CHICAGO

We thought this headline was funny:

Bears Have Everything Needed to Move Up in the Draft

Move up?  They have the first pick!  And the ninth pick!

A move on the 9 to get the best receiver at 4 or something similar?  Is that what author Gene Chamberlain of Athlon Sports had in mind?  It is.

Because the Bears hold only four picks in this year’s draft, they appear more likely to trade back than trade up if they decide not to use the No. 9 pick themselves.

It doesn’t have to be the case, though.

Logically, they can use the picks gained from trading back. Four picks does not a draft class make.

By going back in Round 1, they could pick up a few extra players later, depending upon how far back they trade.

With edge rusher appearing to be their primary need, and a third receiver also a need, along with defensive tackle or offensive line, the Bears can’t be ruled out for a trade back to address as many roster holes as possible.

However, trades when teams vault up 10 picks or more into the top 10 and give away a number of picks to someone who moves back usually occur when a quarterback or valued edge rusher or wide receiver are available. Sometimes a tackle could be the need the move up for if there is a dearth of talent at the position.

You’ve got to have someone special in mind to move up and give away multiple picks, like the Bears thought when they saw when they traded up 10 spots for Justin Fields in 2021.

By the ninth pick, the top four quarterbacks could be gone and/or the top three receivers. Only one of the tackles is worthy of moving ahead of No. 9 according to rankings by draft analysts like Mel Kiper and Dane Brugler. There might not be someone left worth a team’s effort to trade up to the Bears’ No. 9 spot.

The Broncos, Vikings and Raiders are generally considered teams in need of a trade up to get one of the top four quarterbacks but they would need to go ahead of the Bears to get a QB. No. 9 is unlikely to do it for them.

One of the top two edge rushers could still be there to fill a Bears need or for some team wanting to trade up with the Bears for edge help from well behind where the Bears pick. But the Bears need the edge help themselves.

The top two edge rushers in this draft haven’t been graded to the same level that others in recent years have, such as Will Anderson (third overall) and Tyree Wilson (seventh) in 2023. The previous year, edge rushers Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson went 1-2.

There might be only one edge taken in the top 10 this year say mock drafters from CBS and ESPN.

Depending on how the Bears have their draft board set up, if they want one of the real impact receivers—Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or even Rome Odunze—they may need to step up a few spots.

Apparently they’re doing all due diligence at receiver because a report by Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic says they’ll host Harrison this week on a Top 30 visit and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says they’ll also visit with Nabers.

The same could be true if they want their choice of their best edge rusher, although they would only need to go up to sixth.

Both Atlanta at 8 and Tennessee at 7 could be looking for edge rushers.

The problem the Bears face here in moving up to secure a prime player is their lack of trade compensation with only four total draft picks.

Ah, but like the Cubs always said until 2016 and like the White Sox say on April 8 every year, there’s always next year.

The Bears could use a pick from next year to move up for one of the top two receivers or the best edge rusher. It wouldn’t even be that difficult even for a team short on draft picks.

They simply need to find someone willing to take a second-round pick from the 2025 draft. That’s because in 2025, they have two second-round picks while they don’t have one this year. They also have a pair of sixth-round picks next year to toss into the mix.

A second-rounder should move them up to No. 6. It wouldn’t take a lot more to go up even more if necessary.

The time element becomes the problem when teams toss around future picks. What’s next year’s pick worth, exactly?

The Jimmy Johnson value chart, or the updated Rich Hill version on Drafttek.com, lack columns for next year.

Generally value for next year’s picks is considered to be the last pick of that round in this year’s draft. So a first-rounder traded for next year would be worth 590 points. That’s the value of this year’s 32nd pick in Round 1.

Some have said the first pick of the second round is the actual value for next year’s first-rounder, but that’s only a difference of 10 points, anyway. Regardless, teams have different situations and values so negotiation often wind up deciding the last details. For instance, it’s fairly certain Carolina is not going to be good this year again so a trade with them for a future pick would be worth more than it would for some teams.

If the Bears want to try for LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, it’s entirely possible to do without trading away another pick from this year.

Nabers is faster and has a better vertical leap than Rome Odunze. He has played in a program known for producing NFL wide receivers like Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase. Nabers generally has achieved better route separation than Odunze in the eyes of scouts, and has played against tougher SEC secondaries, not that Odunze would be someone to pout about on draft day by any means.

This could require moving up too far, because Arizona (No. 4), the Chargers (No. 5) and Giants (No. 6) could be looking for receiver help. Knowing Jim Harbaugh from his Michigan days, he might value a tackle like Joe Alt more than a receiver.

