased with the first two drafts of Ryan Poles’ tenure.

Pick 10: Tennessee Offensive Tackle Darnell Wright: B+

I’m still quite upset after the Bears passed on Jalen Carter. In my Bears mock draft, I said that landing Carter would be a slam dunk pick. They traded down with the Eagles and added a fourth-round pick next year to take Darnell Wright. I feel like they could’ve traded down even farther and Wright still would’ve been available. I’m a fan of the trade-down and adding value with the pick we acquired for next year.

The Bears were very much in need of an offensive lineman to protect franchise quarterback Justin Fields. Darnell Wright is an elite pass protector and provides a huge boost to the struggling unit. He could use some improvement in the run game, but Fields’ rushing ability really takes pressure off the lineman and running backs because they can be average and still succeed.

Pick 53: Florida Defensive Tackle Gervon Dexter: C+

With their first second-round pick, the Bears started a run on defense with Dexter. Gervon Dexter is quite a large defensive tackle and has the potential to be a game-wrecker. He will likely play one-technique on the line due to his size and should play a big role in stopping the run. Hopefully, he can develop as a pass-rusher and add value to that aspect of the defense. He has a relatively slow get-off, but that seems like something that is quite easy to fix. With good coaching, he may be able to be a fantastic defensive tackle to hold the middle of the Bears’ defensive line.

Pick 56: Miami Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson: A-

If you read my pre-draft mock for the Bears, then you would know that I like this pick after I mocked Stevenson to the Bears. The Bears traded with the Jaguars in order to obtain this pick. They gave up a fifth-round pick (136 overall) and swapped 61 for 56 to move up five spots. I really like this pick as the Bears need a lot of help on defense. Cornerback was a big need as well and Stevenson can hopefully win the starting job to become the outside corner opposite Jaylon Johnson.

Pick 64: South Carolina Defensive Lineman Zacch Pickens: B

After taking interior defensive lineman Dexter just a dozen picks before, they get another in Zacch Pickens. This will provide some much-needed depth and competition at the position. They play quite differently though, with Dexter being a larger one-technique and Pickens being a bit quicker at three-technique. He has the versatility to be anywhere on the interior of the line, which could be big as a rotational guy. Also, pass-rush upside that Dexter doesn’t really bring too much of.

Pick 115: Texas Running Back Roschon Johnson: B+

They traded down from 103 with the Saints and added a fifth-round pick to move down a dozen spots. Love that Poles is always trying to add value by trading down allowing him to take more bat swings on players in the draft. Johnson can be a solid rotational running back behind Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman. After losing David Montgomery, Herbert will likely see a larger role as he did quite well in limited opportunity last season. He is a very balanced back so he could be viable in a variety of situations.

Pick 133: Cincinnati Wide Receiver Tyler Scott: C+

The Bears are really just going for depth pieces at this point of the draft like some of the more recent previous picks. You can never really have too many receivers as they will each have their own skillset, but I don’t see Scott making any impact. He is very fast so hopefully, he finds a role by using his speed and could possibly develop.

Pick 148: Oregon Linebacker Noah Sewell: A-

The Bears signed a new linebacker duo in free agency this season, but Sewell could add some depth with quite a high upside. He is a very large linebacker at 245 pounds, which is fine for run defense but lacks range. Sewell has reportedly lost weight during his college career and was as high as 270 pounds. He could make a move to edge, which is possibly a bigger need for our defense, and probably do just fine.

Pick 165 Minnesota Cornerback Terrell Smith: B

Terrell Smith is a fantastic athlete so he has some upside if he can develop his technique. Smith also turned heads at the senior bowl, which could indicate that he may be able to develop quickly. The Bears can never have too many defensive backs so Smith is, at worst, an athlete that can provide depth in the cornerback room.

Pick 218: Kennesaw State Defensive Lineman Travis Bell: C

As a seventh-round pick, Bell will most likely just be competing for a roster spot. He is a decent all-around defensive tackle who will hopefully make the team as a rotational player.

Pick 258: Stanford Safety Kendall Williamson: C+

This pick garners a better grade than the previous one just because I think Williamson has more upside than Bell. Though unlikely, I can see a path for him to be a contributor to the Bears’ defense. He has ideal NFL safety size and tested quite well, so could maybe end up being a bigger rotational player.

Overall 2023 Draft Grade: B+

I am a big fan of what Bears GM Ryan Poles has done in his first two drafts. I really don’t think he did much to blow anyone away, but he has made a much more competent team. He got a haul from trading the first pick to the Panthers and put the team in a better place. Drafting Darnell Wright should really help Fields and the offense and the day-two picks should go a long way in helping the defense after being one of the worst in the league last year.

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