NFL mock draft: Bears address offensive line with No. 9 pick

The Panthers seemed to trade up to No. 1 overall without a clear-cut choice in mind. That decision now seems to be made, as Young is expected to be the top selection. Though he's undersized, Young proved himself at Alabama as the Heisman Trophy recipient in 2021 and All-American and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.

The Texans entered the regular-season finale in January with the inside track to land the No. 1 overall pick before connecting on a wild touchdown on fourth-and-20 late in a win against the Colts, which caused them to lose out on the top pick. Houston will now go for the second quarterback in Levis.

This draft truly becomes interesting at No. 3, as the Cardinals are secured at quarterback with Kyler Murray. Arizona is seeking a potential trade partner in need of a quarterback and could execute a deal down for a team interested in either C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson. But the Cardinals can't go wrong by selecting the top defensive player in the class — the dynamic Anderson.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard has struggled to solidify the quarterback position since the sudden and stunning retirement of Andrew Luck just prior to the 2019 regular season. Indianapolis will be pleased to come away with Stroud, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year with the Buckeyes.

Super-agent Drew Rosenhaus has made it clear to the NFL world that his embattled client Carter will be selected in the top 10. Once considered a prized prospect, Carter was charged with reckless driving in connection with a fatal crash in January. It will take a team with great stability to bring in Carter, and the Seahawks boast that with head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider.

Witherspoon is considered a dynamic playmaker at cornerback, and that’s just what the Lions need after seeing their playoff hopes gashed by a bottom-dwelling defense. Witherspoon was an All-American at Illinois and immediately would transform Detroit’s secondary.

The surprising turn of events with the quarterbacks at the top of this draft left Richardson to fall — but not too far. The Raiders made the bold decision to part ways with quarterback Derek Carr this offseason and will find their long-term future at quarterback in Richardson with the No. 7 overall pick.

It’s possible that Wilson could land with the Texans at No. 2 if Houston elects not to select a quarterback. The Falcons certainly would be thrilled to see him still on the board at No. 8, as he'll bring Atlanta a dynamic presence on its defensive front.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles has prioritized taking the best player available, and that would be Skoronski here. Though it’s unclear whether Skoronski's future in the NFL is at guard or tackle, Chicago is focused on selecting a blue-chip player rather than addressing a certain position. There’s a strong case to be made that Skoronski has the highest floor of any player in this draft class.

The Eagles have done excellent work over the years building contenders through the trenches. There are a number of ways for general manager Howie Roseman to go, but Philadelphia is best suited selecting the top offensive lineman available. That would be Johnson, a three-year starter at Ohio State and an All-Big Ten tackle.

The Titans could look to trade into the top 10 and select a quarterback – perhaps with the Cardinals at No. 3 or with the Bears at No. 9 if a quarterback they like has fallen that far. But Tennessee needs weapons if Ryan Tannehill is returning as the starter. In Smith-Njigba, the Titans get the top wide receiver on the board.

After landing Levis with the No. 2 overall pick, the Texans will add a weapon for him at wide receiver in the TCU standout Johnston, who boasts prototypical size at 6-foot-3 and blazing speed to match. Suddenly, Houston has building blocks in place on offense.

The Jets seem almost certain to take a tackle with the No. 13 pick — it’s a just a matter of which one. Wright could land with the Bears at No. 9 but would also be a strong fit for the Jets, who need protection for their quarterback. Speaking of which, look for Aaron Rodgers to land in New York by the second day of the draft – better late than never.

As Bill Belichick and the Patriots look to reboot as a contender this season, they’ll find a promising piece for their defense in Van Ness. Though he never started a game at Iowa, Van Ness emerged as one of the brightest defensive prospects in this draft class.

As the Packers begin the Jordan Love era, they’ll need to give him a chance at immediate success. Mayer is the most polished tight end prospect in this draft class and could bring instant impact for Love and the Packers’ offense.

There’s a good chance Gonzalez will be selected prior to the Commanders going on the clock at No. 16, but Washington certainly wouldn’t hesitate if he was still available. Gonzalez has 4.38 speed and prototypical size, and he's considered nearly even with Witherspoon as the top cornerback in this class.

For a second straight year, the Steelers will select a Pitt Panther in the first round. They went with quarterback Kenny Pickett in 2022 and now Kancey with the No. 17 pick. He’s an undersized defensive tackle out of Pittsburgh who brings explosiveness and a high motor to the NFL. Does that sound familiar?

The Lions could be the top team in the NFC North in 2023. In selecting Robinson with the 18th pick, Detroit would leave little doubt of its place as a contender. Many believe that Robinson will immediately be one of the top running backs in the NFL.

The Buccaneers have a number of ways they could go here but will find the upside of Jones as a building block for their future. He’s a developmental prospect with plenty of promise for Tampa Bay.

After landing Carter with the No. 5 overall pick, the Seahawks will make another investment in their defensive front by adding the exciting athleticism of Smith. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, Smith logged a 4.39 time on the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

This isn't so much a draft pick as a plea for the Chargers to get prized quarterback Justin Herbert the help he needs on offense to continue his evolution. Los Angeles can't go wrong in bringing in the gifted USC product Addison.

Could the Ravens be a team to shake up the draft with a trade up for a quarterback? Given the uncertainty surrounding Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore, it’s a looming possibility. Instead, the Ravens add to their secondary with Porter, the son of former rival Joey Porter Sr.

Rather remarkably, the Vikings finished with a minus-3 point differential despite a 13-4 record in the 2022 regular season. It means Minnesota needs to add to its defense, and Banks is the type of player who can offer needed upgrade.

The Jaguars broke through as the AFC South winners last season in part due to a loaded defensive front. That unit can continue to ascend with the selection of Murphy, a first-team All-ACC pass rusher at Clemson in 2022.

After making a long-term investment in quarterback Daniel Jones, the Giants can bolster their arsenal by selecting Flowers, who was an All-ACC wide receiver with nine touchdowns last season. He'd be an ideal fit in New York’s budding offensive identity.

It would be surprising if the Cowboys attempted an aggressive trade into the middle of the first round to select the prized running back Robinson. But if Dallas does stand pat at No. 26, Bresee would be an impact addition to the defensive line.

The Bills seem well set in the secondary with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer at safety, but they won’t shy away from a game-changing talent in Branch who can play a versatile role as a rookie in Buffalo’s secondary.

The Bengals are preparing to break the bank for quarterback Joe Burrow. With that comes the pressure to build a young, cost-controlled core around him. Kincaid was an All-Pac-12 tight end who posted 70 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022.

Under the watch of head coach Dennis Allen, the Saints have built a top-10 defense. Forbes would bring New Orleans a potentially promising player for that defensive identity. He had six interceptions last season, including three returned for a touchdown.

The Eagles will go with a second offensive lineman in the first round in Torrence, who played his entire college career without allowing a single sack. He'll be another important addition for Philadelphia to keep its offensive line sustainable for the long term.