Bears 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Roundup of B/R Staff, Kiper and Expert Picks

There's been a lot of intrigue surrounding the Chicago Bears' plans for the 2023 NFL draft. That continued when the team opted to trade the No. 1 overall selection, shipping it to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for wide receiver DJ Moore and a package of picks.

Now, where do the Bears go from here? They own the No. 9 overall pick in the draft (which is scheduled for April 27-29 in Kansas City), as well as a pair of second-round selections.

It's possible Chicago may not be done trading down and could move even further back than No. 9. Or maybe the Bears will keep the picks they have and use them on talented prospects.

Here's a look at what some recent mock drafts are predicting Chicago will do with its top picks this year.

No. 9 Pick

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 02: Jalen Carter of Georgia looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 02, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

B/R Scouting Department: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

ESPN's Todd McShay: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

NFL.com's Chad Reuter: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

The most popular choice for the Bears at No. 9 appears to be Carter, who may be the best defensive lineman in this year's class. The former Georgia standout could get taken even earlier than this, so if he's still on the board when Chicago is on the clock, the team will be getting great value.

As Matt Holder of the B/R NFL Scouting Department noted, the Bears need to upgrade their defensive front. And the addition of Carter would certainly do that for them.

"Carter will walk in the door as the Bears' best defensive lineman and should have no problem making an impact," Holder said.

It wouldn't be a bad idea for Chicago to consider a tackle at this spot, either. Skoronski and Wright are both solid linemen who would help the Bears do a better job of protecting quarterback Justin Fields, which they need to be better at in 2023.

No. 53 Pick

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 05: Zach Charbonnet of UCLA participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 05, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: BJ Ojulari, DE, LSU

ESPN's Todd McShay: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA

NFL.com's Chad Reuter: Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami

There's a wide range of options for the Bears with their first pick of the second round, as evidenced by these mock drafts. They have needs on both sides of the ball and will have a variety of ways to potentially fill those holes during the draft.

One intriguing possibility could be Charbonnet, who may be a good fit in Chicago's backfield. The Bears might still try to add another running back after losing David Montgomery (who signed with the Detroit Lions) and signing D'Onta Foreman.

"I like the value on Charbonnet at this point in Round 2 as another contributor in the run game," McShay wrote. "He's a patient runner with good contact balance and can be a three-down back in the NFL, even though he lacks breakaway speed."

The Bears wouldn't even need Charbonnet to play quite that much, considering they have Foreman and Khalil Herbert. That could be a strong stable of RBs for the team to utilize in 2023.

No. 61 Pick

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 04: Rashee Rice of SMU participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 04, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU

ESPN's Todd McShay: Byron Young, DE, Tennessee

NFL.com's Chad Reuter: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

Even if the Bears take Carter in the first round, they could still be looking to bolster their defensive line on the second day of the draft. They don't have much depth at those spots, so it would make sense to take multiple players at one of their biggest positions of need.

Or maybe Chicago could look to get Fields another offensive weapon to throw to at this point in the draft. Rice could fit well in a receiving corps that already features Moore, Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool.

Rice improved throughout his four-year career at SMU, culminating in a big 2022 season for the Mustangs in which he recorded 96 catches for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games. He's 6-foot-1 and has a skill set that could fit well in the Bears offense.

It's not a necessity for Chicago to add to its receiving corps in the draft. But if it's in a position to pick up a player like Rice at an opportune time, perhaps it would look to do so.