Category: 2023 season

Where the Bears are slated to pick in 1st round of 2023 NFL draft after Week 14

Here’s where the Bears are currently sitting in the 2023 NFL draft order after Week 14.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-10 through the first 14 weeks of the 2022 NFL season, where things have been rocky in the first season under Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus.

But that was to be expected. This season is all about development, including quarterback Justin Fields, who has emerged as one of the league’s most exciting young players. So while the Bears will finish with one of the worst records, they’ve already won this season.

With just four games left to be played, we’re winding down on the 2022 season and looking ahead to a busy 2023 offseason. That includes the NFL draft, where Chicago is trending toward a top-3 draft pick to address an important need.

If the season were to end today, the Bears would hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago had a bye week, which coupled with the Broncos losing (and their stronger strength of schedule), dropped them from second to third overall.

Here’s a look at the current draft order, after Week 14, courtesy of Tankathon:

  1. Houston Texans (1-11-1)
  2. Seattle Seahawks; via Denver Broncos (3-10)
  3. Chicago Bears (3-10)
  4. Detroit Lions; via Los Angeles Rams (4-9)
  5. Philadelphia Eagles; via New Orleans Saints (4-9)
  6. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)
  7. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)
  8. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)
  9. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
  10. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
  11. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)
  12. Houston Texans; via Cleveland Browns (5-8)
  13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)
  14. Green Bay Packers (5-8)
  15. Detroit Lions (6-7)
  16. Seattle Seahawks (7-6)
  17. New York Jets (7-6)
  18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
  19. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)
  20. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
  21. New England Patriots (7-6)
  22. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
  23. New York Giants (7-5-1)
  24. Miami Dolphins (8-5) FORFEITED
  25. Denver Broncos; via San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
  26. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
  27. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)
  28. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
  29. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3)
  30. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)
  31. Buffalo Bills (10-3)
  32. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1)

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Updated 2023 NFL draft order after Week 14

Here’s a look at the updated 2023 NFL draft order following Week 14 action:

Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season is in the books, which featured another thrilling slate of action. With just four weeks left in the regular season, the draft order is starting to become clear for some teams, but there’s still plenty of shakeup.

Fans of the Broncos and Rams aren’t sitting pretty as they’ve already dealt their 2023 first-round selections to the Seahawks and Lions, respectively. Meanwhile, fans of the Texans and Bears should be excited about what’s shaping up to be a top-3 selection for their teams.

Here’s a look at the current draft order, after Week 14, courtesy of the folks at Tankathon:

Bears address big needs on offense, defense in new 2-round mock draft

The Bears land significant additions along the defensive and offensive lines in Draft Wire’s new 2023 NFL mock draft.

The Chicago Bears have just four games left this season, but the focus has already shifted to the 2023 offseason, where GM Ryan Poles will be tasked with building a winning roster in Year 2.

The good news is he’ll have plenty to work with, as the Bears are slated to have north of $120 million in salary cap space and eight draft picks (including what’s projected to be a top-three selection).

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling released his latest two-round 2023 mock draft ahead of bowl season, where he has Chicago addressing significant needs on defense and offense.

With the No. 2 overall pick, Easterling has the Bears landing a generational talent in Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, who would address a big weakness off the edge.

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 the top overall prospect in the draft, as Anderson immediately replaces the impact the defense lost when they traded away Robert Quinn.

No doubt a main focus will be building around quarterback Justin Fields, who has emerged as one of the NFL’s most electric players — and he did it without a strong supporting cast. There are questions along the offensive line, so the expectation is Poles will target the offensive line both in free agency and the NFL draft.

Easterling has Chicago selecting Maryland left tackle Jaelyn Duncan with the No. 56 pick, the one acquired from the Ravens in the Roquan Smith trade.

There are questions at tackle, but it all depends on how Poles feels about fifth-round rookie Braxton Jones, who’s done a solid job at left tackle this year.

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Bears’ 2023 salary cap update at the bye week

The Bears are slated to have the most salary cap space in 2023 (and it’s not even close).

The Chicago Bears are 3-10 at the bye week, where their season is all but over after being eliminated from postseason contention. But there’s plenty to be optimistic about heading into the 2023 season, particularly what’s expected to be a busy offseason.

There’s plenty of change coming to this Bears roster in 2023, and general manager Ryan Poles will have eight draft picks (including what’s expected to be a top-three pick) and a good amount of salary cap space to build around quarterback Justin Fields, who’s emerged as one of the NFL’s most exciting young QBs.

Chicago is slated to have the most salary cap space in 2023, and it’s not even close. According to Over The Cap, the Bears will have $124 million in cap space for 2023. The next closest is the Atlanta Falcons at $72 million.

