The only question left to answer for this team is where they will pick in the draft. For now, this latest Chicago Bears 2023 mock offseason works with the only information available. Four games remain. Two are against Super Bowl contenders, another is against the hottest team in the league, and the last will be against the likely division champion. There is a real possibility this team will finish without a win for the rest of the season. Either way, GM Ryan Poles should have a good idea of what his plans are.
While several position groups need help, the safe assumption is the Bears will focus their resources on the line of scrimmage. Both the offensive and defensive lines need help. This team can't expect to compete with the best in the NFL until they can control the trenches. Here is how they can go about doing that.
Chicago Bears 2023 mock offseason is going full makeover.
Trade:
3rd pick to the Colts for 7th pick, 2nd in 2023, 4th in 2023, 1st in 2024 and DT DeForest Buckner
Indianapolis has avoided the aggressive quarterback moves for too long. Owner Jim Irsay is growing impatient. So it isn't a stretch to think he'll push hard for management to move up in the draft to get one of the top prospects. They swing a deal with Chicago, giving them three extra picks and a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that head coach Matt Eberflus knows well. Buckner will be 29 next year, but he's still one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL and precisely what the Bears need.
Cody Whitehair and a 7th round pick to the Falcons for a 5th round pick
Poles no doubt wants to put his own stamp on the offensive line this year. Whitehair has been a solid player in Chicago for years. However, he doesn't fit the vision of where this team is going. So they send him to Atlanta for a reunion with Ryan Pace. They need interior offensive line help. The Bears get a decent pick in return and $5.8 million in cap space.
Cuts:
Al-Quadin Muhammad - $4.5 million saved
Re-signings/Extensions:
- Jaylon Johnson – 4-year extension for $76 million
- David Montgomery – 3-year deal for $27 million
- Cole Kmet – 4-year extension for $32.4 million
- Nicholas Morrow – 2-year deal for $10 million
- Armon Watts – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
- Equanimeous St. Brown – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
- N’Keal Harry – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
- Trevon Wesco - 1-year deal for $1.08 million
- Matthew Adams – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
- Dane Cruikshank – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
- DeAndre Houston-Carson – 1-year deal for $1.165 million
- Patrick Scales – 1-year deal $1.165 million
- Josh Blackwell – ERFA deal for $750,000
No significant changes to the last mock. Maybe the Bears think about upgrading at running back. The truth is Montgomery and Khalil Herbert complement each other really well. It shouldn't be too expensive to keep the former on the roster. Johnson may never be overly productive, but he's still their second-best player on defense. Kmet has taken a step forward this year. Extending him shouldn't be difficult unless he is ready to gamble on himself. Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool will have to wait until they're healthy.
Free Agency:
Jack Conklin - 3-year deal for $45 million
Larry Borom? Riley Reiff? Alex Leatherwood? We must be honest. None of those options appear ideal. So this Bears 2023 mock offseason follows the same pattern. Conklin is older than somebody like Orlando Brown, but he's not over the hill. He should still have 3-5 high-end years left at right tackle in the NFL before his true decline happens. He's a solid player in every aspect of the game, far more reliable than anything the Bears have.
Elgton Jenkins - 4-year deal for $68 million
This is the big swing Poles will want to make. Jenkins is one of the best interior offensive linemen in the NFL. He can play any position on the line but is at his best as a left guard. He fills the void left by Whitehair and immediately gives Chicago a massive upgrade in pass protection. The $17 million per year makes him the second-highest-paid guard in the league. That should make him happy.
Arden Key - 1-year deal for $3 million
He might not be the star fans were hoping for, but Chicago still needs more reliable depth at defensive end. Key has been a decent pass rusher over the past two years, with 9.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits in 30 games. While not a starter, he can serve as a solid rotational pass rusher in 3rd down situations.
Amani Oruwariye - 1-year deal for $1.5 million
He looked on the cusp of stardom after 2021 when he had six interceptions for the Lions. For whatever reason, he hasn't had that same mojo this year. Still, he's a younger cornerback with athleticism who has solid instincts and ball skills. He can be that outside guy opposite Johnson with Gordon at nickel.
