2023 offseason mock thread: FA & Draft

www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/11/2/23435265/2023-chicago-bears-mock-draft-post-trade-deadline-predictions-chase-claypool-roquan-smith

Round 1: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Murphy has 5.5 sacks so far this season after having 7 in 2021. He is a freak athlete in the mold of Travon Walker last year, possessing fantastic size, rare acceleration, great mobility and bend around the corner, and a high motor. His ceiling is as high as anybody’s in the 2023 draft, and the Bears would be wise to do their homework on him for that reason.

Round 2 (via Ravens): Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
A rapid riser up draft boards in recent weeks, Hyatt has dominated the SEC this season. He’s raw as a route-running technician, but he has elite deep speed, dangerous agility with the ball in his hands, great ball-carrier vision after the catch and reliable hands. He, Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney could be an intriguing young trio for Justin Fields to throw to.

Round 3: Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
The Bears would be wise to add an offensive tackle to compete for a starting spot next year, and Bergeron fits the Ryan Poles mold up front. He’s a very good athlete with quality redirect ability and nice burst off the edge. He is also a powerful blocker with a mean streak whose raw grip strength allows him to overwhelm the competition. Though he’s raw as a technician, a lot of his issues seem quite coachable.

Round 4: Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
Pappoe has been on my radar for nearly two years, and he has been consistently productive when healthy. His smaller stature provides long-term durability concerns, but his range as a tackler, fluidity in space and instincts in coverage indicate he could be a valuable asset for an NFL team in today’s pass-first game.

Round 4 (via Eagles): Zack Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
Charbonnet has run for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns in 7 games this season. Why he has fallen generally under the radar in the grand scheme of draft coverage is unbeknownst to me. He is a tough runner with fantastic contact balance and good athleticism for a runner who’s 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, and he’s improved quite a bit as a pass-catcher over time.

Round 5: Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
Remember Iosivas’ name — he’ll be a massive riser up draft boards in due time. He’s a massive receiver at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, and he’s an All-American heptathlete who broke the 60-meter NCAA record as a track athlete. His deep speed is tremendous, he’s a good improvisational receiver, and his ball skills are great. Though he’s very raw as a route runner, the developmental potential is serious.

Round 5 (via Ravens): Javion Cohen, OG, Alabama
Cohen strikes me as one of those interior offensive linemen who gets drafted way later than he has any right to and ends up outperforming his draft status. He brings above-average athleticism with good mobility and polished footwork in pass protection. He also has good recovery strength at the point of attack, and even though he doesn’t have elite measureables, he could be a solid starter at the next level.

Round 7: Caleb Murphy, EDGE, Ferris State
With 15.5 sacks through 8 games, Murphy has been the best pass-rusher at the Division II level this year. He’s undersized for an edge rusher, but he plays incredibly hard and offers fantastic acceleration off the snap. His flexibility turning the corner allows him to take precise angles to the quarterback, and regardless of whether he stays as an edge rusher or transitions to being a SAM linebacker, he deserves a shot at the NFL level.

Haven't even begun to dive into draft stuff. But I did look at potential free agents today as I was refreshing my memory on the HOT GARBAGE available at receiver this off season and I found myself liking a lot of the names you listed.

What would be the general feeling of signing an edge rusher like Yannick Ngakoue? He has 4 sacks this years but has averaged 8-9 sacks since 2016.

He will only be 28 so if we sign him to a 2 year deal we can go edge rusher in round 3 or 4, unless we have a shot at a top 4 pick to get Anderson. Lord knows the front 7 is a mess in dire straits.

Seems like we need 5 new starters for front-7