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Eight teams have two picks in the first round of the NFL draft, which begins April 28, creating the possibility for more movement after a flurry of trades involving top selections.
With one-fourth of the league holding an extra selection on Day 1 and without elite quarterbacks in the class, it makes for an interesting projection of how things could go.
The Chicago Bears are included in the cluster of teams without a first-round pick. The New York Giants own their selection — at No. 7 — as part of the trade-up to draft quarterback Justin Fields last year. Here is a mock draft through both second-round picks owned by the Bears.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
The Jaguars could consider an offensive tackle — and there are some good ones to select from — but LT Cam Robinson just signed his franchise tag tender, and they are in need of help on defense.
2. Detroit Lions — Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) celebrates after sacking Missouri quarterback Tyler Macon in the second half, Nov. 6, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (HYOSUB SHIN / AJC/AP)
The Lions could go almost any direction here. Walker makes sense because he fits coach Dan Campbell’s personality and has the flexibility to play tackle or end and wreak havoc up front.
3. Houston Texans — Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
It’s easy to envision new coach Lovie Smith pushing for a defensive player, but the Texans have needs across the board, and having first pick of some talented offensive tackles is a good position to be in.
4. New York Jets — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
GM Joe Douglas can go several directions with this pick and fill a glaring need on the roster. The Jets have to do a better job of protecting QB Zach Wilson, last year’s top pick.
5. New York Giants — Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
You can make a compelling case for the Giants to start with the offensive line, but they are in serious need of an impact player for the front seven.
6. Carolina Panthers — Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
The list of quarterbacks the Panthers have tried to acquire the last two years is extensive. The one they did get, Sam Darnold, isn’t for the future.
7. New York Giants — Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
An offensive lineman, a wide receiver or Hamilton, who has a unique skill set and can transform the Giants secondary, all make sense.
8. Atlanta Falcons — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Calvin Ridley is suspended for the season and Russell Gage departed via free agency. New quarterback Marcus Mariota needs someone to throw to other than TE Kyle Pitts.
9. Seattle Seahawks — Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Seahawks can go any direction here, and certainly quarterback and left tackle stand out as needs. The defense needs an edge rusher. But getting the top cover man on the board is a fit.
10. New York Jets — Drake London, WR, USC
Zach Wilson will be in a significantly better spot if the Jets draft a left tackle and wide receiver in the top 10. GM Joe Douglas tried to trade for Tyreek Hill, so he’s in need of a pass catcher.
11. Washington Commanders — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Commanders have used five of their last six first-round picks on a defensive player and have a glaring need at cornerback. But another playmaker to pair with Terry McLaurin would energize the offense.
12. Minnesota Vikings — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Vikings have a new regime in place, but for the time being they have been busy bringing many players back. Help is needed in a few spots, especially at cornerback.
13. Houston Texans — Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Davis isn’t the kind of three-technique tackle that thrives in Lovie Smith’s scheme, but he’s a dynamic athlete at 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds.
14. Baltimore Ravens — Jermaine Johnson, edge, Florida State
Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II (11) during a game against Notre Dame, Sept. 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Fla. (Gary McCullough/AP)
The Ravens tried to re-sign Za’Darius Smith in free agency, but when that fell through the need for an edge defender remained. Johnson, the ACC defensive player of the year, would be a plug-and-play starter.
15. Philadelphia Eagles — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
GM Howie Roseman made the calculated move of trading one of three first-round picks to the New Orleans Saints. That doesn’t change the biggest need for the Eagles at cornerback.
16 New Orleans Saints — Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
If Cross is still on the board when the Saints are on the clock, he would certainly help replace LT Terron Armstead.
17. Los Angeles Chargers — Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
The Chargers were porous on defense last season, so it’s tempting to look at a player on that side of the ball. But adding more protection for Justin Herbert a year after drafting LT Rashawn Slater is wise.
18. Philadelphia Eagles — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Eagles need another weapon for Jalen Hurts, but the chance to get a three-down linebacker like Lloyd would transform the defense.
19. New Orleans Saints — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Williams is intriguing because, if he were healthy, he would be the first wide receiver to come off the board. But with two first-round picks, the Saints can wait for him to return from a reconstructed ACL.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Once upon a time, Mitch Trubisky was the rookie quarterback drafted to a team with a veteran. This time he will be on the other end of that setup.
21. New England Patriots — Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
A terrific athlete with good size at 6-foot, Gordon could be plugged in right away to fill the greatest need on defense for Bill Belichick.
22. Green Bay Packers — George Pickens, WR, Georgia
The Packers traditionally have avoided using first-round picks on wide receivers. This year feels different after the Davante Adams bombshell. Pickens has the size and ability on the outside to help Aaron Rodgers right away.
