With the 2022 season over and 2023 NFL Draft a little more than 2 months away, it's time to produce our first mock. As usual, there is a ton of intrigue at the top of the board. That is the case this year because the Chicago Bears hold the #1 overall pick but aren't in desperate need of a quarterback. Will they keep the pick and address a position other than QB? Will they keep the pick, trade Justin Fields and bring a rookie signal-caller on board? Or will they trade out of the top spot with a team that really craves a new franchise quarterback?
Those are just some of the questions heading into April's festivities, and we will take a look at the entire top 10 in this particular mock draft. Be sure to stay tuned to our draft coverage throughout the spring, which will include updated mocks, odds breakdowns and general predictions.
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1. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia'
Right when the 2023 NFL Draft order was determined at the end of the regular season, my best bet for the #1 pick was Carter at +800. That's not to say that I or anyone else thinks he is the best prospect on the board; the bottom line is that Chicago doesn't need a quarterback. What the Bears do need is a defensive overhaul. Carter would mark the start of that effort. Similar to former Georgia teammate Travon Walker, who went #1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, Carter's numbers in college did not set the world on fire. But who cares? He is an absolute beast on the defensive line who can help Chicago turn things around right away. Carter is now +750 to go #1, and the value remains.