The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books. After a flurry of selections from Thursday to Saturday, 259 players were selected to join the NFL.
With that, we give you our full recap of the Chicago Bears‘ draft, with analysis on every selection the team made during the weekend and an in-depth look at their top pick.
For more information on the players your favorite team drafted, it’s not too late to get the 2023 NFL Draft Guide, which includes expanded scouting reports, draft grades, offseason reports, unique advanced data, PFF grades and much more.
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2023 NFL Draft Picks
R1 (10): T Darnell Wright, Tennessee
R2 (53): DI Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida
R2 (56): CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (FL)
R3 (64): DI Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
R4 (115): RB Roschon Johnson, Texas
R4 (133): WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
R5 (148): LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
R5 (165): CB Terell Smith, Minnesota
R7 (218): DI Travis Bell, Kennesaw State
R7 (258): S Kendall Williamson, Stanford
Day 1: Wright fills a need for the Bears, but he is just the 22nd-ranked player on the PFF draft board. He produced a PFF grade of just 71.4 in 2022 but has some really good reps on tape where he just overpowers people. He allowed just eight total pressures in 2022.
Day 2: Dexter’s 4.88-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds ranked in the 83rd percentile among interior defenders in PFF’s database, but he needs to turn that athleticism into more production at the next level. Dexter is young at just over 21 years of age. He offered very little as a pass-rusher in 2022 with just a 55.2 grade, but his explosiveness is evident.
He’s not an elite athlete at the position, which is likely why he’s a mid-second-round player, but he does have the size and production to make this an intriguing pick. After starting his career at Georgia, Stevenson really came into his own at Miami. He still has a lot to learn and develop but produced a 79.5 PFF coverage grade in 2022.
After taking Florida interior defender Gervon Dexter Sr. late in the second round, the Bears add more beef to the interior of their defense with a player with more pass-rush juice. Pickens put up an 11.5% pass-rush win rate last season, with his 91st-percentile broad jump showing up on tape. The Bears’ defensive interior ranked 32nd in the league in PFF grade last season, so the team is investing a lot to change that.
Day 3: Johnson was overshadowed by Bijan Robinson in the Texas backfield but brings plenty to the table for a team that should run more than just about any team in the NFL next season. Johnson earned 80.0-plus PFF rushing grades in four consecutive seasons with the Longhorns.
This is great value for a player like Scott. He’s not the biggest player, and as a converted running back, he’s still learning the position. Still, he can fly, and he averaged 16.4 yards per catch with Cincinnati in 2022. He did drop 11.3% of the passes thrown his way, but the big-play ability he offers makes sense here.
Sewell is one of the more physical linebackers in this draft, but his lack of change-of-direction ability is going to be an area of concern in the NFL. Sewell recorded PFF grades between 70.0 and 72.0 in three consecutive seasons at Oregon and now joins a revamped Bears’ linebacking corps.
Everything came together for Smith in 2022 (80.9 overall grade) after generally poor grading the previous three years. Smith has the size and straight-line speed to play corner but lacks agility. His build and play strength could facilitate a move to safety, where he could learn the position behind Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker.
Bell is an undersized interior defensive lineman at just 6-feet but displayed upper-body strength with 30 reps on the bench press and good explosiveness with a 33-inch vertical. Bell earned an 88.9 run-defense grade in 2022, which is needed on a Bears defense looking to continue to bolster the interior of their defense against the run.
Williamson has plenty of experience, with 2,608 snaps over the past five seasons, but never produced a PFF grade above 70.0 in those seasons. He missed 20.0% of the tackles he attempted this past season.
DRAFT GRADE B+
Prospect Spotlight: T Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Wright is a four-year starter who finally saw the proverbial light flip on this past fall. His tape against Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. was outstanding, as he allowed only one pressure in that game and eight for the season.
Strengths, weaknesses and NFL role
Where he wins: Power
Few tackles in college football were more awe-inspiring when they engaged in the run game. He overpowered defenders everywhere he lined up.
What's his role? Right tackle/Guard/Gap scheme
Wright's skill set is traditionally placed on the right side, although that's fairly antiquated thinking. It also wouldn't be a surprise if some wanted him to move inside.
What he can improve: Playing on balance
Wright can get a little out over his toes and leave himself exposed to getting knocked off balance when he does catch defenders cleanly. He'll end up on the ground a lot more doing that in the NFL.
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