WalterFootball.com: NFL Draft Grades - Chicago Bears

2023 Pick 9. (R:1 P:9) - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia A Charlie Campbell reported that the Eagles would trade up into the 6-9 range for Jalen Carter if he got past Seattle. Once the Seahawks made their strange Devon Witherspoon pick, the opportunity was there because the teams drafting 6-9 didn't like Carter very much because of his off-the-field concerns. Those are definite worries, but Carter's upside is enormous. Carter is arguably the best prospect in this class, and outside of Bijan Robinson, no player who was going to be available for the Eagles was going to help them win a Super Bowl this year more than Carter.

2023 Pick 53. (R:2 P:22) - Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida B+ Gervon Dexter is a lengthy, quick and strong defensive tackle with plenty of upside. The Bears lost Akiem Hicks recently, so a replacement was needed. I had Dexter pegged around this range, so this seems like a solid choice.

2023 Pick 61. (R:2 P:30) - Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
F - This is a strange pick. Brenton Strange is someone I had late third round at the very earliest. Strange, who has nice run-after-the-catch ability, is a reach here, but not necessarily an egregious one. What really gets me is that tight end is the last thing the Jaguars needed. With lots of other holes on the roster, Jacksonville should have gone elsewhere. This is our first Millen of the weekend.

2023 Pick 64. (R:3 P:1) - Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina
B+ It makes sense that the Bears would continue to add to their very weak defensive line. Zacch Pickens has a ton of upside as an athletic lineman. This is a solid choice to begin the third round.

2023 Pick 103. (R:4 P:1) - Nick Saldiveri, OT, Old Dominion
C- I'm not sure why the Saints needed to trade up for Nick Saldiveri, who was a late-round prospect. Saldiveri is at least a versatile lineman - he can play tackle and guard - which is key because New Orleans needed blocking help.

2023 Pick 133. (R:4 P:31) - Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
A- I had Tyler Scott going about 20-25 picks earlier than this, so I'm a fan of this value. Tyler Scott is a small receiver, but he's extremely quick. He should be able to help Justin Fields.

2023 Pick 136. (R:5 P:1) - Yasir Abdullah, LB,
C+ I didn't have Yasir Abdullah in my mock draft, but he was in consideration for the final couple of rounds. Abdullah was productive as a pass rusher at Louisville, but he's a bit small so he won't be a full-time player.

2023 Pick 148. (R:5 P:13) - Noah Sewell, ILB, Oregon A+ Noah Sewell doesn't fill a need at all after the Bears spent so much capital on linebackers, but there's no denying this great value. Sewell, a big linebacker who covers well for a player his size, should have been chosen on Day 2. This is a steal.

2023 Pick 218. (R:7 P:1) - Travis Bell, DT,
C Travis Bell is pretty limited athletically and comes from a school where he didn't face much competition. He may have a hard time making the roster.

2023 Pick 258. (R:7 P:41) - Kendall Williamson, S, Stanford
B+ Kendall Williamson is a tough safety who plays well versus the run and has good instincts. He's not a good athlete at all, but he could fight for a role.

2022 Pick 39. (R:2 P:7) - Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington C+ Grade
I'd like Kyler Gordon here if he didn't have some major character issues. Some teams removed Gordon from their draft board. Gordon will be a good player and fill a big need for the Bears if he stays focused on football, but it's unclear if that'll happen.

2022 Pick 48. (R:2 P:16) - Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State C- Grade
The Bears are setting up Justin Fields for failure by not addressing the receiver position. I like Jaquan Brisker in this range as an instinctive safety, but not finding a receiver may ruin Fields. That will definitely factor into this grade.

2022 Pick 71. (R:3 P:7) - Velus Jones, WR, Tennessee
B Grade
The Bears finally found some help for Justin Fields! I liked Velus Jones as a third-day sleeper, but not as much in the third round. Still, Jones could end up being a decent No. 2 receiver in the NFL with his great deep speed. Fields should enjoy throwing deep passes to him on the rare occasions in which he has protection in the pocket.

2022 Pick 186. (R:6 P:7) - Zachary Thomas, OT, San Diego State
B Grade
I don't like this offensive line pick as much as I did the last one Chicago made, but it's still a solid choice. Zachary Thomas can play both tackle and guard, and his versatility will be key for a team with severe blocking issues.

2021 Pick 11. (R:1 P:11) - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State A+ Grade
The Bears had to make this move. Andy Dalton was their projected starter entering the 2021 season, and there's no way they could have sold their fans and players on that. They couldn't waste a great defense or Allen Robinson any further. I imagine they're absolutely shocked that Justin Fields is still on the board. He's arguably the second-best quarterback in this class. For my money he is, so I must grade this as an A+.

2021 Pick 20. (R:1 P:20) - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida B Grade
The Eagles broke the Giants' heart when they traded ahead of them for Devonta Smith. This prompted the Giants to trade down to No. 20, where they got the next-best receiver in the class. I had Toney going to the Titans at No. 22, so this range is right for him, and New York is getting good value when the trade is considered. Toney seems like a great complement for Kenny Golladay, so I like this pick, as the Giants needed to give Daniel Jones one more weapon.

2021 Pick 52. (R:2 P:20) - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, OLB, Notre Dame A Grade
I slotted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to the Browns in the first round, so I love this value. That said, I'm not surprised Owusu-Koramoah slipped. Some would say he doesn't have a natural position, so after Isaiah Simmons' struggles last year, teams may have been worried about Owusu-Koramoah's translation to the NFL. However, he's a great athlete and should be able to help Cleveland defend Lamar Jackson.

2021 Pick 83. (R:3 P:19) - Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame
C Grade
I've had Tommy Tremble in the fourth or fifth rounds of my mock draft, so I think this is a slight reach in the middle of the third round. That said, it fills a huge need for the Panthers, who didn't really have anything at tight end outside of the mediocre Dan Arnold.

2021 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2021 Pick 204. (R:6 P:20) - Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
A Grade
Shi Smith was one of the standout receivers of the Senior Bowl, so it's not a surprise that the Panthers drafted him because they coached him in Mobile! I thought Shi Smith would go early on Day 3, so I'm a big fan of this value, as the Panthers try to replace Curtis Samuel.

2021 Pick 208. (R:6 P:24) - Stone Forsythe, OT, Florida
A- Grade
The Seahawks finally obtained an offensive lineman! I mocked Stone Forsythe 35 picks earlier, so I like the value Seattle is getting with Forsythe, who blocked well the past two seasons. He allowed just two sacks last year.

2021 Pick 221. (R:6 P:37) - Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
B Grade
The Bears might have made this pick with trading Anthony Miller in mind. Dazz Newsome is a limited athlete, and he best projects as a replacement for Miller, who has been the subject of trade rumors. Newsome makes sense in this range.

2021 Pick 228. (R:6 P:44) - Thomas Graham, CB, Oregon
B+ Grade
I'm surprised the Bears waited this long for a cornerback, given that they needed two players at the position as the result of Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan leaving for Denver across several offseasons. I slotted Thomas Graham 40 picks prior to this, so I like the value.

2020 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2019 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2018 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2017 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2016 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2015 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

2014 Chicago Bears - Prospect:TBD

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