The Chicago Bears went into the 2023 NFL draft with plenty of draft capital. Ten picks in total. However, GM Ryan Poles faced a dilemma. While he did hold the 9th overall pick (later becoming the 10th after a trade), he would not pick again until 53rd overall. Reports from draft experts suggested the strength of this draft would be in the 20-50 range. That meant the Bears ran the risk of limiting their chances at top players in the class. So either Poles would have to move up from his next pick, 53rd overall, or he’d have to trust in luck that several names they wanted would slip through the cracks.
According to Matt Miller of ESPN, that is exactly what happened. He went back through every draft choice last month to determine what he felt were the 100 best overall. He factored in value based on where a player was drafted vs. where he was ranked pre-draft, scheme fit, how the selection addressed a need, and whether additional assets were gained or lost in draft-day trades to acquire the prospect. Based on his findings, the Bears made six of the best moves.
16. Darnell Wright, OT, Chicago Bears (Pick 1-10)
My pre-draft ranking: No. 20
The Bears can roll with Braxton Jones at left tackle — a favorite of mine from the 2022 draft — after trading down twice and grabbing the best right tackle in the draft at No. 10 overall. Wright will be a foundational piece of the offensive line, but I’m also looking at the extra selections the Bears picked up to continue building.
27. Tyler Scott, WR, Chicago Bears (Pick 4-133)
My pre-draft ranking: No. 57
The selection of Scott at No. 133 was one of the best value picks when graded against my pre-draft rankings, where I had him No. 57 overall. Scott’s speed and vertical ability will work well in a wide receiver room that offers diverse skill sets, and his ability as a return man will also boost the Chicago special teams unit.
44. Terell Smith, CB, Chicago Bears (Pick 5-165)
My pre-draft ranking: No. 77
Smith came at an almost 90-spot value when he was drafted in the fifth round. His speed at cornerback is easy to spot on film, and he has huge developmental upside. Jaylon Johnson is set to be a free agent after this season, and Smith could be his replacement.
46. Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears (Pick 4-115)
My pre-draft ranking: No. 86
A do-it-all running back with awesome special teams ability and leadership skills, Johnson could be this year’s Dameon Pierce as a third-day back who ends up a lead ball carrier. The Bears have D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert, but a team source told me after the draft that the former Texas backup has the upside to end up Chicago’s featured back.
68. Gervon Dexter Sr., DT, Chicago Bears (Pick 2-53)
My pre-draft ranking: No. 89
The Bears didn’t add a starting-caliber defensive tackle in free agency, making it the team’s biggest need on defense heading into the draft. Dexter is an upside player who wasn’t used to his full potential at Florida. But in Chicago, he’ll be tasked with lining up at 3-technique and using his great first-step speed to disrupt the quarterback.
82. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Chicago Bears (Pick 2-56)
My pre-draft ranking: No. 88
The Bears have thrown a lot of draft picks at the secondary, but the outside cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson remains open because Kyler Gordon is at his best on the inside. Stevenson was a slight reach, but he has the press-man coverage skills and toughness at the line of scrimmage to make up for that as a good scheme fit and need-based pick in Chicago.
It seems the Chicago Bears did pretty well for themselves under the circumstances. While they might not have landed much genuine star power, Miller makes it clear they added tons of quality depth with the upside to become legitimate starters in the near future. Wright should be an immediate contributor, while Scott appears to be one of the biggest steals in the entire draft. This doesn’t even include the three extra picks they secured between the 2024 and 2025 drafts.
Poles did his job. He infused his roster with young, athletic talent. Now it falls to head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff to get the most out of them. Excitement is already building for the season. Fans are anxious to see what this group can do. If even half of them live up to their early buzz, the Bears should be a significantly better football team this season.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
