Ex-Super Bowl Champ Already Certain Chicago Bears Have Two Draft Hits

It is way too early to declare whether any of the Chicago Bears‘ 2023 draft class will be successful. That isn’t how the NFL works. Guys need to test their mettle in actual games. They must endure the grind of a long season, make mistakes, and learn from them. Those that do tend to excel at the professional level. One thing is for sure. Not everybody in the 10-man class will be a hit. On average, a team is fortunate if maybe 30% of a draft class becomes productive in the NFL. The goal is to either hit or exceed that mark.

Early signs are promising for the Bears. Tenth overall pick Darnell Wright looked solid in his only preseason appearance. Tyrique Stevenson, their 2nd round cornerback, might be the MVP this month after three solid performances, capped by a terrific interception against Buffalo. Tyler Scott had a big kick return. Noah Sewell continued to flash. Even undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent unseated P.J. Walker as the backup quarterback.

Former NFL scout Jim Nagy, current director of the Senior Bowl, thinks the two names to watch are Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. They’re already showing signs of rapid progress.

The Chicago Bears can trust Nagy’s judgment.

He spent 18 years as a scout before landing his current position. In that time, he won four Super Bowl championships between Green Bay, Seattle, and New England. He knows a thing or two about defensive tackles. New England drafted Vince Wilfork during his time there. Nagy was with Kansas City when they drafted Dontari Poe. Last but not least, he helped Seattle add the productive Jarran Reed. If that weren’t enough, he’s seen plenty of talent come through Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

So when he says Dexter and Pickens already look like hits, it’s probably for a reason. Their numbers are interesting. Pickens earned three pressures and a sack in 69 snaps. Dexter had two pressures in 68, though he should’ve had a sack against Indianapolis. The two combined for seven run stops or tackles for either limited gain or a loss. Considering how raw both players were when they arrived, it’s encouraging to see the progress they’ve made. Given enough time, they could become significant factors in the Chicago Bears’ defensive line rotation sooner than later.