The Bears have the chance to add an elite player with the ninth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

General manager Ryan Poles has done well to add talent this offseason, adding Tremaine Edmunds, DJ Moore, and Nate Davis, just to name a few. The team will now transition into draft mode with 10 picks at their disposal. 

I wanted to identify three players that I believe could be in play for the team at the ninth pick. 

Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

Skoronski to the Bears has to be one of the most popular projections this offseason, and for good reason. 

Skoronski is a Chicagoland native, and starred for Northwestern in college. The big lineman is used to the frigid winters of the midwest, and has the versatility to play multiple positions along the line. 

Drafting Skoronski here would present the Bears with a few options. The rookie could immediately start at left guard and Cody Whitehair could move to center. The starting unit from left to right would be Braxton Jones, Peter Skoronski, Cody Whitehair, Nate Davis, and Teven Jenkins. 

However, the Bears may not want to draft a guard that high in the draft. Another option would be Skoronski starting at right tackle, Jenkins moving to left guard, and Whitehair moving to center. 

No matter where you put him, Skoronski is capable of being a serviceable day-one starter. He held up well against elite Big Ten pass rushers, and moves well enough to be a force in the run game as well. 

If Skoronski is there at nine, he could be the final piece to make the Bears' offensive line elite. 

Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Van Ness is another Big Ten athlete who hails from Chicagoland. 

Van Ness was a two-year starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes amd was remarkably consistent. In 2021, LVE collected seven sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 33 total tackles. 

In 2022, the talented edge rusher had six sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 37 total tackles. 

Van Ness will have his 22nd birthday this summer, so his youth presents notable upside. 

The Bears need talented young edge rushers. No team in the NFL got to the quarterback less than the Bears in 2022. The Bears are a team who can afford to take chances on a young, inexperienced edge rusher. 

In a 4-3 defense, Van Ness would likely play defensive end. The Hawkeyes experimented with putting Van Ness on the interior, but he will need to gain weight to be an effective run-stuffer in the NFL. 

While it may seem like a reach at No. 9, Van Ness might have the highest ceiling of similar edge rushers. At worst, Van Ness seems primed to be an effective rotational pass rusher. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Drafting Smith-Njigba could give the Bears one of the best receiver rooms in the league, just a year after having the worst. 

DJ Moore was added to the room, and Chase Claypool should improve after having a full offseason with the team. 

Adding Smith-Njigba would give the Bears an elite route-runner who could be dominate in the slot. Moore is the clear number one, Claypool is a red zone threat, and Mooney is an explosive playmaker who could still be improving. 

Justin Fields took a major step forward in 2022 and solidified himself as the future in Chicago. Continuing to surround the young QB with dynamic talent will only help his progression. 

There are concerns about his health, as the 2022 season was essentially lost for Smith-Njigba. However, when healthy, Smith-Njigba is a Julian Edelman-type slot monster who is capable of 90+ receptions in the NFL. 

Final Thoughts: I see a few different directions the Bears could go in the 2023 NFL Draft. One more talented offensive lineman is a big need, and Skoronski could be a day-one starter. 

Van Ness is a talented edge-rusher who is only going to get better with more experience. 

Smith-Njigba would be the final piece in taking the Bears' offense from one of the most anemic units to one of the most impressive.