The Chicago Bears have been one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL this offseason and the speculation on what they will do with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is only getting more intense. In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has the Bears trading back with the Indianapolis Colts to the fourth overall pick.
McShay believes the Bears would receive the No. 4 pick, a second-round pick (No. 35), a fifth-rounder and possibly an additional Round 1 selection in 2024 in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick. With that fourth-overall pick, McShay has the Bears drafting Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter.
Carter is a 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive end who had six sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. He dealt with a knee injury this season and was behind numerous first-rounders on Georgia’s 2021 depth chart.
McShay believes that if the Bears can trade back and still land Carter, it would be a great move for the team. He noted that the Bears would be able to acquire more picks and still get a player they might be targeting with the No. 1 overall pick.
However, the Bears still have free agency between now and the draft, and that could drastically change the team’s needs. There are numerous stud defensive lineman in the free agent class, and signing one of them might change the Bears’ need for Carter.
The Bears are in an incredibly unique position right now with the No. 1 overall pick, and it will be interesting to see what they decide to do in the end. Whether they decide to stay put and take Carter or trade down and get more picks, the Bears have a great opportunity to shake up the draft and improve their roster.
