It’s too early to say who the Chicago Bears will pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft. Three games remain on the schedule. They have to play them before the final order is narrowed down. Right now, the Bears hold the #2 overall slot. If they lose their remaining games, they will cement that spot. If they win another game, they will likely drop to #4. Two wins push them to the bottom of the top 10. So a lot can still happen. Based on how things have gone, it’s unlikely they win more than one game down the stretch. That could be why GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have eyes on top five prospects.
The question becomes who they might target if this is the case. Everybody has their opinion on this. It separates into three camps. Some call for selecting Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson. Others want Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. The last group hopes the Bears seek to trade down, stockpiling more picks along the way. Only the Bears brass can answer this question. It is here where Eberflus offers an important glimpse into how he thinks. Listen to this reply to a question about the importance of the three-technique position in his defense.
While Anderson has been far more productive in college when accumulating sacks and tackles for a loss, Carter might be the guy the Bears head coach covets. He is precisely the type of player that fits the three-technique spot. He’s powerful, quick, and almost impossible to block one-on-one. While his overall production is somewhat underwhelming at Georgia, he’s begun to turn up the heat in recent weeks. Over the past five games, Carter has three sacks and seven tackles for a loss. He’s playing his best football at the perfect time.
It is too soon to say whether the Bears will even have a chance to pick the defensive tackle. They can still screw it up by winning a meaningless game or two. That said, those comments by Matt Eberflus come from the heart. He genuinely feels the three-technique spot is the most important position on his defense. So if he can grab one that could end up special, like a Warren Sapp or Aaron Donald, it’s almost certain he’d take it.
Even if Carter is off the table, that doesn’t mean the Bears would look elsewhere. Clemson’s Bryan Bresee is also considered a top 10 prospect. They might go with him if the pick position falls outside the top five. It will be fascinating to look back on this quote months from now.
