Prospects for Bears to Avoid in 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL draft won't begin with the Chicago Bears on the clock, even though they finished a league-worst 3-14 last season. They opted to trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers and moved back to No. 9.

It's not a guarantee the Bears will pick there, either. They could decide to trade down again, considering they have a lot of needs to address and may be looking to come out of the draft (set for April 27-29 in Kansas City) with as many prospects as possible.

At this point, Chicago owns 10 selections in this year's draft. But that number could keep going up, depending on what additional deals the team decides to make. Whether the Bears acquire more picks or not, their goal will be to get the most out of each of them and continue to build a strong roster for the future.

With that in mind, here's a look at several players Chicago may want to avoid in the 2023 NFL draft for various reasons.

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 3, 2023, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Bears' need to add wide receivers isn't as strong as it was at the beginning of the offseason. They acquired DJ Moore from the Panthers in the return package for the No. 1 overall pick, giving quarterback Justin Fields a true top receiver to throw to in Chicago.

Plus, Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool are set to return for the Bears. So they have the makings of a solid receiving corps for 2023.

It would likely still be wise for the Bears to add WR depth via the draft, but they may not want to use the No. 9 overall selection on one. And if they do, they should probably avoid targeting TCU's Quentin Johnston.

Although Johnston will likely be a solid NFL player (and maybe even better than that), he's an outside receiver who would be blocked by Moore and Mooney on Chicago's depth chart. It's not a great fit, so the Bears would likely be better off trying to land a slot-type wide receiver at a later point in the draft.

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 12: Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Devon Witherspoon (31) waits for play to resume during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 12, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It would be a great story if Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon was drafted by the Bears. The 22-year-old cornerback would be staying in state and would go from playing his home games in Champaign to Chicago.

But that may not make the most sensible top draft choice for the Bears. In order to land Witherspoon, they'd likely have to use the No. 9 overall pick on him, as he's one of the top CB prospects in the class.

There are more pressing needs on Chicago's roster, as it has Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon as two solid starting cornerbacks. Plus, it may behoove the Bears to trade down and acquire more draft picks, which would likely take them out of the running for Witherspoon anyway.

If Chicago really wants Witherspoon, then it could likely find a way to incorporate him into its plans, and he should be a strong NFL player. It just seems like there are better options for the Bears than taking him in the first round, unless they're somehow able to trade down again and still land him.

Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 02: Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey of Pittsburgh participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 02, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Chicago greatly needs to upgrade its defensive front after a 2022 season in which the team ranked last in the NFL with 20 sacks. It especially has to get stronger on the interior at the tackle positions, which remains a top need at this juncture of the offseason.

The Bears may use their first-round pick on a defensive tackle, or they could wait a bit longer to address the position. It may even make sense for them to draft multiple DTs.

But one player Chicago should avoid is Pittsburgh's Calijah Kancey. The 22-year-old put up solid numbers for the Panthers, recording 14.5 sacks over his final two seasons. But he's only 6'1" and 281 pounds, which could impact his ability to be effective at the pro level.

Perhaps Kancey ends up being a solid NFL player, but there is some bust potential. The Bears should target defensive tackles who are likely to be more of a sure thing, as they have to ensure their D-line gets stronger for 2023 and beyond.