The phone is ringing off the hook in Chicago as quarterback-needy teams are exploring what it would cost to move up for the right to take a quarterback. The Bears send them all to voicemail and draft Carter. General manager Ryan Poles comes from Kansas City and has seen the impact Chris Jones has had on the game. There is no quicker path to the quarterback than an over-the-ball alignment.

He is one of the most twitchy and fastest pass-rushers that we’ve seen come off the edge in quite some time. His ability to convert speed to power, along with his bend and athleticism, enables him to use an array of moves to get to the quarterback.

After swinging a trade down, the Bears acquired some extra assets to help build up around Justin Fields, as well as try to bolster a defense with some serious holes. Step one of any organization that has a quarterback is to defend said quarterback, and the Bears have a couple of solid options to do so in this draft.

Paris Johnson Jr. played guard for several seasons before transitioning outside, but all that means for his pro prospects is that you can start him wherever you need to. This gave Chicago the opportunity to plug Johnson in wherever they needed him in Year 1, allowing them to bring him along at whatever pace they felt was best for his development.

A promising athlete with excellent tape in both facets of the game, hitting on Johnson would be a very good sign for the Fields’ long-term prospects in Chicago.

Obviously, the Bears’ prime objective in the offseason needs to be building around Justin Fields on offense, but that can be done in many different ways. In this scenario, their best bet is to take perhaps the best overall prospect in the entire draft, replacing what they lost in Robert Quinn.

While I would love to give the Bears an offensive playmaker to help Justin Fields, I don’t value any of the top options this high—especially when Jalen Carter is on the board. Carter is a unique talent with the strength and athleticism to dominate the interior of the defensive line.

Anderson would be the ideal pick for the Bears at No. 2 overalls. He’s an elite edge-rusher prospect.

Anderson is the type of generational athlete who could transform an entire organization’s fortunes and Chicago desperately needs an upgrade of talent on its lackluster roster. Chances are the front office will trade down to acquire more draft capital and afterward more prospects, but should Chicago keep the second pick Anderson could be an extraordinary playmaker for the Bears.

The Bears have a lot of holes to consider filling and only one top-three pick to use. It’s a tough call, but Jalen Carter is arguably the best prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the Bears have gotten next to no pressure generated on the inside. Carter is a rare elite prospect at DT, and he’d change Chicago’s interior presence overnight.

Jalen Carter might be the best player in this draft, with positional value removed. And even when you factor that in, he’s a near lock to being drafted in the top three picks of the 2023 NFL Draft. Players who weigh 300+ pounds simply shouldn’t be able to move as quickly as Jalen Carter does. His combination of power and speed is nearly unmatched, and the Chicago Bears’ defense will immediately reap the benefits from this selection.

The questions around Justin Fields have subsided. There are shades of Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas and future Hall of Famer Von Miller in his pass-rush approach, but Anderson is equally adept at defending the run. I’d have no qualms with him going first overall. GM Ryan Poles wouldn’t hesitate to take the explosive pass rusher after trading away Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn this year.

The Chicago Bears will be a prime trade down candidate when the 2023 NFL Draft rolls around. They have so many needs and must build the offense around Justin Fields. With no offers in this 2023 NFL Mock Draft, they settled by taking Will Anderson. Anderson’s production is off the charts as a pass rusher and run defender, and he hasn’t yet unlocked his ceiling as a rusher, often defaulting to bull rushes and converting speed to power.