Bears’ 53-man roster projection following 2023 NFL draft
The NFL draft for 2023 has been announced. Chicago Bears They are getting ready for their next offseason stage before they break for the summer.
Ryan Poles’ focus was primarily on the defense, which is understandable given how many holes there are. Chicago signed three defensive tackles as well as two cornerbacks, an offensive tackle, a running back and one wide receiver.
Poles is praised for his solid draft. While his draft class didn’t feature any sexy picks, it addressed the team’s biggest needs and got great value on the third day of the draft.
Following the NFL draft and rookie minicamp, here’s a look at our early 53-man roster projection for the Bears, which features plenty of rookies.
Quarterback 2
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Fields will be entering his third season as a Bear, and the team expects him to make a big step in his passing game. The team signed Walker to serve as Fields’ backup and released Trevor Siemian Soon after,
Running back (5)
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Bears revamped running back room David Montgomery Exited free agency. In free agency, they signed Foreman and Homer. They drafted Johnson in fifth round. Johnson will be competing for reps against Herbert and Foreman. The team also signed Blasingame for a two year deal.
Wide receiver (6)
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Moore was acquired as part of a trade with the Panthers for the No. 1 pick. The Panthers traded their No. Now, Chicago’s top wideouts include Moore, Mooney and Claypool, as well as Jones St. Brown. Scott was selected in the fifth round, as a speedster with a potential vertical threat.
Tight end 3
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Kmet just finished a great year as a Bears player, in which he played a major role in the passing game. Chicago signed Tonyan to a one-year deal in free agency, where he’ll serve as a nice complement to Kmet. Tonyan’s role is that of a receiver, not a blocker. He should be considered in the red-zone approach.
Line of offensive (9)
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Wright, the team’s first-round pick, has been selected to form their offensive line. He fills the hole at right tackle, and it appears that Whitehair will be the guy at center after the team didn’t address the position in the draft.
Edge Rusher (4)
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After not drafting an edge rusher in the draft, they may turn to free agent to find a veteran. Walker, Gipson Green and Robinson lead the group.
Interior defensive line (5)
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Dexter, Pickens and Billings will all be important rotational pieces for Chicago’s defensive interior.
Linebacker (5)
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The Bears overhauled the linebacker position and free agency, and the team’s starting linebackers are set with Edwards and Edmunds. Sewell is a bargain and could compete with Sanborn for SAM.
Cornerback (7)
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Stevenson is a third-round pick of the Bears that they acquired by trading up in the second round. He’ll join Johnson and Gordon in the defensive backfield. Smith, a 5th-round pick, is expected to be an important depth player behind Johnson.
Safety (4)
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There’s no doubt that Jackson and Brisker will lead a strong safety group for Chicago. While DeAndre Houston-Carson Hicks could have a bigger role in his second season if he is still unsigned. Williamson was also selected by the Bears in the late seventh round.
Specialists (3).
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Scales was re-signed by the Bears for a one-year contract to maintain their special teams trio into 2023. Santos Gill Scales have been a consistent part of the Chicago special teams for two years.
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