ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. published his latest 2023 NFL Mock Draft, and it didn't include a Chicago Bears trade at No. 1 overall.
Kiper added this disclaimer before getting into his picks:
"I'm not going to project any trades here -- it's still a little bit early to assess which teams could move up and what it would take to get there," Kiper wrote. "As I've said before, this is merely an exercise to show you all what I'm thinking three months out from the draft, based on my Big Board rankings and what I'm hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league."
OK, fair enough. No trades for Kiper. But Bears fans are expecting GM Ryan Poles to trade down for a haul of future draft picks. Anything less than that feels like it will be a disappointment.
Still, at No. 1 overall, the Chicago Bears land a force on defense in Mel Kiper's mock draft. They select Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter.
"Chicago's roster needs help from top to bottom, but its defense was particularly dreadful in 2022, ranking last in the league in sacks (20) and points allowed per game (27.2)," Kiper wrote. "It has to be D all the way for wherever the Bears make their selection. Carter, an explosive interior pass-rusher and run-stuffer, gets the nod over Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. on my Big Board. He's the best player in this draft, a Day 1 starter in the middle of this defense."
If the Chicago Bears trade down to, say, the No. 4 pick with the Indianapolis Colts, yes, the pick will be all about defense. They're all but guaranteed either Carter or Anderson. But if they slide back further than that? There's a chance Poles could target a wide receiver like Jaxson Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) or an offensive lineman like Peter Skoronski (Northwestern).
Subscribe to Bears Talk on YouTube
Subscribe to The Bears Talk Podcast
Comments
Join the Conversation
Sign up to comment on this story
Create a free BearsTalk account to comment, earn points, and join the community.
Loading comments…
