Is Devon Witherspoon in play for the Bears at No. 9 overall?

In the latest mock draft from Touchdown Wire, USA Today's Doug Farrar has the Chicago Bears selecting Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the first round.

"Receiver and offensive line will be temptations for Bears general manager Ryan Poles with the ninth overall pick, and for good reason," Farrar wrote. "But if Witherspoon is still on the board here, it would be tough to pass him up on a short trip to Halas Hall. Witherspoon may well be the best cornerback in this class, and since Chicago’s cornerback group is a bit undefined beyond second-year man Kyler Gordon, Witherspoon would fill yet another need for this roster very much under development."

Don't forget about Jaylon Johnson

Farrar's analysis didn't mention veteran Jaylon Johnson in his cornerback assessment. The Chicago Bears have a big (and expensive) decision with Johnson during or at the end of this season. He's on an expiring contract and is setting up for a massive payday next winter. If he has a productive season in 2023, he could price himself out of the Bears' wage scale.

If that happens, Poles needs a backup plan. Witherspoon is more than that, he's a potentially elite outside cornerback who plays a physical brand of football. If he's the pick at No. 9, it would be a loud message to Johnson that this is likely his final year with the Bears.

I think that would be a mistake by Poles and the Chicago Bears. Using their first-round pick on a starting offensive tackle while retaining Johnson to pair with Gordon is a better strategy. However you slice it, the Bears have to either pay up for Johnson or overspend on an offensive tackle in free agency next offseason if they don't draft one in 2023.

Secure the tackle and lock up Johnson long-term. Let someone else draft Witherspoon.

Chicago Bears add OT and another CB in Round 2

With all due respect to Doug Farrar, who's a fantastic NFL writer, this draft class would be a disaster for the Bears.

At No. 53, the Chicago Bears select BYU offensive tackle Blake Freeland. At No. 61, they add Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Yikes.

Both players are fine. But neither moves the needle for the Bears in 2023. Freeland is a good athlete, but he was overwhelmed at the Senior Bowl. He profiles as another middling starter Chicago would look to replace in a season or two. Stevenson is a redundant selection. The Bears used a second-round pick on Kyler Gordon in 2022. To use two of their first three selections on cornerbacks in 2023 would be riot-worthy.

This exercise is a great example of why it's so important for the Chicago Bears to select a blue-chip offensive tackle in the first round. If they don't, they'll be forced to chase one in the second round, and whoever they'd land at No. 53 will be a far cry from Paris Johnson Jr. or Broderick Jones.

A draft like this would be a massive fail and a disservice to Justin Fields.