We’re just days away from the 2023 NFL draft, where the Chicago Bears are gearing up to welcome a new crop of players to the roster.
After trading the No. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers for a haul that included two first-rounders, two second-rounders and wide receiver DJ Moore, Chicago is sitting in a prime spot at ninth overall.
There’s been plenty of rumblings about the Bears looking to trade back from ninth overall. And it’s something that would make sense considering there could be a late run on quarterbacks in the top 10.
But, for the sake of this exercise, we assume that Chicago stays put at No. 9 and makes a selection. With that in mind, here are the positions most likely to be the pick at ninth overall.
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After the Bears acquired DJ Moore in the trade with the Panthers, there’s no need for Chicago to go wide receiver with the No. 9 pick. It’s not an immediate need like the other four on this list. But it’s also hard to rule out the possibility of the Bears selecting Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, someone Justin Fields wants the team to draft.
Then there’s Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who’s considered a top-five prospect in this entire draft class. Adding a star running back with pass-catching ability would certainly benefit Fields. Daniel Jeremiah said not to sleep on Robinson to Chicago. With that said, it seems unlikely that either would be the pick at 9. But if the Bears trade back, perhaps Smith-Njigba or Robinson would be in play.
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There’s no denying that defensive tackle is a top need for the Bears heading into the draft. But the reason it’s ranked fourth on this list is because of the prospects expected to be available — or not be available, in this case. Georgia’s Jalen Carter is the consensus top defensive tackle in this class, and there were many that believed Chicago could’ve taken him with the No. 1 pick.
His off-field issues and poor pro day performance have raised concerns, which have many believing he could fall to the Bears at No. 9. But that would mean teams like the Seahawks and Lions would also have to pass on him. Even with Carter’s draft stock falling, he likely won’t be on the board come the No. 9 pick.
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I almost put cornerback ahead of the next position on our list, if only because the draft’s top two prospects could be available…
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