With the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game now in the books, here's what 10 NFL analysts are predicting the Bears will do with the No. 1 overall pick in the April 27-29 draft:
Charlie Campbell, Walter Football (Feb. 6)
Pick: Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson
Comment: General manager Ryan Poles sounds positive about Justin Fields and talked about Chicago needing more talent at the premium positions - edge rusher, offensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver. Among those positions, Anderson is the best prospect. I could also see Poles wanting to play it safe by selecting Anderson over a prospect with makeup concerns like Jalen Carter. The Bears badly need a difference maker for their defensive line and have to replace Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack. Anderson can be the cornerstone for the Bears to build their defense around. In 2022, Anderson collected 51 tackles, 10 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was the rare freshman to start on Nick Saban's defense, but Anderson proved his special ability with a superb 2020 season. He was third in the SEC with seven sacks while also recording 10.5 tackles for a loss and 52 tackles. Anderson was phenomenal in 2021, recording 101 tackles, 17.5 sacks and three passes defended. Not only was he a dominant pass rusher, but Anderson was a strong, tough run defender. He has outstanding instincts and showed a great motor in the 2021 season.
Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network (Feb. 6)
Pick: Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson
Comment: Listen, we all know that the Bears are hoping to be sitting on a winning ticket for a plethora of draft picks. But if they are unable to find a partner, drafting one of the two disruptive defensive talents in Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter is the proper play from a value perspective.
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network (Feb. 5)
Pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 4 with Colts and take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson
Comment: The Colts are an especially appealing trade partner for the Bears. Why? Because Chicago can trade back to No. 4 overall and still acquire one of Carter or Will Anderson Jr. Both prospects have a case to be the best in the 2023 NFL Draft. Anderson, in particular, has rare destructive consistency with his blend of burst, power, lateral agility, and urgency.
Luke Easterling, Draft Wire (Feb. 7)
Pick: Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson
Comment: The Bears are in a perfect spot here, with the No. 1 overall pick, no need at quarterback, and multiple prospects at other positions of need who are worthy of this selection. If they don't trade down, I think Anderson gets the nod over Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, but Chicago really can't go wrong either way here.
Previous pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 4 with Colts and take Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter (Jan. 19)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (Feb. 7)
Pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 4 with Colts and 4 to 9 with Panthers and take Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.
Comment: Broderick Jones is a young, but physically gifted offensive tackle. Chicago may have preferred to address the defense, but after trading back twice, the board led the team to the offensive line. The Bears will have to decide whether to keep Braxton Jones on the left side or flip him to the right. Previous pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 4 with Colts and take Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter (Jan. 19)
Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network (Feb. 7)
Pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 9 with Panthers and take USC receiver Jordan Addison
Comment: Dropping this far down the top 10 is a risk for the Bears. If there are offers on the table from the Colts or Lions, then staying in the top four or six might be tempting. Staying in that region would give them a shot at Anderson, Carter, Murphy, Johnston and Johnson, all at positions that can be considered needs. It would also be intriguing to see if the Bears would drop back further if there is someone still clamoring for Levis here. If they stay here, with the board how it is, then getting another pass-catching weapon for Justin Fields is a smart move, and Jordan Addison is a nice complement to Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool. Addison is a multi-dimensional pass catcher who could very easily be the WR1 on this team.
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports (Feb. 7)
Pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 2 with Texans and 2 to 4 with Colts and take Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter
Comment: Equipped with a plethora of draft capital from trading back, the Bears also add a defensive force in Jalen Carter, who might have been the best player on Georgia's historically great defense in 2021. (And that unit had five first-round picks!)
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (Feb. 8)
Pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 4 with Colts and take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson.
Comment: Anderson gives me serious Khalil Mack vibes, which makes this perfect for the Bears, particularly after trading back. In the trade, the Bears get this pick, the Colts' selections in Round 2 and Round 4 along with a 2024 first-round pick and third-round pick, plus a 2025 second-round choice.
Previous pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 7 with Raiders and take Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson (Jan. 25)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (Feb. 7)
Pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 2 with Texans and take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson
Comment: Will Anderson could very easily be the No. 1 pick in this draft, but the Bears trade down and still land an elite pass rusher here.
Previous pick: Bears trade down from 1 to 2 with Texans and take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson (Jan. 23)
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (Feb. 7)
Pick: Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter
Comment: I'm not making a trade projection in Mock 1.0, so we will give the Bears a dominant interior defender with the ability to help the run defense and pass rush.