23. Arizona Cardinals — Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The Cardinals lost Christian Kirk, and even with A.J. Green re-signing, finding a target to pair with DeAndre Hopkins is a must.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
A defensive lineman would make a lot of sense here. But so would a dynamic playmaker with good size after Amari Cooper was dealt.
25. Buffalo Bills — Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
Contenders in the AFC are going to need a small army of cornerbacks to defend the best quarterbacks in the league. The Bills supply some help for Tre’Davious White.
26. Tennessee Titans — Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
The Titans need to be better on the offensive line, and Johnson will slide in as a Day 1 starter.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
The Bucs need to shore up protection for Tom Brady, but new coach Todd Bowles also has to fortify the defensive front with Ndamukong Suh unsigned. Wyatt will be a force in the middle.
28. Green Bay Packers — Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green (55) sets up in his stance before a play against Mississippi State during the first half, Oct. 2, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (Sam Craft/AP)
As tempting as it is to have them double up on wide receivers, the Packers need to get an edge rusher or add a lineman to protect Aaron Rodgers. Green played four spots on the line in college.
29. Kansas City Chiefs — George Karlaftis, edge, Purdue
Patrick Mahomes needs a playmaker, but the Chiefs also have some true needs in the front seven. Karlaftis will be a rotational player right away.
30. Kansas City Chiefs — Dax Hill, S, Michigan
The Chiefs signed Justin Reid to replace Tyrann Mathieu, but getting Hill, who has excellent coverage skills for a safety, would give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo a lot of flexibility.
31. Cincinatti Bengals — Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The Bengals loaded up on offensive linemen in free agency, and Linderbaum could be the final piece to the puzzle for improving protection for Joe Burrow.
32. Detroit Lions — Desmond Ritter, QB, Cincinnati
The Lions can give Ritter a season to learn as a backup. By using the final pick of the round on him, he will be on a four-year contract with a fifth-year option.
33. Jacksonville Jaguars — Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
If last year’s No. 1 pick, Trevor Lawrence, can show growth, the Jaguars will be much more competitive with some immediate help for the defense.
34. Detroit Lions — Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
The depth chart at wide receiver was barren last season, and Watson is a big target who should provide help quickly.
35. New York Jets — Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
The Jets were pretty busy in free agency addressing the secondary. More help is needed for the front seven.
36. New York Giants — Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
If new GM Joe Schoen maximizes his draft capital, the Giants will have a nice haul of impact players with QB Daniel Jones getting perhaps a final shot this season. Adding a wide receiver to a group that struggled in 2021 makes sense.
37. Houston Texans — Tariq Woolen, CB, Texas-San Antonio
Lovie Smith talked about the significance of cornerbacks in his defense, and the depth chart is in need of talent.
38. New York Jets — Boye Mafe, edge, Minnesota
The Jets need more juice off the edge and Mafe has the athletic ability to at least play on passing downs as a rookie.
39. Chicago Bears — Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith runs a drill during the NFL scouting combine, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Darron Cummings/AP)
Some believe Smith will be taken in the first round because he’s a physical performer who should be able to play right tackle immediately. He has the athletic ability to project as a left tackle, which might appeal to GM Ryan Poles, who hasn’t yet made enough moves to rebuild the line.
40. Seattle Seahawks — Arnold Ebiketie, edge, Penn State
It has been a while since the Seahawks have had a real matchup problem for opposing quarterbacks coming off the edge. Ebiketie could develop into that player.
41. Seattle Seahawks — Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
Once upon a time, GM John Schneider hit gold with a quarterback in the third round. Maybe he replaces Russell Wilson down the road with Corral in Round 2.
42. Indianapolis Colts — Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
The Matt Ryan deal fell in the lap of the Colts, who have to feel better about what Frank Reich’s offense can produce. More help is needed on the back end.
43. Atlanta Falcons — Logan Hall, DT, Houston
The Falcons’ rebuilding project is in the beginning stages, and help can be added nearly everywhere. Hall would give the Falcons a big man in the middle of the defense.
44. Cleveland Browns — Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
The Browns’ offseason has been headlined by the arrival of Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper. They need some big bodies up front on defense.
45. Baltimore Ravens — Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
The Ravens are in need of some younger players to build around on defense, and Pitre can help solidify the back end.
46. Minnesota Vikings — David Ojabo, edge, Michigan
The Vikings need some youth for the front seven, and at this point in the draft getting a talent like Ojabo is worth it — even as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.
47. Washington Commanders — Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
The Commanders defense struggled last season, and after releasing high-paid safety Landon Collins, coach Ron Rivera can add a rugged playmaker to improve the secondary.
48. Chicago Bears — Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam (5) follows a play during the second half against Georgia, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
The Bears have a need for wide receivers, but don’t minimize the situation at cornerback. Elam has excellent size at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds and should be able to start immediately.
