The Chicago Bears were slated to start Day 3 of the NFL draft by making the day’s first pick — the 103rd overall — at Kansas City’s Union Station.

Ryan Poles had other plans.

The Bears general manager traded the first pick of the fourth round to the New Orleans Saints, moving down 12 spots to No. 115 and picking up the Saints’ pick in the fifth round (165th overall).

That gave the Bears six picks to complete their 2023 Draft Class and Poles went to work immediately on the offensive side of the ball before looking for some value in later rounds.

2023 Chicago Bears Draft Class — Rounds 1-3
1st round (No. 10) — Tennessee OT Darnell Wright — Article | Video breakdown
2nd round (No. 53) — Florida IDL Gervon Dexter Sr. — Article | Video breakdown
2nd round (No. 56) — Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson — Article | Video breakdown
3rd round (No. 64) — South Carolina IDL Zacch Pickens — Article | Video breakdown

Saturday’s Selections

Round 4: Pick 115 — Texas RB Roschon Johnson

6-0, 219 pounds
2022 stats: Played in 12 games, rushing 93 times for 554 yards and five touchdowns

Instant analysis: Bears pick their first skill position player of the class, tabbing Bijan Robinson’s backup for the team’s backfield. Solid pick both on and off the field. He was quarterback in high school and a three-time academic All-Big 12 first-team selection in Austin.

Round 4: Pick 133 — Cincinnati WR Tyler Scott

5-9 7/8, 177 pounds
2022 stats: 54 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns

Instant analysis: Another Day 3 weapon for Justin Fields. Smaller receiver, but has very good speed and separation. Changes gear easily. Deep ball catcher, which would be very intriguing with Justin Fields. Tracks the ball downfield very well. Durable and a great gunner on punt. Physicality and blocking need work. Didn’t play WR in high school and is still ascending at the position. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler says that Scott has “Tyler Lockett upside.”

Round 5: Pick 148 — Oregon LB Noah Sewell

6-1, 1/2, 246 pounds
2022 statistics: 56 tackles, 5.5 TFL, one interception

Instant analysis: The Bears’ linebacking room was a weakness in 2022, but that won’t be the case in 2023. After the offseason additions of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, Ryan Poles adds a solid off-ball linebacker with one of the picks they received in the Roquan Smith trade. Sewell is the brother of Penei Sewell and should make a lot of fans in Chicago with his rough and physical play.

Round 5: Pick 165 — Minnesota CB Terell Smith

6-0 1/2, 204 pounds
2022 stats: 4.5 TFLs, two sacks and two interceptions

Hoge’s Notes: Traits prospect with good size, speed and length at cornerback. Dealt with a lot of injuries, but finally put together a full productive season in 2022. Older prospect who will turn 24 in late-July. Not a lot of special teams experience.

Sack/fumble vs Purdue.

Round 7: Pick 218 – Kennesaw State DT Travis Bell

6-1, 290 pounds

Instant analysis: Poles didn’t want to spend the ninth pick on Jalen Carter and will instead hope to find value in the trio of Dexter, Pickens and now Bell. There are often diamonds in the rough to be found at small schools; might Bell fit that label?

Round 7: Pick 258 — Stanford S Kendall Williamson

6-0, 203 pounds

Instant analysis: With the second-to-last pick in the draft, the Bears looked for some more depth in their secondary.

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