CHICAGO — With four picks in the top 89 selections, the Chicago Bears’ challenge in the NFL draft can be viewed as a jigsaw puzzle for general manager Ryan Poles.
He has documented needs at defensive end and safety, and the Bears surely would like to add new talent at a handful of other positions, including center, cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker and maybe defensive tackle.
Left tackle also looms as a question mark, but if the Bears are comfortable with the idea of Braxton Jones competing with Jedrick Wills Jr. and Theo Benedet, that’s probably not a consideration for the draft. Drafting a potential starting left tackle would cast serious doubt on the future of Ozzy Trapilo, last year’s second-round pick who will miss at least a large portion of the 2026 season as he recovers from a knee injury.
The focus is on the first round April 23 in Pittsburgh, but it’s the Bears’ collection of picks through the first three rounds (Days 1 and Day 2) that will tell the story of what kind of impact help to expect.
Here’s a look at how the first round could go in mock draft 2.0.
There’s not a lot of suspense here. Mendoza performed well at his pro day last week and made his only scheduled “30 visit” Tuesday to Las Vegas. The guessing for mock drafts begins with the second pick because Mendoza to the Raiders is as close to a sure thing as you will find.
After toying with the idea of switching to an Ohio State defender, I’m sticking with Bailey to the Jets in the second mock. He was the most productive pass rusher in college football last season, and it’s a huge need for the Jets.
The Cardinals could look to upgrade the offensive line a year before they’ll likely be hunting a quarterback near the top of the 2027 draft. But they can find a right tackle elsewhere and get a multidimensional defender in Reese. While he’s a little light at 241 pounds to be an every-down pass rusher, Reese has a lot of flexibility.
Robert Saleh inherited a defense that’s a mess, but if the Titans are serious about giving QB Cam Ward a shot to develop, they need to help him out. Grabbing an elite running back in Love would be a great place to start.
In mock draft 1.0, I had the Giants scooping up Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. This feels like a meat-and-potatoes draft for first-year coach John Harbaugh. Mauigoa could start from Day 1 at right tackle and help improve a line that has been downright bad.
There are questions about Fano’s arm length (31 1/8 inches), but he has the ability to play potentially anywhere on the line. He even took snaps at center at the scouting combine. The Browns can use help almost everywhere on the offensive line.
The secondary has been a problem area the last two seasons for the Commanders, but Styles is viewed as a can’t-miss prospect and has the range and length to be a chess piece in the middle of Dan Quinn’s defense.
The Saints could be in the hunt for an edge rusher, but if they deem Rueben Bain’s arm length to be an issue, they really could use a top-tier cornerback and Delane might be the best in the class.
McCoy missed last season with a torn ACL but was a top-flight cornerback in 2024, and he’s back healthy now. The Chiefs need a big-time cover man after trading away Trent McDuffie.
Bain lacks ideal length but is a powerful, compact edge rusher who plays with a nasty streak. The Bengals have to find a way to get better on defense and support a strong offense, although an offensive lineman here wouldn’t be a stunner.
Tate’s college teammate Caleb Downs could be an attractive option here, but after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins have a gaping hole at wide receiver. They can fill that need with the best receiver in the class and consider secondary help later.
In a perfect world, a front-seven defender would be sitting there for the Cowboys to consider. If not, they could get an impactful safety in Downs, the kind of player who should quickly emerge as a quarterback for the defense.
The Rams need to fortify the offensive line for MVP Matthew Stafford or provide him with another playmaker. Lemon is super polished, has a knack for getting open and is physical with the ball in his hands.
The Ravens need to strengthen the interior of their offensive line, but it would be interesting if they considered Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, especially considering new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle came up through the ranks coaching that position.
The Bucs signed veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad to provide a boost up front, but they need more help than that if they want to overhaul the front. Mesidor just turned 25, so he’s older than your normal prospect. But if you’re looking for core production for the next five seasons, he would make sense.