The Chicago Bears selected 10 players during the 2023 NFL draft, including right tackle Darnell Wright, defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, and cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith.
They also added a couple of playmakers for Justin Fields in running back Roschon Johnson and wide receiver Tyler Scott, as well as linebacker Noah Sewell and a couple of seventh-round picks in Travis Bell and safety Kendall Williamson.
With the slew of moves made over the last few days, the roster looks different than it did more than a week ago. And that’s certainly impacted the projected depth chart.
Here’s a look at the Bears’ current projected depth chart after the 2023 NFL draft.
Quarterback
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| QB | Justin Fields | PJ Walker | Nathan Peterman |
Fields is entering a pivotal third season with the Bears, where the expectation is he takes a step forward in the passing game. The team signed Walker to serve as Fields’ backup and released Trevor Siemian shortly after. Peterman was re-signed to serve as QB3.
Running back
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| RB | Khalil Herbert | D’Onta Foreman | Roschon Johnson | Travis Homer, Trestan Ebner |
| FB | Khari Blasingame |
The Bears overhauled the running back room after David Montgomery exited in free agency. They signed Foreman and Homer in free agency and drafted Johnson in the fifth round, and Johnson should challenge for reps with Herbert and Foreman. The team also re-signed fullback Blasingame to a two-year deal.
Wide receiver
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| WR | DJ Moore | Equanimeous St. Brown | Dante Pettis |
| WR | Darnell Mooney | Tyler Scott | Nsimba Webster |
| WR | Chase Claypool | Velus Jones Jr. | Daurice Fountain, Joe Reed |
The Bears upgraded their wide receiver group with the addition of Moore, who was part of the trade for the No. 1 pick with the Panthers. Now, Chicago’s top wideouts include Moore, Mooney and Claypool, as well as Jones and St. Brown. In the fifth round of the draft, they selected Scott, a speedster who should be a vertical threat.
Tight end
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| TE | Cole Kmet | Robert Tonyan | Jake Tonges | Chase Allen |
Kmet is coming off a career year with the Bears, where he was a big part of the passing game. Chicago signed Tonyan to a one-year deal in free agency, where he’ll serve as a nice complement to Kmet. Tonyan is more of a receiver than a blocker, and he should factor into the red zone approach.
Offensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| LT | Braxton Jones | Kellen Diesch | |
| LG | Teven Jenkins | Lucas Patrick | Ja’Tyre Carter |
| C | Cody Whitehair | Lucas Patrick | Doug Kramer |
| RG | Nate Davis | Dieter Eiselen | |
| RT | Darnell Wright | Larry Borom | Alex Leatherwood |
The starting offensive line is all but set following the draft, where they selected Wright with their first pick. He fills the hole at right tackle, and it appears that Whitehair will be the guy at center after the team didn’t address the position in the draft.
Defensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| DE | DeMarcus Walker | Rasheem Green | Jalyn Holmes | |
| DT | Justin Jones | Gervon Dexter | Andrew Brown | Donovan Jeter |
| DT | Andrew Billings | Zacch Pickens | Travis Bell | |
| DE | Trevis Gipson | Dominique Robinson |
The Bears still have some work to do at edge rusher, but the group is headlined by Walker, Gipson, Green and Robinson.They added some solid options along the defensive interior in the draft with Dexter and Pickens, who will be key rotational pieces with Jones and Billings.
Linebacker
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| WLB | T.J. Edwards | Sterling Weatherford | DeMarquis Gates |
| MLB | Tremaine Edmunds | Noah Sewell | Terrell Lewis |
| SLB | Jack Sanborn | Dylan Cole | Kuony Deng |
The Bears overhauled the linebacker position and free agency, and the team’s starting linebackers are set with Edwards, Edmunds and Sanborn. But the team landed a potential steal in Sewell, who will be key depth and a special teams contributor.
Cornerback
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| CB | Jaylon Johnson | Terell Smith | Jaylon Jones |
| CB | Kyler Gordon | Josh Blackwell | |
| CB | Tyrique Stevenson | Kindle Vildor | Greg Stroman Jr., Michael Ojemudia |
The Bears found a quality third cornerback in Stevenson, who they traded up for in the second round of the draft. He’ll join Johnson and Gordon in the defensive backfield. Smith, a fifth-round selection, should serve as key depth behind Johnson.
Safety
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| FS | Eddie Jackson | Elijah Hicks | Adrian Colbert |
| SS | Jaquan Brisker | Kendall Williamson | A.J. Thomas |
There’s no doubt that Jackson and Brisker will lead a strong safety group for Chicago. While DeAndre Houston-Carson remains unsigned, that could mean an increased role for Hicks in his second season. The Bears also drafted Williamson late in the seventh round.
Specialists
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string |
| K | Cairo Santos | |
| P | Trenton Gill | Ryan Anderson |
| LS | Patrick Scales |
The Bears re-signed Scales to a one-year deal to keep their special teams trio in tact heading into 2023. Chicago has consistency with their core specialists in Santos, Gill and Scales, who are heading into their second year together. The team also signed left-footed punter Anderson this offseason.
