Owners of the No. 1 NFL draft pick the last two years, the Chicago Bears will have to wait until No. 10 for their first selection this year.
General manager Ryan Poles traded away the first pick in 2023, and after winding up at No. 10 following another trade, he selected right tackle Darnell Wright. The Bears kept the top pick last year and used it on quarterback Caleb Williams.
In the last decade the 10th pick also has yielded wide receivers Garrett Wilson (New York Jets) and DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) and quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings), Josh Rosen (Arizona Cardinals) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs).
This isn’t a great class for quarterbacks, but no position is more consistently overdrafted by teams in dire straits — a position the Bears know well. This affects them directly because the more quarterbacks selected in the top nine picks, the more prospects at positions they’re eyeing get pushed down the board.
No first-round pick has been traded this year — and this mock draft is presented without any projected trades. It’s hard enough to project the picks as it is.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Figure the Titans wind up drafting Ward unless they are blown away by a trade offer from the QB-needy Giants, who lurk at No. 3.
2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
There hasn’t been a lot of discussion recently about Carter’s foot issue that popped up at the scouting combine. The Browns also badly need a quarterback, but pairing Carter opposite newly minted Myles Garrett would be intriguing.
3. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
This could be too high for Sanders, but if the Giants don’t land Aaron Rodgers, the front office and coaching staff will be in desperation mode.
4. New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Patriots were a huge player in free agency, investing in the defense for new coach Mike Vrabel. Their biggest needs are supporting QB Drake Maye with pass catchers and pass blockers. It’s not a good draft for wide receivers for the first time in several years, and it’s not a great O-line class either. New England can use Hunter on offense and moonlight him on defense.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
New GM James Gladstone got the job in part because he was part of a Rams front office that drafted well. The Jaguars could use an edge rusher as 2022 No. 1 pick Travon Walker hasn’t lived up to his draft slot. They also can fortify the middle of the line with Graham.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
Brock Bowers was a home run pick for the Raiders last year, but the franchise’s last decade of first-round picks has been littered with busts, including Tyree Wilson, Alex Leatherwood, Henry Ruggs, Clelin Ferrell, Johnathan Abram, Gareon Conley and Karl Joseph. Walker has very good range and had 6 1/2 sacks last season for the Bulldogs.
7. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Jets have transitioned from Aaron Rodgers to Justin Fields and will need some weapons to give Fields a chance to reboot his career. Warren is not only an excellent receiver, but also a gritty all-around player in the running game.
8. Carolina Panthers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
The Panthers have focused the offseason on improving the defense, and while some have knocked the athletic Williams for a lack of production last season at Georgia, he did battle through an ankle injury. The Panthers still have to replace Brian Burns as a pass rusher and should try to do so with this pick.
9. New Orleans Saints: Armand Membou, RT, Missouri
The Saints are mired in ongoing cap issues and will have to draft their way out of mediocrity. Barring a trade down, this will be the first time they have picked in the top 10 since choosing USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis seventh in 2008. Membou projects as a top-flight right tackle or guard.
10. Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, LT, LSU
If arm length weren’t an issue — Campbell measured 32 5/8 inches at the scouting combine — he would be a top-five pick. It’s a fair concern, but plenty of very good left tackles have excelled without ideal arm length (34 inches or longer). The Bears can plug in Campbell at left tackle, and if it proves to be a problem down the road, he always could be an interior anchor.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
GM John Lynch is retooling the roster in a transformative offseason for the 49ers. They badly need help at cornerback, and Johnson has an ideal combination of size, length and range.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Cowboys could use another piece for Matt Eberflus’ defense, but it’s a perfect fit for Jerry Jones to tab the super-talented running back who played at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas.
13. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
There aren’t many players with a higher floor than Booker, who should emerge as an elite performer and locker-room leader. The Dolphins need to shore up protection for Tua Tagovailoa.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Whether it’s Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, the Colts could benefit from adding a quarterback-friendly target in the middle of the field. Loveland is the second-best tight end in the class.
15. Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce, DE, Tennessee
It’s an annual tradition. You start putting together a mock draft and note that the Falcons are really deficient when it comes to pass rushers. It has been the case for years. Pearce has been knocked for character concerns, but if the Falcons believe in him, maybe he could fill a longstanding need.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Cardinals could use a defensive tackle, but Campbell is a versatile defender whom coach Jonathan Gannon could use in a variety of ways.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
As the Bengals try to resolve a contract issue with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, it makes sense to find a contingency plan. Even if they wind up making Hendrickson happy, another pass rusher makes sense after Sam Hubbard retired.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State
GM John Schneider made it clear he knew a lot of work was needed on the offensive line. Zabel had a fantastic Senior Bowl and combine and can help at any of the three interior positions.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Bucs need help in the secondary and Barron has the versatility to play on the outside. He has very good ball skills coming off a season with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups for the Longhorns.
20. Denver Broncos: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Broncos got solid results from QB Bo Nix during his rookie season, and now they need to provide him with targets on the outside. The speed merchant Golden could go earlier to a receiver-needy team.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
It has been slow going finding a replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, and even if the Steelers land Aaron Rodgers, they need a plan for the future.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Chargers added Najee Harris on a one-year contract. Jim Harbaugh can add Hampton to the fold for a dynamic backfield and make the Tar Heels star the future of the position.
23. Green Bay Packers: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
There’s lots of talk about the Packers needing to find a wide receiver for Jordan Love, and that’s real. They also have to strengthen the secondary with cornerback Jaire Alexander’s future in the air.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Vikings signed high-profile defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, but they’re on short-term deals and Harmon would solidify the middle of Brian Flores’ defense.
25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Texans opted to blow up the offensive line after it struggled to protect C.J. Stroud in his second season, trading away left tackle Laremy Tunsil. They can get a left tackle for the future in Simmons.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
The Rams had a hard time piecing together the secondary last year, especially early in the season. Thomas stood out at the Senior Bowl, where he was the best defensive back. He’s a plug-and-play starter.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
The Ravens need to shore things up in the middle, and Jackson is intriguing because he showed the versatility to play left tackle last season for the Buckeyes.
28. Detroit Lions: Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
There are lot of questions about Stewart because his production for the Aggies didn’t come close to matching his freaky athletic ability. The Lions can roll the dice, and there wouldn’t be pressure on Stewart to prop up the pass rush opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
29. Washington Commanders: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College
The Commanders need a little more juice up front, and Ezeiruaku would add that coming off a season in which he led the Eagles with 16 1/2 sacks.
30. Buffalo Bills: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
In their ongoing quest to get past the Chiefs in the AFC, the Bills have to fortify the defense. Emmanwori would be a perfect fit, a player who can be a difference maker against the run and pass.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The Chiefs’ greatest need was on full display in a Super Bowl loss: They have to get better on the offensive line. They can choose between Banks or Josh Conerly of Oregon.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Eagles don’t have a lot of needs, but they do have to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Starks played in the slot and at safety last season for Georgia, and if he somehow makes it this far, he’d be an ideal selection for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
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