Category: 2023 season

Bears’ known opponents for 2023 season so far

We won’t know the final list of Bears 2023 opponents until the end of the season. But here’s a look at the opponents already locked in:

With just four games left this season (and Chicago sitting at 3-10), we’re taking a look ahead at the 2023 season. Specifically, who the Bears will face.

We know all but three of the Bears’ upcoming opponents in 2023. Chicago will play the NFC South and AFC West next season, as well as their NFC North foes twice. The three unknown opponents will be same-place finishers in the NFC East, NFC West and AFC North.

The Bears are sitting in fourth place in the NFC North, which means those games would currently be against the Commanders, Rams and Steelers, who are all in last place in their respective divisions.

We won’t know the finalized list of Chicago’s opponents until the end of the 2022 season. But here’s a look at the opponents already locked in for 2023.

12 head coach candidates Saints should consider in 2023

After spurning head coach candidates like Eric Bieniemy and Brian Flores, the Saints have fewer options if they move on from Dennis Allen in 2023. Keep an eye on these names:

They haven’t done anything to suggest change is coming, but it almost feels inevitable that the New Orleans Saints will have to dismiss Dennis Allen. He inherited a 9-win team and turned it into one of the least-aggressive and poorly-coached squads around the league, prone to more procedural fouls and pre-snap penalties than many of their peers. Whether the Saints want to admit it or not, this story ends with showing him the door. If they’re smart they’ll cut their losses sooner rather than later.

No one set higher expectations for the Saints this year than the team themselves, billing this season as a return to form with playoff aspirations. Instead they hemorrhaged star talent during the offseason, losing players like Marcus Williams, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Terron Armstead while getting next to no compensation and subpar replacements. They tried to maintain continuity from Sean Payton’s success and instead just look like a poor imitation.

And it all starts and ends with Allen. This team was built in his vision and with his priorities in mind. That clearly wasn’t the right direction to go. So if the Saints do make a move from Allen at the end of the 2022 season, which head coach candidates stand out best in 2023?

Tabbing another in-house promotion wouldn’t make sense. That’s what got the Saints in this mess in the first place. Shuffling the staff and putting someone like Doug Marrone, Darren Rizzi, or Kris Richard on top isn’t the move. We also should assume that candidates the team met with and passed over last year won’t be interested in a second round of interviews — why should they give the Saints another chance? It takes good coaches like Brian Flores, Aaron Glenn, and Eric Bieniemy off the table, but that’s what the Saints get for not hiring them when they had the chance. Still, maybe one of them ends up viewing this as their best opportunity to lead an NFL team and circles back anyway.

Up-and-coming offensive coordinators are all the rage these days, and a couple of them are already building buzz ahead of the next NFL hiring cycle. Philadelphia Eagles O.C. Shane Steichen has a lot of fans, as does his Detroit Lions counterpart Ben Johnson. But more-experienced coaches like Frank Smith (in his 16th year in the NFL, now with the Miami Dolphins) are also out there. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans is highly regarded and figures to have his pick of job offers, though he may look for a better situation than what New Orleans has to offer.

What about a curve ball? Michigan Wolverines firebrand Jim Harbaugh is reportedly being monitored by NFL teams on the lookout for their next head coach, and he’s exactly the sort of program-builder the Saints need in the wake of Payton’s abdication. And what about Sean Payton himself? All speculation has centered on where he’ll go after quitting on them, but it’s possible they try and talk him into sticking around after his one-year sabbatical. That would destroy the front office and ownership’s credibility and remove any and all illusions that this isn’t Payton’s team (with or without him), but we can’t rule it out. Crazier things have happened, but it doesn’t get much crazier than that.

That’s enough chatter. Let’s break down the list:

Where the Bears are slated to pick in 1st round of 2023 NFL draft after Week 13

Here’s where the Bears are currently sitting in the 2023 NFL draft order after Week 13.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-10 through the first 13 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 schedules, 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 second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago’s loss to the Packers helped them maintain the second overall selection, behind only the Houston Texans.

