Bears Rookies Who Will Make Instant Impact in 2023 Season
Some NFL teams rely on rookies to fill key roles more than others, and the Chicago Bears may be one of those during the 2023 season.
Coming off a 3-14 campaign last year, they have spent the offseason making moves to build a roster capable of long-term success. They even traded the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft and then moved down again from No. 9 to No. 10, acquiring as much capital as possible.
Now, Chicago has assembled a solid rookie class featuring a few players who should get a good bit of time on the field during the upcoming season. The Bears may not yet be a playoff contender, but their youngsters will likely be getting beneficial experience that should help them for the long term.
Here's a look at Chicago's incoming rookies who are most likely to make an instant impact in the 2023 season.
Darnell Wright, OT
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Darnell Wright should be a starter for the Bears during the 2023 season, and they hope he'll become an anchor on the offensive line for a long time to come. That's why they took the former Tennessee tackle at No. 10 in the draft.
Chicago will have some uncertainty along its offensive front, including at left tackle. Braxton Jones should again be the starter there, but it isn't a sure thing. However, Wright should be plugged in at right tackle, providing stability on that side.
The 21-year-old is a versatile player, so he may not stay in that spot for the entirety of his NFL career. The Bears will have the flexibility to move him around, should they decide to do so. But regardless, the former Vol will be somewhere on the field at all times.
Although Chicago general manager Ryan Poles said Wright will have to "come in and earn it like everybody else," per The Athletic's Adam Jahns, that shouldn't be an issue.
Expect to see Wright at RT for the Bears in Week 1.
Gervon Dexter Sr., DT
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Chicago needed to upgrade the interior of its defensive line, and it did so twice during the second day of this year's draft.
The team selected Florida's Gervon Dexter Sr. at No. 53 overall in the second round and South Carolina's Zacch Pickens at No. 64 in the third round.
While both DTs could factor into the mix in 2023, Dexter seems more likely to do so early in the season. The former Gators standout is a huge presence at 6'6" and 310 pounds, and that's something the Bears have been lacking up the middle.
Even if the 21-year-old is a bit inexperienced, the talent is there for him to end up being a steal from this year's draft.
"For him, there were flashes of everything," Chicago defensive line coach Travis Smith said at the team's rookie minicamp. "Physical. Penetrating. Converting off blocks. Being disruptive."
Those are all reasons why Dexter should fit in well on the Bears' defensive front.
Tyrique Stevenson, CB
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Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon will be two of the starting cornerbacks on Chicago's defense. Tyrique Stevenson, who was selected with the No. 56 overall pick in the second round of the draft, could be the third.
Not only is the 22-year-old talented, but he also seems to be a great fit for the defensive scheme of Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
ESPN's Matt Bowen recently pointed that out: "Stevenson shows the physical coverage skills to match up with boundary X receivers in the Bears' nickel sets, which would allow Kyler Gordon to stay inside at the slot position."
Over the past two years with the Miami Hurricanes, Stevenson notched three interceptions and was a reliable presence in their secondary. He could be the same in Chicago for a long time, potentially even starting at the beginning of the 2023 campaign.
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