Chicago Bears are patiently awaiting this draft prospect’s decision

We are one day away from the deadline for NCAA sophomores to enter for the 2023 NFL draft. While the Chicago Bears hold the top pick in the draft, the team and scouting staff wait to see what a prospect chooses. In fact, that one prospect can drastically change the landscape of the 2023 NFL draft. Three names are consistently mentioned at the quarterback position this year – Bryce Young, CJ Stroud and Will Levis.

Most draft boards have Bryce Young and CJ Stroud as the top two choices, but if you follow the NFL draft cycle, you know things can change between now and April. It also appears that Bryce Young is viewed as the top prospect while CJ Stroud is second, but some analysts have flipped these two. Many look at Bryce Young and worry about his size. Pro Football Reference listed his measurements as 6’0″ and 194 pounds, but I’d be surprised if that’s true. He appears to be 5ft 11in at best and I would be concerned if he weighs less than 190lbs.

But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a chance to be a good player in the NFL. He’s got all the other tools you need to be great – footballing acumen, mobility, athleticism and decent enough arm strength. But can he deal with the hits of the NFL permanently? Because of this, some have ranked CJ Stroud ahead of him.

The first overall pick could see value if CJ Stroud doesn’t explain

Stroud has the prototypical size you’d want in a quarterback, but he lacks mobility. However, Stroud is able to get the ball out quickly and make quick decisions. His performance in the college playoffs was fantastic and he actually showed an evasive maneuver that he hadn’t shown in previous games.

Will Levis is similar to Stroud but has even more height for him. Levis has the strongest arm of all three, but his mechanics aren’t polished. A team might be interested in taking on the task of developing him, but I’m not sure he’ll be considered a top 10 pick. At least not with CJ Stroud in the mix. The problem is that CJ Stroud hasn’t signed up for the 2023 NFL Draft yet. Teams are patiently awaiting his decision. He has to make that decision by tomorrow.

This is nothing new. Even Justin Fields waited until the last minute to declare himself for the NFL Draft and he had no NIL endorsements.

Anyone who thinks that the NIL endorsements could be the reason CJ Stroud remains in Ohio State is not thinking logically. Stroud is considered a top 5 pick in this draft class, meaning he would earn over $20 million in guaranteed signing bonuses. This is far more than the amount he gets from his NIL deals.

If Stroud doesn’t explain, it could force teams to trade for Bryce Young. This could increase the trade value for the Chicago Bears’ first overall pick. What it probably won’t do is allow the Bears to trade twice as many fans as many fans hope will happen. We still have a long way to go before the 2023 NFL Draft, and many factors will come into play to change and impact what Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears can do. Buckle up and try to enjoy the bumpy ride.