2023 NFL Draft: Analysis of Chicago Bears Squad

The 2023 NFL Draft recently ended in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and the Chicago Bears made some significant moves. Let’s analyze their picks in detail.

Round 1, Pick 10 Overall: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

My analysis: In their first pick, the Bears selected Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright at No. 10 after trading down one spot on Thursday night.

Wright was the second offensive lineman taken in the draft after Arizona selected Paris Johnson Jr.

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The Bears passed on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter to address their need for offensive line help.

General Manager Ryan Poles and Coach Matt Eberflus were looking for long, lean, and fast linemen, and Wright’s size and speed make him a great fit.

At 6-5 and 333 pounds, Wright ran an impressive 5.01 40-yard dash at the combine, and his pass protection skills are what stood out most to the Bears.

Chicago made another move to improve their offensive line this offseason by addressing the right guard spot with Nate Davis, which allowed Teven Jenkins to move to left guard.

Finding help at correct tackle was the next priority, and Wright should be penciled in to start as a rookie, filling the opening left by Riley Reiff’s departure.

Wright’s strength and ability to move people around at his will make him an ideal candidate for the position.

Round 2, Pick 53 Overall: Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida

My analysis: The Bears also selected defensive lineman Gervon Dexter from Florida at No. 53 in the second round.

Dexter made 24 starts in 38 games at Florida and is an excellent fit for Eberflus’ defensive system.

At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he ran a 4.88-second 40-yard dash, the fifth-fastest time among all defensive linemen at the NFL combine.

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General Manager Ryan Poles decided to stay put in the second round until the Bears got on the clock at No. 53, despite five pass-rushers coming off the board on Friday.

By selecting Dexter, the Bears arguably addressed their most enormous defense hole.

Round 2, Pick 56 Overall: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami

The Bears’ third pick in the draft was Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, selected at No. 56 in the second round.

Eberflus’ defensive philosophy is rooted in the Tampa-2 system, making Stevenson, a 6-0, 214-pound, physical cornerback, a perfect fit.

Chicago aimed to upgrade their outside corner position and found a player who could start opposite Jaylon Johnson.

The Bears’ defense allowed 9.7 yards per target to wide receivers in 2022, half a yard worse than any other defense in the league.

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By selecting Stevenson, the Bears hope to improve their pass defense.

Stevenson’s ability to play off, zone, or man coverage makes him a valuable asset to the Bears’ defense.

He limited opposing quarterbacks to a 2.5 QB in 107 snaps playing press-man coverage over the last two seasons, which was the best mark among FBS defenders with at least 50 press-man snaps.

Round 3, Pick 64 Overall: Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina

My analysis: Round 3, Pick 64 overall, saw the Bears bolster their interior pass rush by selecting South Carolina’s Zacch Pickens, a versatile defensive lineman who can play both tackle positions.

Despite weighing 305 pounds in his senior year, Pickens trimmed to 291 pounds and recorded a 4.89 40-yard dash at the combine, ranking sixth among defensive tackles.

While he needs to refine his pass-rushing skills, Pickens is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to stopping the run, which will be a valuable asset for the Bears’ defense that struggled with a 31st ranking of 157.3 yards allowed per game in 2022.

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Pickens acknowledges his passion lies in stopping the run, stating that it is his sole focus.

Round 4, No. 115: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

My analysis: In Round 4, Pick 115, the Bears chose Roschon Johnson, a powerful and team-oriented running back from Texas.

Standing at 6-foot and 219 pounds, Johnson’s impressive rushing style and leadership skills caught the attention of the Bears, even with the spotlight on his teammate Bijan Robinson.

Johnson, who began his college career as a dual-threat quarterback, switched to running back due to injuries in 2019 and managed to rush for a minimum of 400 yards and five touchdowns in each of his four seasons.

Johnson’s ability to handle different roles, including receiving passes from the backfield, leading the way in pass protection, and contributing to four-phase special teams, make him a versatile player.

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Additionally, Johnson is known for breaking tackles and gaining yards, averaging 3.96 yards after contact per rush on 93 carries last season.

Johnson’s relatively low usage during his time at Texas, with only five starts in 47 games, points to his potential in Chicago.