Here’s a look at the current draft order, after Week 13, courtesy of Tankathon:

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

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Updated 2023 NFL draft order after Week 13

Here’s a look at the updated 2023 NFL draft order following Week 13 action:

Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season is in the books, which featured another thrilling slate of action. With just five 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 13, courtesy of Tankathon:

Bears land top defensive talent with 2nd overall pick in new 2023 mock draft

The Bears currently have the No. 2 overall draft pick, which gives them no shortage of options (including landing a top defensive talent).

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-9 with five games left on the schedule, and it’s hard not to look to the 2023 offseason. Especially with what appears to be a guaranteed top-five draft pick and north of $100 million in salary cap space next year.

The Bears currently have the No. 2 overall pick, which gives them a lot of options. They can trade back (with a quarterback-desperate team) or even land a top defensive talent. To be fair, they have two options in Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson.

In a new 2023 NFL mock draft, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has the Bears selecting Carter with that second pick, which would shore up an important need in the trenches. Carter has been a stud for Georgia’s defense, where he’s shown he can be a game wrecker and could fill the 3-technique role in Matt Eberflus’ defense.

Outside of Justin Jones, there’s no one currently on the interior of the defensive line worth bringing back in 2023. Adding someone like Carter would bolster the defensive front in a huge way. Although, so would Anderson.

As we inch closer to the 2023 offseason — and with Chicago a lock for a top draft pick — there’s going to be a lot of debate between whether the Bears should select Anderson or Carter. Regardless of the answer, it’s good news for Chicago’s rebuild.

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Where the Bears are slated to pick in 1st round of 2023 NFL draft after Week 12

Here’s where the Bears are currently sitting in the 2023 NFL draft order after Week 12.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-9 through the first 12 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 schedules, they’ve already won this season.

With just five 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-5 draft pick to address one of several important needs.

If the season were to end today, the Bears would hold the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago’s loss to the Jets moved them from third to second overall, behind only the Houston Texans.

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

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

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Bears land generational defensive talent in new 2023 mock draft

The Bears are projected to have a top-five draft pick in 2023, which gives them a chance to land Alabama EDGE Will Anderson.

With the Bears sitting at 3-8 with just six games left, the focus is starting to shift to an important 2023 offseason. GM Ryan Poles will have north of $100 million to work with in free agency and eight draft selections, which currently includes the third overall pick.

While this offseason will be all about building around Justin Fields, who has looked every bit the part of a franchise quarterback over the last month, if the Bears land a top-five selection, there some generational defensive talents that should be on the board.

In ESPN’s new 2023 NFL mock draft, they have Chicago selecting Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson with the No. 4 pick, which feels like a projection given the Bears are currently sitting at third overall.

Here’s what ESPN’s Matt Miller had to say about the Bears landing Anderson at fourth overall:

Poles cleaned house on the edge, trading Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, so Anderson gives him an elite prospect to start his rebuild of the defensive line. Relentless is the word that comes to mind when evaluating Anderson. At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, he has a nonstop motor and excellent speed out of his stance. He’s my top overall player in this class, and I’ve compared him to Von Miller. I’d place him above Aidan Hutchinson and Travon Walker among recent edge rush prospects, and he’s right on par with Nick Bosa and Chase Young from previous classes. And while this might look like he’s falling, this is really just a super-lucky outcome for the Bears.

There are no shortage of needs on both offense and defense heading into 2023, where the roster will be overhauled again after Poles signed a lot of one-year deals.

But edge rusher has become a glaring need since last offseason, where Chicago has dealt both Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. The Bears have just 15 sacks through 11 weeks, which ranks 31st in the NFL.

It’s a position they need to address, and if they managed to land Anderson (who won’t make it out of the top five), it would be game-changing for this defense.

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Dan Graziano believes Justin Fields, Saquon Barkley would be ‘explosive’ duo for Bears

ESPN’s Dan Graziano pitched an idea for Giants RB Saquon Barkley to join Justin Fields and the Bears’ top rushing attack in 2023.

While there are still six games left this season, Bears fans are already looking  ahead to an important 2023 offseason.

The expectation was never for Chicago to be contenders this season; it was all about development. And the most important development has been second-year quarterback Justin Fields, who’s emerged as one of the NFL’s most electrifying players.

