Offensive linemen have dominated the Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft discussion. Whether it’s Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski or Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr., most, if not all, draft analysts have presumed GM Ryan Poles will shore up his offensive line with the ninth pick.
If Poles has made anything clear during his brief tenure as Bears’ general manager, he values premium positions in the early rounds of the NFL Draft. Sure, offensive tackle is near the top of the premium position list. But so is cornerback. And when Chicago’s on the clock on April 27, Poles could be faced with a choice between the top-ranked corner and top-ranked offensive lineman.
According to Peter Schrager’s latest mock draft, cornerback is a real possibility for the Chicago Bears in Round 1. He has Poles selecting Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez.
“This strong, smart, speedy corner out of Oregon (via Colorado) is a gamer,” Schrager wrote. “The Bears have so many needs, and snagging a top cover man with the ninth overall choice makes them better tomorrow. He could go before Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon.”