According to Bears scout John Syty, Johnson’s potential is rising, and the team expects him to be with them for a long time.

Round 4, Pick 133 Overall: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

In Round 4, Pick 133 overall (from Philadelphia), the Bears added Tyler Scott, a Cincinnati wide receiver with impressive top-end speed (4.44 40-yard dash) and a background as a Junior Olympic sprinter in the 400-meter dash.

Scott’s proficiency in deep routes is evident from his seven touchdowns on post routes since the beginning of 2021, which is tied for the most in the FBS.

The Bears envision Scott as an exciting vertical threat for quarterback Justin Fields, who will appreciate Scott’s ability to stretch the field.

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Additionally, Scott’s experience as a running back in high school and subsequent conversion to wide receiver contribute to his vision and run-after-the-catch abilities.

Although Scott describes himself as a “raw” receiver, he believes his potential is limitless and is eager to fine-tune his footwork and route running.

Furthermore, Scott brings experience as a gunner on punt returns, adding value to the Bears’ special teams.

Ryan Cavanaugh, a Bears area scout, believes that Scott will surprise everyone with his quickness and route running, among other things.

Round 5, Pick 148 Overall: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon

In Round 5 of the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears picked up Noah Sewell, LB from Oregon, with the 148th overall pick, acquired from New England through Baltimore.

With a significant investment in their linebacker corps this offseason, the addition of Sewell provides depth to the team.

Sewell, the younger brother of Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell, was a two-time Butkus Award semifinalist during his time at Oregon.

His versatility allows him to play several rotational roles in the Bears’ defense.

While Sewell played most of his snaps (65%) as a middle linebacker, he also had 500 career snaps as an outside linebacker and over 100 as a slot cornerback.

Sewell was also an effective pass rusher for the Ducks, with an 18% pressure rate over the past two seasons, ranking 11th out of 1,100 FBS players with at least 150 pass rushes.

Reese Hicks, Bears’ west coast area scout, said of Sewell, “He’s a good blitzar. He’s got a good arsenal of moves. That adds an element that I think we can utilize on our defense.”

Round 5, No. 165 (from New Orleans), Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota

Terell Smith, CB from Minnesota, was picked up by the Bears in Round 5 with the 165th overall pick, acquired from New Orleans.

Smith lost his starting role multiple times over his five seasons with the Gophers, but he won it back as senior and set career highs in tackles for loss (4.5), sacks (2), and interceptions (2).

The Bears believe that Smith’s over 6-foot, 204-pound frame and traits make him a fit in various schemes, and his on-ball production, while lacking only four career interceptions, can be made up for with his physical skill sets.

Trey Koziol, Bears co-director of players personnel, stated, “When you’ve got somebody with those physical skill sets, they don’t have to be perfect, and they can still be correct.

The speed, the length, all that stuff is critical in that they can run downfield with speed wide receivers, come up and support the run, and get their hands on guys at the line of scrimmage.”

Nearly 60% of Smith’s career coverage snaps came in zone coverage, and last season he allowed 0.7 yards per coverage snap in the zone compared to 1.5 yards per coverage snap in man coverage.

Round 7, Pick 218 Overall: Travis Bell, DT, Kennesaw State

With the 218th overall pick in Round 7, the Bears selected Travis Bell, DT from Kennesaw State, in a compensatory pick. Bell is the first Kennesaw State player to be drafted into the NFL.

He tested well at the combine, recording 30 reps on the bench press and a 32 ½ inch vertical jump.

Bell, on the smaller side for a backup nose tackle at 6-foot, 310 pounds, collected 24.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 54 career games.

Bell is the third defensive tackle prospect the Bears took in this draft, marking only the second time since 1990 that Chicago selected three DTs in the same draft.

Kendall Williamson, S from Stanford, was the Bears’ final pick in the 2023 NFL draft, selected in Round 7 with the 258th overall pick in a compensatory selection.

Williamson has the ideal size and length for safety at 6-foot, 203 pounds, and is the third defensive back the Bears have selected in this draft.

The Bears lack experience behind Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson in the secondary, where Williamson will try to prove he deserves a roster spot as a backup or practice squad.