This offseason, GM Ryan Poles will have an opportunity (and plenty of salary cap space) to build around Fields heading into a pivotal Year 3. The Bears will have north of $100 million to spend, and there are a lot of needs to address, particularly on offense.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano pitched an idea for one playmaker to join Fields in 2023 — Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who’s set to hit free agency this offseason.

“I threw out the Bears because you have Justin Fields already there,” Graziano said on Get Up!. “Imagine the two of them together [Fields and Barkley] and what that run game would look like and how potentially explosive.

“I think when people speculate on Saquon – if he’s not back with the Giants, they’ll want to put him on the top offenses, as an accent piece in Buffalo, or in Kansas City a place like that. But, it would be interesting to see him in a place like Chicago if they want to build it out from the run game and lean on that with Justin Fields as he develops.”

It’s safe to say running back isn’t a pressing need on offense, especially not when compared to the need for offensive line and receiver help. But assuming Poles addresses those needs (be it in free agency and/or the NFL draft), he could certainly look to add a playmaker like Barkley to the roster. He’s certainly got the money to do it.

David Montgomery is set to hit free agency this offseason, but the Bears do have Khalil Herbert, who’s been an explosive addition. Still, Herbert is no Barkley, who’s second in the league in rushing with 953 yards.

Right now, Fields doesn’t have a lot to work with in terms of talent at skill position players. The addition of Barkley could be a game-changer for this already explosive run game.

While the Giants will likely look to keep Barkley in New York, it’s a fun thought to consider.

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Where the Bears are slated to pick in 1st round of 2023 NFL draft after Week 10

Here’s where the Bears are currently sitting in the 2023 NFL draft order after Week 10.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-7 through the first 10 weeks of the 2022 NFL season, where it’s certainly been rocky at times to kick off the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus era. But that was to be expected, and it’s made all the more bearable with quarterback Justin Fields’ emergence in Year 2.

While there are still seven games to be played, it’s hard not to look ahead to the 2023 offseason. That includes the NFL draft, where Chicago is expected to have a top-10 draft pick to address one of several needs.

If the season were to end today, the Bears would hold the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago’s loss to the Lions inched them closer to the top five. There are three 3-7 teams ahead of the Bears, where things currently stand.

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

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

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Where the Bears are slated to pick in 1st round of 2023 NFL draft after Week 9

Here’s where the Bears are currently sitting in the 2023 NFL draft order after Week 9.

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-6 through the first nine weeks of the 2022 NFL season, where it’s certainly been rocky at times to kick off the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus era. But that was to be expected, and it’s made all the more bearable with quarterback Justin Fields’ emergence in Year 2.

While there are still eight games to be played, it’s hard not to look ahead to the 2023 offseason. That includes the NFL draft, where Chicago is expected to have a top-10 draft pick to shore up an important need.

If the season were to end today, the Bears would hold the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago’s loss to the Dolphins brought them back inside the top 10. There are three 3-6 teams ahead of the Bears, where things currently stand.

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

  1. Houston Texans (1-6-1)
  2. Carolina Panthers (2-7
  3. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6)
  5. Detroit Lions (2-6)
  6. Philadelphia Eagles; via New Orleans Saints (3-6)
  7. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)
  8. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)
  9. Chicago Bears (3-6)
  10. Green Bay Packers (3-6)
  11. Seattle Seahawks; via Denver Broncos (3-5)
  12. Detroit Lions; via Los Angeles Rams (3-5)
  13. Houston Texans; via Cleveland Browns (3-5)
  14. Indianapolis Colts (3-5-1)
  15. Atlanta Falcons (4-5)
  16. Washington Commanders (4-5)
  17. New England Patriots (5-4)
  18. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
  20. Denver Broncos; via San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
  21. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
  22. Baltimore Ravens (5-3)
  23. Tennessee Titans (5-3)
  24. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)
  25. Miami Dolphins (6-3) FORFEITED
  26. New York Jets (6-3)
  27. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)
  28. New York Giants (6-2)
  29. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)
  30. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)
  31. Buffalo Bills (6-2)
  32. Philadelphia Eagles (8-0)

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