The Chicago Bears add some players that add toughness, size, and speed to the roster.
Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. The Chicago Bears had six picks on the last day and did a lot to continue the overhaul of the roster after they started it with free agency and the previous four picks.
One of the things that general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus looked for was tough, athletic players who also have some size. He selected Darnell Wright in the first round and Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson, and Zacch Pickens in the second and third rounds. They checked the boxes the Bears looked for.
On the last day of the draft, Poles continued to stick to his plan. He split between taking offense and defense. The picks all had the common theme of toughness, quickness, and athleticism.
Here are the Chicago Bears' picks in Rounds 4-7:
Round 4, #115: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
The Bears traded down from 103 with the New Orleans Saints and picked up the 148th pick as well. They go with running back Roschon Johnson from Texas.
The Bears had the best rushing attack in the NFL last season and want to continue that strength. This time, however, they don't want Justin Fields to run as much as he did. Poles added D'Onta Foreman and Travis Homer via free agency. Now he adds Johnson.
Johnson is a great under-the-radar pick. He did not get much attention because he ran behind All-World running back Bijan Robinson. Johnson, however, could be a steal here. He is a hard runner who is elusive and also catches the ball well out of the backfield. Does he remind you of someone who recently did that for the Bears?
Round 4, #133: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
Again, Fields gets some help. Tyler Scott is an absolute speed demon. He recorded a 4.32-40. He will become a good deep threat for Fields.
However, he is more than that. He has great vision and is an elusive runner. You can get him the ball on a short pass and he can convert it into a huge play. On his touchdown catches, he averaged 44.6 yards.
With his speed and route-running, Scott does a great job of creating separation. That was a big problem for the Chicago Bears receivers last season. He will be fun to watch on Sundays.
Round 5, #148: Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
Noah Sewell has the potential to be a high-value pick for the Bears. He has a high motor and is a hard hitter. He will add good depth to the revamped linebackers unit. Bears fans are used to seeing hard-hitting, quick, and high-motor linebackers and Sewell embodies all of that.
The Bears struggled against the run last season. With the defensive tackles Poles selected in the second and third rounds, that helps. Now Sewell also brings in added help there. He reads the play well and rockets towards the ball carrier and tries to knock him into oblivion.
Round 5, #165: Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota
With their other fifth-round pick, the Chicago Bears pick up another cornerback, Terell Smith. Remember a couple of years ago when the Bears' secondary was just a trash heap of players? Well, that is no longer the case.
Smith is another long, athletic, and tough cornerback. He is 6-foot-1/2 and 204 pounds. Additionally, he ran a 4-41-40. He has the length to go up against big receivers and the speed to keep up with fast receivers as well.
Smith is another hard hitter as well. Receivers are going to take a beating if they are targeted on short passes. He does a good job of anticipating breaks and jumping passing lanes. Also, his willingness to tackle helps against the run.
Round 7, #218: Travis Bell, DT, Kennesaw State
Poles is serious about bulking up in the middle and stopping the run. He was likely embarrassed by the number of times opposing running backs gashed the middle of the defensive line.
Here he add the third defensive tackle selected. He picks up Travis Bell, the six-foot, 310-pounder. Despite not having the mass you'd expect, Bell has good lateral movement and good power at the point of attack. At his Pro Day, he had 30 reps at the bench press and a 32.50-inch vertical.
Bell adds more depth on the defensive line. He likely becomes a good zero-technique defender, meaning he lines up right over the center.
Bell has good footwork. He is able to keep his feet moving and find an opening when rushing. Additionally, he can slide and get past the initial block.
Round 7, #258: Kendall Williamson, S, Stanford
With the penultimate pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears pick up Kendall Williamson. Williamson is another tough, hard hitter. He is a safety who adds to the Chicago Bears run defense. He also has good speed.
Williamson has not, however, put all his skills together yet. He has the tools to be a good player but still needs to be coached up. In the meantime, he will provide some situational depth to the defense.
Poles took a look at the roster and felt that it just wasn't tough enough to win games. Remember, they had eight one-score games last season. They won just one of them (against the Houston Texans).
Perhaps some more toughness gives the Bears a few more wins in 2023. While this is still not a finished product, Poles looks to have the team on the right track. Of course, we'll find out for sure once the season starts.
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