Chicago Bears re-draft 2023—fixing Ryan Poles’ mistakes

Original Pick: Darnell Wright

• OT, Tennessee

New Pick: Jalen Carter

• DT, Georgia

Forget that whole “The Bears didn’t have the infrastructure to help Carter thrive” argument. When a player is as disruptive as the Super Bowl-bound Eagle, you figure out how to make it work.

SECOND ROUND

Original Pick: Gervon Dexter Sr.

• DT, Florida

New Pick: Marvin Mims Jr.

• WR, Oklahoma

The more talented Rashee Rice was available, but Mims is the better cultural choice. He’s a speedster who will thrive both in the wide receivers and the special teams rooms.

THIRD ROUND

Original Pick: Zacch Pickens

• DT, South Carolina

New Pick: De'Von Achane

• RB, Texas A&M

The prolific Achane—who could be cited as one of the draft’s biggest steals—would’ve been an ideal backfield addition.

THIRD ROUND

Original Pick (via trade): Tyrique Stevenson

• CB, Miami

New Pick: Zach Harrison

• EDGE, Ohio State

Stevenson has plenty of game, but his career-defining Hail Jayden brain-fart should disqualify him from consideration. Harrison, meanwhile has thrived in Atlanta as a reliable run-stuffer.

FOURTH ROUND

Original Pick: Roschon Johnson

• RB, Texas

New Pick: Isaiah McGuire

• EDGE, Missouri

With Achane in the fold, running back is no longer a position of need, so Poles could’ve lined up McGuire opposite Harrison and had himself a quality pair of rushers for the next five years.

FOURTH ROUND

Original Pick: Tyler Scott

• WR, Cincinnati

New Pick: Chase Brown

• RB, Illinois

Okay, we said running back was no longer a position of need, but imagine a backfield timeshare of Achane and Brown. It’d be Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, except cheaper.

FIFTH ROUND

Original Pick: Noah Sewell

• LB, Oregon

New Pick: Noah Sewell

• LB, Oregon

-and-

Original Pick: Terell Smith

• CB, Minnesota

New Pick: Terell Smith

• CB, Minnesota

Admittedly, Poles had a fantastic fifth round, finding solid value and depth for Matt Eberflus’ then-good-but-far-from-great defense.

SEVENTH ROUND

Original Pick: Travis Bell

• DT, Kennesaw State

New Pick: Tyson Bagent

• QB, Shepherd University

Given the opportunity, Bagent could evolve into a starter in this league, and to Poles’ credit, he recognized that when he grabbed the feisty signal caller off of the undrafted pile.

SEVENTH ROUND

Original Pick: Kendall Williamson

• S, Stanford

New Pick: Jaylon Jones

• CB, Texas A&M

Yes, Poles snatched up a corner two rounds prior, but if you get the opportunity to have a productive Smith/Jones backfield, you take it.