The Bears and general manager Ryan Poles made headlines last month when they traded the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for a package of picks and star wide receiver DJ Moore. 

The team now controls the ninth pick, and there are several directions Poles could decide to go. The top 10 is expected to be quarterback-heavy, so perhaps one of the elite defenders falls to No. 9. Or, perhaps one of the quarterbacks falls and Poles can trade down. 

However, one NFL insider's mock draft has the team going in an entirely different direction. 

Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football recently released his first mock draft of the off-season. In this mock, Schrager has the Bears staying at No. 9 and selecting Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez. I believe this is the first mock I have seen in which the Bears go corner at No. 9. 

Regarding the pick, Schrager said the following:

This strong, smart, speedy corner out of Oregon (via Colorado) is a gamer. The Bears have so many needs, and snagging a top cover man with the ninth overall choice makes them better tomorrow. He could go before Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon.

Gonzalez had a breakout season in 2022 for the Oregon Ducks, finishing with four interceptions and 50 total tackles. The 6'2", 200-pound corner has great size for a corner on the boundary and possesses exceptional football instincts. 

While I agree that Gonzalez could be the top corner in the class, I'm not so sure that Poles would go this route. Corner is definitely a need in Chicago, but nowhere near as pressing as the offensive or defensive line. The brass in Chicago seems to like Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, and probably would seek a veteran before drafting another. 

I do think the Bears should add to the secondary, as the room is young and lacks depth. Shaq Griffin, Marcus Peters, Byron Jones, and Kyle Fuller are just some of the veteran corners who are still available.  

Where do you think the Bears should go with the No. 9 pick? The offensive line and defensive line seem to be the main picks, with Peter Skoronski and Jalen Carter frequently mocked here.