Bears 2023 draft: Three options for 9th pick

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After trading the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers, who should Ryan Poles have his eye on for the 9th pick?

Being a dedicated sports fan is not for the faint of heart, but hell, there can be some good days. As a Chicago Bears fan, today was a very, very good day.



Your Chicago Bears no longer have the first overall pick, as I’m sure you already know. To recap the trade that is now the highlight of the short resume of general manager one Mr. Ryan Poles, the Bears sent the No. 1 in total Carolina Panthers in exchange for the 9th and 61st picks in 2023 NFL draft2024 1st, 2025 2nd, and wide receiver DJ Moore.

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Now that we know where the Bears will be picking in the first round, let’s take a look at some realistic draft targets for Ryan Poles and Co. at No. 9 overall.

Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State

First, let me start by saying that trading with the Carolina Panthers has gotten faster for me since Jalen Carter’s legal issues came up during the Combine. Trading at 1.09 instead of 1.04, for example, means Carolina would have to sweeten the deal – and sweet it is.

Second, it has to be said that the Panthers, who had a chance to select Justin Fields and inexplicably didn’t, just gave Justin Fields the best receiver of his young career along with four other draft picks. I’m rolling.

I previously tweeted that I would like to see Chicago change 1.09 and finish Paris Johnson, so I could stand my ground. Johnson stood out as one of the elite offensive line options in this draft class during Combine field drills, and while 1.09 might seem steep compared to a lot of mock drafts, turning to the line after trading for wide receiver DJ Moore would be a smart way to go about things. . You gave Fields a weapon, now give him protection.

Honorable mention of the offensive line: Petar Skoronski. If the Bears prefer him to Johnson, you won’t hear me complain.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Johnson would be a smart pick, but doubling up at wide receiver and pairing Fields with his old wide receiver at Ohio State, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, would be incredible. For my money, Smith-Njigba is the best wide receiver in this draft class, possessing rare route-running ability and mobility. Not the fastest wide receiver, but who cares. He profiles as a lethal receiver who understands coverage and will give Fields a reliable, friendly target.

In last year’s draft, fellow Ohio State wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson were selected high in the first round. Both produced more than 1,000 receiving yardage rookie seasons. According to Wilson, Smith-Njigba is the best receiver of the three.

I don’t know if I’d say that (I loved Wilson as a prospect), but that’s high praise for a route-running killer. In the 2021 season, Smith-Njigba led the Buckeyes in receiving yards with 1,606, Wilson was second with 1,058 and Olave was third with 936. Smith-Njigba surpassed two future first-round wide receivers. If he is a first-round pick, Bears fans should be thrilled to pick him.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

So while we’re having fun, let’s have a good time and be a little weird. Bijan Robinson is the best at the running back position and it is no exaggeration to say that he is the best running back prospect to enter the NFL in the last five years. His vision, agility and ability to move between power and volatility are incredible.

On talent alone, Robinson should be a top-five draft pick, just like Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott were. Unfortunately for Robinson, he plays one of the most devalued positions in the game and is part of a loaded running back class. How high or low he gets drafted will depend more on his position than his talent.

Let’s assume for a moment that the Bears let David Montgomery into free agency, spent a lot of money on the offensive line, and already secured Moore at wide receiver. You know what else would help a quarterback develop? A truly elite racing game.

Robinson makes a difference on the ground and out of the backfield as a receiving option, and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who has been with our not-so-friendly neighbors to the north, has been part of the implementation Packers an offense that featured a healthy amount of production from Aaron Jones, Jamall Williams and AJ Dillon. Getsy would have a field day throwing defenses into chaos with Fields, Moore and Robinson.

Who would you like the Bears to draft in nine years?

It will be revealed later today by our lead draft analyst, Jacob Infante some draft prospects the Bears should target in the second round.

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