Justin Fields took strides in his first year under the regime of Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus. But did the Chicago Bears have the draft picks and overall capital in the 2023 NFL Draft to compound that growth?
Want to see how the Bears graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Check out our full Chicago Bears draft grades, then take a look at the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Chicago Bears Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 1, Pick 10 (from PHI via NO)
Darnell Wright, OT | Tennessee - Round 2, Pick 53 (from BAL)
Gervon Dexter, DT | Florida - Round 2, Pick 56 (from JAX)
Tyrique Stevenson, CB | Miami (FL) - Round 3, Pick 64
Zacch Pickens, DT | South Carolina - Round 4, Pick 115 (from NO)
Roschon Johnson, RB | Texas - Round 4, Pick 133 (from PHI)
Tyler Scott, WR | Cincinnati - Round 5, Pick 148 (from NE)
Noah Sewell, LB | Oregon - Round 5, Pick 165 (from NO)
Terell Smith, CB | Minnesota - Round 7, Pick 218
Travis Bell, DT | Kennesaw State - Round 7, Pick 258*
Kendall Williamson, S | Stanford
*Compensatory selection
How Many Draft Picks Did the Bears Have in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Bears had 10 draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Four of those picks rested within the first three rounds, while six more resided on Day 3 — two in Round 4, two in Round 5, and two in Round 7.
Heading into Week 18, the Bears were one of just two teams with fewer than four wins, alongside the Texans. For the majority of the season, the Bears had been in a position to earn a top-three 2023 NFL Draft selection. They earned the first overall pick after Week 18’s action, with the Texans eking out a 32-31 victory over the Colts.
MORE: History of Chicago Bears First-Round NFL Draft Picks
The Bears would ultimately trade that first overall pick to a QB-needy team in the Carolina Panthers. In return, they received the ninth overall selection, an additional second-rounder (61st overall), a 2024 first, a 2025 second, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Chicago made two trades during the draft. They moved up in the second round, trading pick Nos. 61 and 136 to the Jaguars in exchange for No. 56, which they used to select Tyrique Stevenson. On Day 3, the Bears moved back, sending their fourth-rounder (No. 103) to the Saints for fourth (No. 115) and fifth-round (No. 165) choices.
The Bears originally had two Round 6 picks after collecting one in the Khalil Mack trade. But Chicago dealt that pick to add an extra seventh-rounder in 2022 and later traded their own Round 6 pick for Dolphins WR Jakeem Grant.
To close out the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bears had two seventh-round selections. One was their original pick at the very top of the round. The other was a supplemental pick, given to the Bears because the number of compensatory picks awarded across the league (30) was less than the number of teams.
Who Did the Bears Draft in 2023?
After acquiring Moore as part of their trade back from No. 1 overall, the Bears used the early rounds to fortify the trenches. First-round tackle Darnell Wright will immediately slot in as Chicago’s starting right tackle, where he’ll play next to free agent addition Nate Davis. Wright shouldn’t have any trouble as a run blocker from the get-go and will offer the Bears’ front five upside and a high floor.
While Chicago didn’t find an edge rusher in the draft, they did locate a pair of stout interior players on Day 2. Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens both weigh at least 300 pounds and profile as instant contributors against the run, which was a significant area of concern for the Bears’ defense in 2022. Dexter and Pickens still need to develop their pass-rushing acumen, but they’ll have a role to play on Day 1.
MORE: Chicago Bears 2023 Schedule
On the back end, Tyrique Stevenson looks like a perfect fit for Eberflus’ zone-based scheme and should start outside opposite Jaylon Johnson. Stevenson’s addition means Kyler Gordon — Chicago’s second-rounder in 2022 — can stick in the slot on a full-time basis. The Bears didn’t have much depth at corner heading into the draft, so inserting Stevenson as a starter will push every other CB down a peg.
Roschon Johnson is probably third in line for carries behind Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, but he could become a factor if injuries strike. The same goes for Tyler Scott, who fell further than expected but might already be Chicago’s WR4.
