Bad news, Bears fans! Ryan Poles' draft impressed, but Chicago destined for NFC North cellar

The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and there's one thing Chicago Bears fans should have after what general manager Ryan Poles accomplished this weekend − hope!

There's a lot to be excited about. Chicago added 10 new players through the draft and potentially filled some major needs.

In fact if I were to grade Poles' draft, I'd come in at a B+. But let's not start making plans for a ticker-tape parade and celebration in Grant Park just yet.

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Did the Bears fulfill their most pressing need with No. 10 pick Darnell Wright? Absolutely.

Did Chicago draft the best offensive tackle with Northwestern's Peter Skoronski still on the board? Only time will tell.

That's the stance you can take on about every single pick the Bears made.

Did the Bears fill a pressing need? Certainly. But if we're honest, there were a lot of needs to fill.

And there still are. That's what kind of happens when you post the league's worst record.

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There's no question the Bears will be a better team with talent they acquired through free agency and the draft.

Wide receiver D.J. Moore and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will be impact players on their respective sides of the ball. The fourth-round grabs of Tyler Scott and Roschon Johnson add a lot of intrigue to the offense, and let's not forget the magnificent move up to take cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in the second round.

I mean, Johnson will likely battle for the starting running back role even after Khalil Herbert averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season.

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Let's pump the brakes on this runaway lovefest and look at other NFC North teams in the draft.

The Detroit Lions? Got better. The Minnesota Vikings? Improved, even if ever so slightly. Sadly for the Bears, both teams were already better.

What about the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers, you might ask? They also got better, drafting weapons for their new young quarterback, Jordan Love. And considering the Packers track record at quarterback (see also: Rodgers, Brett Favre, Bart Starr), why should we expect anything less from Love.

Bears fans should have fun watching their young team grow in 2023, but enjoy the season knowing you can likely expect another early draft pick in 2024 after another fourth-place finish in the division.

Add another draft like this weekend, and Chicago may be the NFC North's biggest threat in 2024.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.