Solving the Bears Draft Problem

The Bears face a major problem as they approach the 2023 NFL Draft, one caused by their inability to land one of the best defensive tackles, offensive tackles or edge rushers in free agency.

When GM Ryan Poles drew a line in the sand for spending money and saw players like Dre'Mont Jones, Mike McGlinchey and Javon Hargrave take bigger money elsewhere, it meant go to Plan B.

Plan B was signing the best possible linebackers because the draft didn't have as much linebacker talent top-end or otherwise. Then they put the best possible defensive linemen in front of them through the draft with support from lower-end free agency.

What they've done by getting bigger on the line and at linebacker can help stop the run and force teams into pass rushing situations, but they still don't have the players to rush the passer in those more obvious passing situations.

This all said, it's a dilemma but only a part of the problem they face.

The bigger issue is their plan for adding better pass rushers requires hitting on a couple of players on the defensive line while they also still also need one offensive tackle, all while they have only one selection in the first 52 for this draft.

There are not enough early picks available to them to solve their pass rushing problems and also address right tackle. At some point, the talent level drops too much at those positions.

Working against them in all of this is no one knows for certain whether Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham can even identify real draft talent on the defensive line later in the draft. They could really use a gem pass rusher uncovered in a later round about now. But they definitely haven't proven they can uncover defensive linemen with their later picks yet based on last year's lone attempt. That was Dominique Robinson in Round 5. Robinson made a sack and half in his first game, one sack courtesy of McGlinchey's poor play, and then never made another sack the rest of the year. In fact, Robinson did not even have another quarterback hit the entire rest of the season and he was the starter at right defensive end for seven of the final eight games.

Still, they have to give Poles the benefit of doubt in this draft that he can find these players as he's set them down this path and is the person in charge.

Poles has at least given them a shot at the solution by trading down out of the first overall pick. He not only solved their lack of receiver talent by getting DJ Moore but also brought them more shots at talent now and in the future.

Past failure aside, Poles now has ways of addressing this lack of defensive line help combined with the tackle problem.

1. Flood the Zone

They do have one pick in the top 52 but four in the top 64. The answer could be to take as many defensive linemen in their first four picks as possible. This would mean three players devoted to improving the pass rush in their first four picks. They can't look at cornerback. They can't think about a running back. The other pick in the group would be a right tackle.

They're still only getting three players between No. 10 and No. 64 and all three are between 52 and 64 so they're picking the back end talent in this part of the draft. At least they'd be giving themselves more chances to be correct by taking three defensive linemen and one offensive lineman in that grouping.

2. Trade Back in Round 1

This is easier said than done and depends on other teams seeing a quarterback fall and making an offer to move up. Tennessee, Washington and Tampa Bay all could be among teams hoping to climb up for a falling QB, but the problem with this approach is it's wait and see. They're at the mercy of the QB market in this draft.

Also, the return on trading with Tennessee would be minimal because they'd move down only from No. 9 to No. 11.

If they're able to move back and secure another second-round or even third-round pick this year, then they certainly could come away with a greater chance at a good pass rusher, whether they use all of those second- and third-round picks for defensive and offensive linemen or not. Simply put, they have more chances to take players earlier and chances are better to hit on one or two.

The other problem with doing this is they might give up a chance at a better pass rusher early in the draft by going down into the middle of Round 1 or late Round 1 for the extra chances.

3. Trade Up

This has nothing to do with pick No. 9. It would be trading up in Round 2. They take two of their picks between 53 and 64 and deal them away to slide up to the top of Round 2 or even the bottom of Round 1 in order to ensure another chance at a player like Will McDonald, Calijah Kancey, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Keion White, Bryan Bresee or BJ Ojulari.

It's the opposite approach of flooding the zone. They're targeting a particular defensive player or even offensive tackle if they have chosen a defensive player with the first pick. It's riskier. They'd need to be 100% sure about the pick because now they'll have one less chance at bringing in players for those positions.

What also must be remembered here is they also have the first pick of Round 4 on Day 3. That's a much-coveted spot. It can be used like a second third-round pick in a trade depending on how far up in the draft they might want to go. The draft chart says it's only worth 88 points on the chart but it's probably worth more in actuality because you're getting the chance to take a long look at what's left and then take the first pick on Day 3.

Anything they can do to cut down the gap between No. 9 and No. 53 can benefit their chance of finding real pass rushers while also preserving a chance at a tackle.

4. Sit There and Take It

They don't get aggressive. The Bears simply take best available at their positions according to the draft board as it comes to them. This means they need to hit on a pass rusher later, on Round 3. They would need to do a lot better at picking players late in the draft at positions of need than they did with Robinson.

This approach is going to take the most faith in their ability to find talent, but it's also the most likely stance they'll take because it's less risky.

5. Draft Jalen Carter

This is different than just drafting any top defensive lineman. If Carter is still there he is by far the most dominant player at his position in the draft. His presence on the defensive line can account for more than the tackle spot. It can improve the entire pass rush at tackle and end and they can focus the second round on finding a tackle.

It's a risky approach considering the controversy surrounding Carter pleading no contest to reckless driving and racing charges involving a fatal crash, and coming to his pro day reportedly out of shape.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven