Draft Insiders Now In Lockstep On Chicago Bears' Likely Target

The Chicago Bears won't betray any details on who they might take in the 1st round of the 2023 draft. Having dropped to #9 overall following their trade with Carolina, it's more difficult to pinpoint who they could take. Experts believe they will have intriguing options at cornerback, pass rusher, defensive tackle, and offensive tackle. Any one of those can be justified as a genuine need for this team. It comes down to who GM Ryan Poles would be most comfortable taking. Around this time of year, draft insiders start getting more accurate intel.

This is where it gets interesting for the Bears. Two of the most well-respected people in the business released their latest mock drafts this week. Both not only had Chicago targeting the same position but the same player. They believe Northwestern left tackle Peter Skoronski will be the guy Poles goes with.

Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN)

"Offensive tackles ideally have 34-inch length or more. But he is sudden, almost always balanced in his set and powerful. And the explosion showed up in his vertical (34.5 inches) and broad jump (9-foot-7), both second-best among offensive linemen. Plus, only three sacks over 33 career starts were attributed to him at Northwestern."

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network)

"I love this pick for the Bears. Skoronski would be an immediate upgrade at right tackle for Justin Fields."

The general agreement is that Skoronski is the most well-rounded offensive lineman in this class. He has athleticism, power, technique, and intelligence. The only problem evaluators can find is his shorter arms. His are 32 inches. NFL tackles typically should be 34. Chicago will be taking a risk if they aim to play him at tackle. However, they could always move him inside to guard if it doesn't work out.

The Chicago Bears would likely not regret that pick.

While it's hard to say if he will be a great tackle in the NFL, nobody disputes Skoronski will have a long career in the league. If it's not on the outside, the general consensus is he will end up a Pro Bowl guard. That is why many see him as the safest pick in the class. He might not achieve superstardom,, but he will be a good player for a long time. There is nothing wrong with adding that type of guy to the roster. It doesn't hurt that he grew up a diehard Bears fan in Park Ridge, Illinois.

It will be interesting to see where the buzz goes as the draft draws closer. Rumors persist that Poles may look to trade down again. If so, the odds of the Chicago Bears landing Skoronski go down. There are plenty of teams in the top 10-12 that could use offensive line help. It comes down to how much Poles likes him. He certainly fits the profile of everything the GM wants, save for the length. That singular point will determine everything in the next five weeks.