The Draft:
1st Round (via IND) - Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
He doesn't get the same hype as Will Anderson or Myles Murphy, but Wilson fits exactly what Eberflus covets in defensive linemen. He's athletic, strong, and boasts outstanding length. Reports say he's 6'6 with 35-inch arms. It shows in the 14 sacks and 27.5 tackles for a loss in the past 23 games he's played. The guy has the capability to beat blockers in almost any way he wants. He can bend the edge, deliver a straight bull rush, or convert speed to power. His versatility might actually be the thing that makes him so dangerous.
2nd Round (via IND) - Jaxon Smith-Njiba, WR, Ohio State
Many still believe Smith-Njiba will go in the 1st round. Maybe, but there are reasons to think that won't be the case. Injuries slowed him severely in 2022. So there is little recent tape to go on. That means he needs to shine in athletic drills to get teams back on his side. That may not happen. Several experts believe he runs in the 4.5 range in the 40. That is not fast for a receiver. Still, he's a terrific route runner with strength and quickness to make plays every time the ball comes his way. He can be a lethal slot target.
2nd Round (via BAL) - Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
It's never a crime to load up on pass rushers. Verse is still somewhat of an enigma. He's only played one year of major college football for the Seminoles, spending the rest in the junior ranks. Still, he hasn't looked out of place. His 7.5 sacks in 11 games showcase his exciting mixture of size, athleticism, and burst. He still has lots to learn about rushing the passer from a technical standpoint, but that isn't a concern for this staff.
3rd Round - Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
Again, remember what Eberflus said. Length matters to this team. That is why undersized linemen won't get heavy consideration moving forward. Tippman is exactly the type of guy they'll covet. He's 6'6 with good length, plenty of power, and the proper nasty disposition most Wisconsin blockers have. There are some concerns about his mechanics and flexibility. If he takes coaching well, those can be worked around.
4th Round - D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan
Turner is battle-tested against some of the best wide receivers in college football. He's athletic with good length and can play man coverage against almost anybody. His ball skills are also solid, with three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns over the past two years. The primary concern is, at 180 lbs, whether he can carry more weight to tackle better.
4th Round (via IND) - Chris Smith II, S, Georgia
The foot injury to Eddie Jackson puts the Bears in a tough spot. They can't be 100% sure if he'll return to his old form. So they decide to add some insurance. Smith is slightly undersized at 5'11, but he gets his hands on the football a lot (6 INTs in two seasons) and isn't afraid to play a physical style.
4th Round (via PHI) - Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
There aren't many 6'5 linebackers that can move like Campbell. He's not an elite athlete, but he showcases underrated movement skills that make him a threat in coverage. He tackles well and isn't afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage. His stack-and-shed technique needs work, and he'll need better gap discipline.
5th Round - Darius Robinson, DT, Missouri
His 3.5 sacks this year won't impress anybody. Yet when watching Robinson on tape, there are signs the 6'5, 300 lbs lineman has loads of untapped potential. He's quick off the snap with good power and showcases active hands in his pass rush. It's fair to wonder if his coaches haven't used him properly.
5th Round (via ATL) - Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Explosive is the word that comes to mind with Brown. He's averaged 5.3 yards per carry for his college career. He also has 58 catches for 521 yards as a receiver out of the backfield. The Bears need more of his ability to seek and hit the home run. If Trestan Ebner can't fill that role, then Brown can.
Trade: 5th round pick (via BAL) to Patriots for two 6th round picks
6th Round (via NE) - Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
Even with Kmet signing an extension, that is no reason for this Bears 2023 mock offseason to end without another investment at tight end. Allen never had otherworldly numbers at Clemson, but he was always a reliable pass target with great 6'6 size and enough speed to threaten the seam.
6th Round (via NE) - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Will Trevor Siemian be back in 2023? That is hard to say. If not, the Bears have to add depth behind Fields. His playing style means injuries are an increased likelihood. So they need to add somebody with a similar skillset that can execute the offense. Nix has a solid mixture of passing prowess and mobility, even if his consistency could use some work.
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