Safe to say, Poles will have the opportunity to retool this roster and add some pieces around Fields on offense and fill some holes on defense.

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25 potential free agent targets for the Bears in 2023

The Bears are slated to have north of $100 million in salary cap space in 2023. Here are some players they could target in free agency.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-10 with four games left this season, but it’s not to look ahead to what’s shaping up to be an exciting 2023 offseason.

The Bears are slated to have $124 million in salary cap space in 2023, per OverTheCap, which is the most in the NFL (by a wide margin). It’ll give GM Ryan Poles plenty of money to work with as he looks to bring in some new faces (and re-sign some familiar faces).

Let’s check out 25 potential free agents the Bears could target this offseason.

10 biggest cap hits for the Bears ahead of 2023 season

Here’s a quick look at the Bears’ biggest salary cap hits in 2023.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-10, and the focus has started to shift to what’s gearing up to be an exciting 2023 offseason.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles will have north of $100 million in salary cap space, which should make for an exciting free agency. There will be another roster overhaul this offseason, although there are a number of key contributors that will be back in 2023.

With a month left in the 2022 season, were taking a look at the Bears’ 10 biggest salary cap hits ahead of 2023.

Salary cap numbers courtesy of Spotrac.

Bears maintain No. 2 draft pick with Rams’ comeback win vs. Raiders

Thanks to Baker Mayfield, the Bears retain possession of the 2nd overall draft pick after the Rams’ comeback against the Raiders.

Sitting at 3-10, the Bears’ season is all but over. They’ve already been eliminated from postseason contention, but there is still a reason to be invested in the final month of the 2022 season.

Chicago is poised to land a top-three pick in the 2023 NFL draft, which could help them land a generational talent on defense or perhaps allow them to acquire additional draft capital by trading back with a QB-needy team.

Heading into the bye week, the Bears were sitting at No. 2 overall, behind only the 1-10-1 Texans. But the Rams and Broncos were sitting behind Chicago at 3-9, having played one less game.

Thanks to Baker Mayfield, the Bears retain possession of the second overall pick after the Rams’ improbable comeback against the Raiders on Thursday Night Football.

Now, all eyes shift to the Broncos, where Denver is set to host an impressive Chiefs team on Sunday. If the Broncos lose that game, it would drop them to 3-10 (and tie them with Chicago). Denver would possess the No. 2 overall pick, given their strength of schedule, and drop the Bears to third overall.

But Chicago has a good chance to lock down that second overall pick given they have the toughest remaining strength of schedule. They’ll face three of the top teams in the NFL (Eagles, Bills and Vikings) along with a surging Lions team.

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31 Bears players slated to become free agents in 2023

The Bears have 31 players scheduled to become free agents in 2023. Here’s a quick look at those players:

The 2022 season is nearing an end for the Chicago Bears, and the focus is shifting to the 2023 offseason, where general manager Ryan Poles will look to build his roster through free agency and the NFL draft.

The Bears are slated to have north of $100 million in salary cap space for Poles to work with, where he’ll look to bring in new faces and potentially re-sign some in-house free agents.

Chicago has 31 players scheduled to become free agents in 2023 according to Over The Cap. Here’s a quick look at those players:

Saints’ known opponents for 2023 season so far

We already know all but three of the Saints’ opponents for the 2023 season:

There are just four games left on the 2022 schedule, and it’s safe to say the New Orleans Saints haven’t quite met expectations. So some eyes are already being drawn to 2023. And we know all but three of the teams the Saints will face next season.

The Saints are scheduled to host the same-place finisher in the NFC East next year while visiting the same-ranked teams in the NFC West and AFC East. If current standings hold, that means a home game with the Washington Commanders and road trips to face the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots.

We’ll know the finalized list of 2023 opponents after the 2022 season. For now, here’s what we know during the Week 14 bye:

Full 7-round Bears 2023 mock draft 1.0

With the Bears at a bye, we’re unveiling our first 2023 mock draft that features improvements at key areas of need.

Sitting at 3-10, the Bears’ season is all but over, although the future looks bright for Chicago and Justin Fields. The Bears are in line to have the second overall pick in 2023, and there is no shortage of needs to address.

Chicago currently has eight picks in the 2023 NFL draft (and they’re projected to have an additional compensatory selection, via Tankathon).

With the Bears at a bye, we’re unveiling our first 2023 mock draft that improves Chicago’s offensive and defensive line, adds more speed at wide receiver, finds a replacement for David Montgomery, and selects one of the most accomplished middle linebackers in college football.