A Top draft prospect doesn’t want to play in Chicago
The Chicago Bears are sitting in the driver’s seat of the 2023 NFL Draft in early March. The Bears have their pick of any top draft prospect, as the team owns the number one overall pick in April. But that doesn’t mean things will fall the way everyone wants in Chicago. Bears quarterback Justin Fields might not get his preferred draft choice, and in fact, there’s a good chance they fall to the Green Bay Packers. Add to that, Fields’ former teammate has stated he doesn’t want to be a member of the Bears.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was asked about the possibility of the Bears moving on from Fields and drafting Stroud. According to Josh Schrock with NBC Sports, Stroud was not a fan of being on his former Buckeye’s NFL team:
“I mean, no, I don’t want to go there,” Stroud said. “That’s his team. I can do my thing. I can go build my legacy. Me and him are brothers for life.”
Fields draft choice might go to Green Bay
On a Barstool Sports podcast earlier this offseason, Fields was asked who he’d like the Bears to take in the first round. Fields answered he wanted the Bears to take wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as the wide receiver was capable of getting separation on routes that Fields wants.
JSN talked to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. He admitted that the Packers had a formal meeting with him. According to Gery Woelfel, JSN said the Packers “are definitely looking for a receiver.”
I asked ex-Ohio St. star Jaxon Smith-Njigba his take away from a formal meeting with the Packers Tuesday at the Combine: “They are definitely looking for a receiver.” pic.twitter.com/H7Oyy4MgD8
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) March 3, 2023
JSN missed much of the 2022 season for Ohio State. But he’s still considered a top wide receiver prospect in this year’s draft. Mel Kiper of ESPN ranks him 14th on his most recent draft rankings. That’s one spot from where the Packers will pick in April at the 15th spot. It would be sweet justice for the Packers if they took away Fields’ choice at wide receiver, as the Bears could outbid the Packers at the draft deadline for Chase Claypool.
