ESPN published a new 2023 NFL Mock draft Thursday and it continued a disturbing theme for Chicago Bears fans. According to the mock draft, the Bears will be one of the two worst teams in the NFL in 2022; they pick second overall. NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid explained that the first-round order was based off of ESPN's Football Power Index.
Perhaps, a horrific season that leads to the second-overall pick wouldn't be the worst thing for the Bears. If they're destined to miss the playoffs, it might as well result in a blue-chip first-rounder. And in Reid's 2023 mock draft, that's exactly what Chicago lands in Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter.
"There are some scouts around the league who believe Carter has the most upside in this draft class, and he's the type of player around whom new GM Ryan Poles could build an entire defensive unit," Reid wrote. "He had just 3.0 sacks last season, but he was sharing snaps with multiple 2022 first-round picks. Carter consistently lives in the other team's backfield. A true penetrator as a 3-technique, he's a wrecking ball with high-level explosiveness, hand power and finishing ability."
Carter stands an estimated 6-foot-3, 310 pounds and ranks behind only Alabama's Willie Anderson Jr. as the highest-graded defensive prospect in the country. In fact, a source confirmed Carter is viewed as the No. 2 overall player in the nation by at least one scouting service used by all 32 teams.
Jalen Carter would be a boon for a Chicago Bears defense that places significant value on the three-technique defensive lineman. Carter is a penetrating pass-rusher who also has the kind of lateral movement skills to chase down running backs in the backfield. Simply put, he's a stud.
His production upside in 2022 is massive. Georgia sent five defensive starters to the NFL in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Carter's opportunity to stuff the stat sheet following those departures is very real.
2023 NFL Draft likely to be all about QB Justin Fields
The Chicago Bears signed defensive lineman Justin Jones to a two-year contract this offseason after their attempt to ink Larry Ogunjobi failed due to medical issues. The three-tech was the first position GM Ryan Poles targeted in free agency, which shows how important the role is in coach Matt Eberflus' scheme. And while Jones is a fine player who could enjoy a breakout season this year, Carter is on another level. He has traits that are hard to find.
Still, it feels like the Bears are destined to use the 2023 offseason -- both free agency and the NFL Draft -- on offensive pieces. Whether it's an offensive tackle or elite wide receiver, it's difficult imagining a scenario where Poles doesn't build around quarterback Justin Fields in the first round.
In Reid's 2023 NFL mock draft, LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte comes is the fourth overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronksi goes sixth to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the 2023 NFL Draft process results in a wide receiver and offensive tackle emerging as top-10 players, I'd expect the Chicago Bears to lean in one of those two directions over a defensive lineman.
