The Bears clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft with their loss to the Vikings on Sunday and the Texans‘ win over the Colts.
CHICAGO — The Bears earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft after an 29-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the season finale.
Chicago, which held the No. 2 pick entering Week 18, jumped Houston in the draft order after the Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts 32-31. The Bears needed to lose and have the Texans win in order to secure the top spot in the draft.
The Bears finished 3-14, their second three-win season since 2016. Quarterback Justin Fields did not play in the season finale due to a hip injury sustained last week at Detroit. Fields finished his second season 64 yards shy of the single-season quarterback rushing record. Chicago owned the league’s top rushing offense and were last in passing in 2023.
Bolstering the defensive and offensive lines are among Chicago’s top priorities this offseason. The Bears registered the fewest sacks per game (1.3) of all NFL teams and pressured opposing quarterbacks on 20.9% of dropbacks, which ranked 31st. In his latest mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid has Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter going No.
