Chicago Bears 2023 Mock Offseason: Building An Arsenal

With every Chicago Bears 2023 mock offseason, the challenge remains: how GM Ryan Poles can find a way to build around Justin Fields. The initial outlook is somewhat lukewarm for this year. The wide receiver market appears thin, and there aren’t many clear upgrades on the offensive line either. Poles will have to navigate a tricky market to accomplish his goals while also having to bolster one of the league’s worst defenses. Thankfully he has the resources to check several needs off the list.

What makes this a fun year is the boundless creativity Poles can show. He has so much more flexibility than he did in 2022. There is almost any direction he could go in because he has more money to spend than anybody and has the #1 pick in the draft. The thing is, everything points to Poles not getting reckless with his approach. He will approach this with the mindset of a surgeon. So here is another way things can unfold.

This Chicago Bears 2023 mock offseason is about proven commodities.

Trades:

5th round pick to the Bengals for WR Tyler Boyd and a 7th in 2023

Everybody keeps talking about Tee Higgins. The more likely outcome for Cincinnati is they deal the somewhat older Boyd to clear enough cap space so they can retain Higgins. While Boyd isn’t the superstar Bears fans pine for, he is one of the better slot receivers in the league. He is a constant security blanket on 3rd down and would allow Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney to play outside where they’re more dangerous.

Cuts:

• OG Cody Whitehair – $5.8 million saved
• DE Al-Quadin Muhammad – $4 million saved

Re-signings/Extensions:

• Tyler Boyd – 3-year extension for $33 million
• David Montgomery – 3-year deal for $19.5 million
• Cole Kmet – 4-year extension for $48 million
• Darnell Mooney – 4-year extension for $60 million
• Nicholas Morrow – 2-year contract for $10 million
• Armon Watts – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
• N’Keal Harry – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
• Trevon Wesco – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
• Matthew Adams – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
• Dane Cruikshank – 1-year deal for $1.08 million
• DeAndre Houston-Carson – 1-year deal for $1.165 million
• Patrick Scales – 1-year deal $1.165 million
• Josh Blackwell – ERFA deal for $750,000

Free Agency:

• DT Dre’Mont Jones – 4-year contract for $58 million
• OT Kaleb McGary – 4-year contract for $52 million
• LB Bobby Okereke – 3-year contract for $25.5 million
• TE Foster Moreau – 3-year contract for $21 million
• CB Marcus Peters – 2-year contract for $14 million

Jones is the interior pass rush specialist the Bears desperately need for their defense to go. He’s had at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons. McGary is a natural fit for the team’s wide-zone scheme. He is an excellent run blocker, moves well in space, and is fine in pass protection. Okereke played under Eberflus in Indianapolis. He knows this defense better than most. Moreau is a perfect #2 tight end. He’s a decent pass-catch option with size and after-the-catch running ability. He’s also a solid blocker. Peters is on the older side but remains one of football’s most dangerous ball-hawking cornerbacks.

The Draft:

• Trade: #1 pick to the Colts for #4 pick, 2nd in 2023, 1st in 2024, and 2nd in 2024
• Trade: #4 pick to the Panthers for #9 pick, 2nd in 2023, and EDGE Brian Burns

1st Round (via CAR) – Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

The initial plan wasn’t to trade back twice. Yet sometimes, a GM can’t pass on an offer. Poles got what he wanted from Indianapolis, which was a future 1st round pick. He’d aimed to make the pick there until Carolina offered a star pass rusher in Burns to move up. Chicago makes the deal, gets their QB hunter, and still manages to land one of the best offensive linemen in this class. Skoronski will likely be a guard in the NFL, and he has all the makings of a future Pro Bowler with his size, technique, power, and nastiness.

Trade: #35 pick and #54 pick to the Eagles for #31 pick and #63 pick

1st Round (via PHI) – John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota

Landing the best guard and the best center in the same draft has a nice ring to it. Michael Schmitz proved at the Senior Bowl he is legit. He’s got size, mobility, and technique and thrives in pass protection. He is a plug-and-play starter. Jumping to the bottom of the 1st round also enables the Bears to add a 5th-year option to the end of his rookie contract, ensuring another year of cheap control.

2nd Round (via CAR) – Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech

White finished his last four games at GT with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss. Then he dominated every single practice of the Senior Bowl. He is playing his best football and has much room to improve. White is a terrific athlete with a hot motor, good size, and plenty of power. All of the concerns stem from his lack of experience at the position and raw technical skills. Both of those are corrected with coaching and snaps.

2nd Round (via PHI) – DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

Eberflus has specific demands for players on his team. They must be athletic, have good length, and love football. Overshown checks all three boxes. He’s 6’4 with long arms, runs with excellent speed for his size, and reportedly crushed interviews at the Senior Bowl. As a former defensive back, he handles himself well in coverage. It is about improving his instincts at linebacker moving forward.

3rd Round – Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

People keep talking about the interior pass rush. Not enough referenced how bad the Bears were defending the run too. Nose tackle is another spot that needs fixing. Benton has the size, length, and raw power necessary for that spot. He played it very well at Wisconsin and helped his cause even further by upgrading his pass rush skillset in 2022. His best days are ahead of him.

4th Round – Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford

Due to health setbacks, Wilson was a forgotten name among the 2023 wide receivers. Then he sliced up defensive backs in Mobile, demonstrating his advanced route-running skills and underrated speed. He has tons of upside. It comes down to whether he can stay healthy for an entire season.

4th Round (via PHI) – Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford

The Bears 2023 mock offseason can’t ignore cornerback as a lingering need. Blu Kelly is their type of guy. He’s tough, physical and gets his hands on the football quite often. He has the quickness and speed to hang with most receivers. The challenge will be improving his zone coverage instincts and inconsistent tackling.

5th Round (via BAL) – Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma

Drafting Trestan Ebner last year was meant to give the Bears a definite threat out of the backfield in the passing game. It didn’t work. So they try again. Gray caught 99 passes for the Sooner, demonstrating his mix of speed, quickness, route-running, and reliable hands. He’s also an underrated runner too.

7th Round – McClendon Curtis, OT, Chattanooga

Curtis handled himself well at the Senior Bowl despite coming from a smaller school. He has good size, length, and decent athleticism. His issues stem from inconsistent pass protection and mobility questions. His toolbox needs expanding if he is going to challenge for playing time, but the potential is there.

7th Round (via CIN) – Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech

Drafting players late comes often involves one of two things. Either they are an exceptional athlete lacking polish, or they’re potentially big fixtures on special teams. Conner falls into the latter category. He has loads of special teams experience and is renowned for his toughness, physicality, and leadership.