The entire draft for the Chicago Bears next week will be important. However, most fans can tell you the 1st round is what sets the tone. It’s hard to overcome missing on that first pick. Bears GMs have made a bad habit of doing that in recent years. It is a trend Ryan Poles is hoping to reverse. To do that, he must make sure his first pick in this area of the draft goes well. So how will it go? To know that, I’ve decided to take a stab at predicting, with the best knowledge available, how the 1st round will unfold and what the Bears will do.
1. Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Everything points to Carolina having reached their decision. Young is the guy. He passed the necessary tests.
2. Houston Texans – Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
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There is a real undercurrent of belief Houston won’t go QB here. If so, then Anderson is the safest choice.
3. (Trade) Tennessee Titans – C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud is the #2 QB. Tennesse needs one desperately. Mike Vrabel is an Ohio State alum. It’s a perfect fit.
4. Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Shane Steichen helped make Jalen Hurts a star. He will absolutely think he can do the same with Richardson.
5. Seattle Seahawks – Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
Having added Dre’Mont Jones for the interior, the Seahawks grab their desperately needed edge rusher.
6. Detroit Lions – Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
The Lions have their roster at a point where they can afford to take a gamble. Carter on that line? Yikes.
7. Las Vegas Raiders – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
The AFC West now has three possible Hall of Fame QBs in it. Vegas won’t survive without good corners.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Atlanta’s leading pass rusher had 4 sacks last year. Smith is a freak athlete and a perfect fit for their defense.
9. (Trade) Pittsburgh Steelers – Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
It’s clear Pittsburgh is committed to building around quarterback Kenny Pickett. They found him another weapon in Allen Robinson this week. Now they have to figure out his protection. The Steelers have a glaring hole at left tackle. They have the ammunition to move up, so they send Chicago their 49th pick in the 2nd round in the deal to go from 17th to 9th, securing the giant and athletic Johnson from nearby Ohio State.
10. (Trade) New England Patriots – Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Bill O’Brien is big on athletic left tackles. With Johnson off the board, the Patriots pounce to get Jones.
11. Arizona Cardinals – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
It really doesn’t matter where they start. Arizona’s defense needs work everywhere. Witherspoon can ball.
12. Houston Texans – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Levis is a project, but his upside is substantial. Houston is willing to take the calculated risk on that.
13. New York Jets – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Aaron Rodgers functions best when well-protected. So the Jets wisely add a ready-made blocker.
14. Philadelphia Eagles – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Howie Roseman loves to move around. He adds more picks before landing the best RB prospect in years.
15. Green Bay Packers – Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Preston Smith turns 31 this year. Rashan Gary is coming off an injury. Murphy brings talent and insurance.
16. Washington Commanders – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
If they’re committing to Sam Howell, he needs weapons. Pair JSN with Terry McLaurin and go nuts.
17. Chicago Bears – Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
When the dust finally settles, Poles moves down twice in the 1st round, securing a total of four extra picks, including two 2nd rounders in 2023, a 1st in 2024, and a 2nd in 2025. He also gets wide receiver D.J. Moore on top of that. Then he calmly takes what is probably the best pure right tackle in the draft. Wright might not be an elite mover, but he’s athletic for his size, an excellent pass protector, and loves to maul people in the ground game. His style and character fit what this team is looking for and he would be able to start immediately. This would be a victory for Poles, especially knowing he’ll have three picks in the 2nd round waiting for him on Day 2.