Because both Tennessee and Atlanta might be looking for edge rushers, it might mean moving up for the Bears as well.

At least they have that extra second-round pick squirreled away that they acquired from Carolina in last year’s draft, and can wield it if they see the need.

But Bill Barnwell says the Bears should slide down at 9:

9. Chicago Bears

What they should do: Trade down.

After seeing what the Texans did with quarterback C.J. Stroud and pass-rusher Will Anderson last year, it might be tempting for the Bears to make a dramatic swoop by landing a quarterback at No. 1 before moving up to land a second potential superstar in the top five. The idea of Williams throwing to Harrison, Keenan Allen and DJ Moore does sound pretty incredible, although it would come at the expense of several other needs on Chicago’s roster.

While the Bears landed extra draft capital by trading down with the Panthers a year ago, they’ve also sacrificed second-round picks in consecutive years by dealing for Chase Claypool and Montez Sweat. There isn’t much left in the cupboard from the Ryan Pace era, where the only Day 1 or Day 2 picks still on the roster are tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson. With needs at offensive tackle and defensive lineman and more depth required throughout the roster, this would be a good spot to consider trading down in the hopes of adding more top-100 picks around their rookie quarterback.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Are they in the QB market or not?  Rumors about QBs and the Giants are percolating.  Ely Allen of ProFootballRumors.com:

There have been rumors aplenty in the last few weeks claiming that the Giants are extremely interested in drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so much so that they would be interested in trading up from the No. 6 overall pick. The rumors have had New York going in a lot of different directions with their trade up, and Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports has them going in another new direction with a focus on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

Only three days ago, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post projected a trade up for the Giants that saw them taking LSU passer Jayden Daniels. He also claimed to be hearing that New York was highest on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but his projection had the national championship winner being selected one pick before by the Commanders. As a result, he predicted that the Giants would settle for the Heisman winner.

Earlier today, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan also connected Daniels to New York, this time claiming that he was one of the team’s favorites to look out for. According to Raanan, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll both believe the LSU passer would be “an ideal fit in their offense.” He also noted McCarthy as a name to watch, especially if he’s still available by the sixth pick, rendering a trade up unnecessary.

Vacchiano posed a different view just two days ago. Vacchiano, like the others, points out that the Giants could certainly be tempted to trade up for a quarterback, but he specifies that it would need to be the right quarterback. He claims that Maye is the man who fits the bill. Vacchiano posits that if the Bears and Commanders select USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Daniels or McCarthy with their respective picks, the Giants would jump on the opportunity to trade up for Maye.

Maye has long been viewed as the top draft option following the near-certain No. 1 overall pick, Williams. Daniels was the first to rise quickly up draft boards and challenge Maye for that No. 2 spot, followed shortly by McCarthy. Now most mocks have all four of the picks to the open the draft being used on quarterbacks.

The biggest issue with most of these scenarios is that they assume the Patriots will be willing to move back. Like the Bears, Commanders, and Giants, while New England is home to multiple potential starters at the quarterback position, many have labeled passer as a position of need for the Patriots. Veteran Jacoby Brissett, last year’s backup Bailey Zappe, and former Canadian Football League star Nathan Rourke all bring something to the table, but there are many in the league who still believe the team will use their top draft pick to bring in a new competitor to start under center.

Regardless, with the big day still two and a half weeks out, everything is subject to change. Within the course of three days, we’ve seen different sources claim that McCarthy, Maye, and Daniels were all the preferred options for the Giants to pursue in a trade up at different times. Though the muddy waters often tend to clear up the closer we get to the draft, this year may be the exception as the waters seem muddy as ever.

– – –

Bill Barnwell is conflicted about the Giants:

6. New York Giants

What they should do: Trade down. Or stay put. Or trade up.

Like the Cardinals, the Giants are both in need of a No. 1 wide receiver and squarely in the quarterback trade splash zone, which makes their predicament difficult. A lot depends on what happens above them at Nos. 4 and 5. If the Cardinals and Chargers both stay put and take wide receivers, the Giants would be drafting the third-best wideout in the class and also be in position to benefit from those teams that want the QB4. In that scenario, New York would be staring down the opportunity to land multiple first-rounders to pass on a receiver such as Odunze. In a class this deep, that’s a risk it needs to be willing to take.

On the other hand, if McCarthy comes off the board before this pick and there aren’t great trade offers from teams trying to move up, the Giants would still be in position to draft Nabers (or Odunze, if they prefer him as a prospect) without needing to budge off their spot. In that scenario, they should probably stay put and take their pass-catcher.

