New two-round 2023 NFL mock draft predicts Bears will go defense with No. 1 pick

The new two-round 2023 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports is presumably good news for Justin Fields, currently the quarterback of the Chicago Bears.

While there has been speculation that the Bears could trade Fields and start over at quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, this mock is predicting that Chicago — true to its organizational roots — will take the best defender in the draft with the top overall pick.

The mock, broken down by 247Sports' Brad Crawford, projects that Chicago will draft Alabama linebacker Will Anderson. "Anderson is a guaranteed top-10 pick, and could go No. 1 overall depending on team need, but most recent mock drafters seem convinced a quarterback will go there — until now," Crawford wrote. He also referred to Anderson as a "transcendent outside linebacker and rush hybrid."

If this mock were to play out in reality, this would be a clear-cut sign that the Chicago front office is confident that Fields can be the team's long-term option at quarterback and that he'll be able to be just as effective in the future with his arm as he has been with his legs.

The problem with this is that general manager Ryan Poles has said he believes Fields needs to get better as a passer. That's not exactly a great endorsement of the soon-to-be third-year quarterback, but at the same time, Poles has said he expects Fields to start next season.