The blockbuster trade for wide receiver DJ Moore has settled the top of the Chicago Bears receiver depth chart. It also eliminated any chance GM Ryan Poles will take a pass-catcher in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But that doesn't mean the Bears won't add more talent to their passing offense in the early rounds.
The good news for the Bears is that the 2023 NFL Draft could offer Chicago a chance at a first-round talent in the second round. Perhaps this year's flood of mock drafts created unfair expectations for some prospects. At least one of them hasn't been invited to Kansas City for the first round of the NFL Draft.
Here's the complete list of prospects who were invited to attend the draft:
- WR Jordan Addison, USC
- EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- S Brian Branch, Alabama
- DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
- WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
- OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
- QB Will Levis, Kentucky
- CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State
- QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
- RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
- EDGE Keion White, Georgia Tech
- EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Only three wide receivers appear on this list: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers. One notable omission is TCU's Quentin Johnston, which is surprising considering his profile as the best combination of size and speed in this year's class.
It's true that this list only includes 17 names. That leaves 14 first-round picks who will be watching from home. Johnston could easily fall into that cluster of names.
And we don't know for sure whether Johnston was invited but declined.
Chicago Bears should get aggressive to land Johnston if he begins to slide
The NFL generally invites players who, based on intel gathered throughout the league, won't experience the awkward wait in the green room. It doesn't mean that every one of the 17 players invited this year will get picked early Thursday night. But it seems like the NFL is doing its part to minimize the chance of an uncomfortable drama playing out.
If Johnston somehow slides into Round 2, the Chicago Bears should consider an aggressive trade-up to land him.
Quentin Johnston measured 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds at the NFL Combine. He ran a disappointing 4.5 40-yard dash at his pro day, and perhaps that's why his draft stock has suffered as of late. But he was considered this year's WR1 for much of the season -- when the games were actually being played. He could suffer from the over-scouting syndrome like many receivers before him. Names like DK Metcalf and AJ Brown immediately come to mind as first-round players who slid into Round 2.
Here's what NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote about Johnston in his scouting report:
"Height-weight-speed prospect with the physical traits and upside that might have teams willing to overlook some of his inconsistencies on tape. Johnston is a long-striding vertical threat who can open up and separate when allowed to keep his feet moving in space. His elevation and catch radius create an expansive target area down the field, but his overall success rate on contested catches is way lower than it should be for a receiver of his size. Johnston needs a specific route tree, but will improve in that area at the next level. He will benefit from a more accurate deep-ball quarterback, but still feels more like a good WR2 than a high-volume WR1."
Adding Johnston to Justin Fields' arsenal of receivers, which already includes Moore, Chase Claypool, and Darnell Mooney, would be incredible, especially if the Chicago Bears land an offensive lineman like Paris Johnson Jr. or Peter Skoronski in the first round.