There’s also one more scenario: What if the Giants want McCarthy or Maye or Daniels for themselves? Daniel Jones suffered his second neck injury in 2023 even before tearing his ACL, and he has only $11 million fully guaranteed remaining on his deal after 2024. (It’s entirely possible the Giants shut him down at some point during 2024 to avoid having the rest of his 2025 salary that is guaranteed for injury trigger, as the Raiders did with Derek Carr and the Broncos did with Russell Wilson.) If they want McCarthy, they probably need to talk with the Cardinals at No. 4; Arizona could move down two spots and still ensure it would be in position to land either Harrison or Nabors, while New York would beat everyone else to the punch for its quarterback of the future.

PHILADELPHIA

T JORDAN MAILATA has re-upped with the Eagles.  Christian Gonzales of NFL.com:

The Eagles have secured Jalen Hurts’ blindside protector for the near future.

Philadelphia recently agreed to terms with left tackle Jordan Mailata on a three-year, $66 million extension. The deal keeps Mailata under contract through 2028.

“It is an honor to be able to play at one club,” Mailata said during his Friday news conference, via the team website. “I’ve always wanted to be a player that has played for one team and there are so few that get to do that. To be a part of history and be a part of the club and the culture that we are trying to continue to build is an honor. I am very grateful to the organization.”

Mailata’s journey from Australia to Philadelphia is an impressive one. He grew up playing rugby before transitioning to professional football and eventually taking his first snap in the NFL. Mailata was a participant in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, and he impressed the Eagles to the point that they selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

WASHINGTON

Bill Barnwell says the Commanders should keep the 2^nd overall pick:

2. Washington Commanders

What they should do: Stay put.

In the big picture, I could see an argument for the Commanders trading down. This is the same ownership group that oversaw the “Trust the Process” Sixers, a team that stripped its roster to the bare bones to get as many draft picks as possible before building back up with multiple top-five selections. Some of those picks turned into Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, which wasn’t an ideal ending, but it’s not out of the question that Washington could have decided to go deep into the tank. Trading this pick would undoubtedly net the franchise multiple first-rounders in the years to come, possibly from a team that might still be far away from contending, like the Raiders or Broncos. That’s a tantalizing option.

I’m not sure tanking is as effective of a solution in the NFL, though, and the value of high draft picks in football fluctuates much more significantly than it does in basketball. Every sport is subject to differing qualities in draft classes from year to year, but nothing is more valuable than being in position to pick a potential franchise quarterback. The Commanders would project to generate more surplus value by drafting a quarterback at No. 2 than they would by landing two other picks in the top 10 and using them on non-quarterbacks.

The Commanders have also been relatively active in free agency in terms of trying to build a culture, signing linebacker Bobby Wagner, center Tyler Biadasz and edge rusher Dorance Armstrong. They don’t look like a team that plans to lose in 2024. If they don’t love any of the non-Williams quarterbacks available at No. 2, they could consider a trade down. Otherwise, they need to stay put and draft a signal-caller.

ATLANTA

Bill Barnwell with advice for the Falcons:

8. Atlanta Falcons

What they should do: Trade down (but not too far).

Unlike seemingly every other team in the top 10, the Falcons aren’t in the market for a quarterback, wide receiver or offensive lineman. If they stay put, there’s a good chance they will be the first team to take a defensive player. That’s not a bad place to stand. Go back to 2021, when the first seven picks off the board were offensive players. The Panthers took cornerback Jaycee Horn at No. 8. The next pick was corner Pat Surtain. Three picks later, the Cowboys made the third defensive selection of the draft and took linebacker Micah Parsons. Those are two transcendent players, and if Horn could stay healthy, he would get mentioned alongside Surtain and Sauce Gardner as one of the league’s best young cornerbacks.

Zigging when everyone is zagging isn’t the worst idea, but in a draft in which there isn’t a consensus No. 1 pass-rusher, the Falcons could move down a couple of spots and still have a decent shot of landing Dallas Turner (Alabama) or Laiatu Latu (UCLA). If we assume there are four quarterbacks, two wide receivers and one tackle off the board before this pick, this would be a spot in which a team could trade up for the WR3 or move ahead of the Bears (No. 9) and Jets (No. 10) for the second-best tackle in the class.

CAROLINA

DT DERRICK BROWN has a long-term deal with the Panthers.  Joseph Person of The Athletic:

The Carolina Panthers and defensive tackle Derrick Brown have agreed to a multi-year extension, the team announced Friday. The extension is for four years and $96 million, including $63.2 million guaranteed, league sources confirmed to The Athletic.

