NFL Draft Prospects Bears Must Target After 2023 Shrine, Senior Bowls
For the third time in franchise history (and the first since 1947), the Chicago Bears own the No. 1 draft pick. They'll be first on the clock at the 2023 NFL draft, unless they decide to trade the selection and move down, which could be a possibility.
If not, Chicago will use it to take any player it wants in this year's draft class. It will then have seven more picks over the three-day event, giving it an opportunity to bring in some talented, young players to build around moving forward.
Some of them may have been in attendance at either the East-West Shrine Bowl or the Senior Bowl, each of which took place within the past week. The Bears' coaching staff coached the American team at the Senior Bowl, so they got a close look at some top prospects.
Here's a look at several players who participated in one of those two games and could end up being on Chicago's draft board this year.
A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
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Even though A.T. Perry didn't record a catch during Thursday's East-West Shrine Bowl, he still boosted his draft stock. That's because the former Wake Forest wide receiver impressed during the practices that led up to the game throughout the week.
As Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus noted, Perry "showed off his entire skillset" during one-on-one drills and "finished as the highest-graded receiver in attendance."
"His ability as a bigger receiver to separate down the field is something that everyone is looking for in the NFL, and it makes him a weapon at all three levels of the football field," Renner wrote.
The Bears need to bolster their receiving corps, and Perry could be a good fit. He spent four seasons with the Demon Deacons, impressing especially over his final two. In 27 games between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, he had 152 catches for 2,389 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
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For four seasons (one at Western Michigan and then three at Michigan State), Jayden Reed showcased his playmaking abilities. He especially thrived over his final two years with the Spartans, recording 114 catches for 1,662 yards and 15 touchdowns in 24 games over that span.
Reed only had one reception for 25 yards in Saturday's Senior Bowl. But the former Michigan State standout had already boosted his draft stock by that point with his showings at practices for the National team throughout the week.
ESPN's Todd McShay even thinks Reed could now be selected on Day 2 of the draft.
"He showed great release off the line of scrimmage, and the play speed is absolutely there," McShay wrote. "Reed made multiple plays going up and getting the ball downfield, and his play just popped among the receivers."
Reed would improve Chicago's receiving corps and give quarterback Justin Fields an exciting player to throw the ball to in the future.
Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
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How versatile is Cody Mauch? Well, the former North Dakota State offensive lineman got time at four different positions during Senior Bowl practices, according to Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire, so it seems he could slot in just about anywhere on an O-line.
Mauch played five seasons for the Bison, serving as their starting left tackle for much of that time. However, it's possible he'll slide inside to a guard spot in the NFL, as that may work out better given his profile.
Wherever Mauch plays, he has the potential to make an impact. And that could be enticing to the Bears, who need to get stronger across the entire offensive line.
Chicago allowed 58 sacks this past season, the fourth most of any team. They need to do a better job of keeping Fields on his feet, and a flexible player like Mauch could help it better accomplish that.
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