Brown is coming off his first Pro Bowl season which saw him tally a career-high 103 total tackles. He also totaled two sacks, an interception and six passed defended in 2023.

The 25-year-old has spent all four of his NFL seasons with Carolina after the franchise selected him with the seventh pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Why it was important to get a deal done now

When the Panthers were talking to Chicago last spring about trading for the No. 1 pick, the Bears asked about three players — Brown, edge rusher Brian Burns and WR DJ Moore. The Panthers weren’t interested in dealing Brown or Burns, envisioning them as the mainstays of their defensive line. But after the former front office regime failed to get a long-term deal done with Burns, new GM Dan Morgan traded him to the Giants last month for a second-round pick, a future fifth and a pick swap. The Panthers couldn’t afford a repeat of the Burns situation with one of their home-grown, ascending players still in his prime. — Joe Person, Panthers writer

What it means for the Panthers’ defense

With Burns in New York and OLB Yetur Gross-Matos in San Francisco after leaving in free agency, the Panthers were forced to remake their defensive front on the fly. They added a big piece in veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who returned to the Carolinas on a two-year deal. The Panthers also signed DT A’Shawn Robinson and OLB D.J. Wonnum in free agency. But getting Brown locked up was huge for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 scheme.

Brown came into his own last season with 103 tackles, the most by a defensive lineman since the NFL began tracking the stat in 1994. Brown was unblockable at times and looked like the disruptive force who wreaked havoc on SEC backfields at Auburn. — Person

ARIZONA

Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com says the Cardinals should not sit at #4 and take WR MARVIN HARRISON, Jr.:

4. Arizona Cardinals

What they should do: Trade down.

This is the most obvious trade-down spot in Round 1 in terms of projected value. Most mock drafts have the Cardinals staying put and filling a huge need by drafting wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), and I could certainly understand that move. Harrison might be the next Larry Fitzgerald, and taking Fitzgerald at No. 3 in 2004 worked out pretty well for the Cardinals in the long run.

Treating a top-five wide receiver as a lock to become the next Fitzgerald is a dangerous game, though. The other wideouts taken in the top five since 2000 include Calvin Johnson and Ja’Marr Chase, but there’s also Peter Warrick, Charles Rogers, Justin Blackmon and Sammy Watkins, who weren’t able to convert their college dominance to pro success. In a wide receiver class widely regarded as the deepest in recent memory, Arizona doesn’t need to take a wideout here to find playmakers for Kyler Murray.

The bigger reason to pass on Harrison and trade down would be the positioning the Cardinals offer to teams that might want to move up for McCarthy (or whichever quarterback is still on the board at No. 4). The only way for the Vikings or Raiders to ensure landing QB4 is to trade all the way up to here. Jumping from the teens to No. 4 should net the Cardinals another first-round pick and something more in return, allowing a team with holes on both sides of the ball to supplement multiple spots on their roster. Like they did a year ago for offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., the Cardinals could trade back up into the bottom half of the top 10 if they really wanted to add Malik Nabers (LSU) or Rome Odunze (Washington), who are considered the next-best receivers.

SEATTLE

The Seahawks are fielding offers.  Tim Weaver of USAToday.com:

The Seahawks are in a good position to trade down in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Currently slated to pick at No. 16 overall, they are likely outside the territory where they can land an elite quarterback prospect or a blue chip defensive piece. While there’s something to be said for taking the best lineman available when they’re on the clock the best use of that pick will most likely be moving down and adding more capital.

If they want to do that, they have options. According to Chad Forbes, three teams are discussing trade-up scenarios with Seattle: the Eagles, Packers and the Commanders.

Worst kept secret?

Eagles / Packers / Redskins all discussing trade up scenarios with Seahawks

— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) April 4, 2024

Of these three, the most likely trade partner is the Commanders. The Seahawks have already done a deal with their front office this offseason when they traded for quarterback Sam Howell. Washington also has the most total draft capital by far of these three trade suitors.

One potential exception to the trade down scenario is the status of Washington quarterback Michael Penix, who thrived under offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb the last two seasons. If he’s still available at 16 then all bets are off and Seattle has to at least seriously consider picking him. If he’s not, then trading down is definitely the best move they can make.

KANSAS CITY

We wonder whether Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has spoken to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones who doesn’t want another NFL team in San Antonio, much less elsewhere in the Metroplex.  But in any case, The Athletic has a tale from Lukas Weese about Johnson’s scheme to have the Chiefs return “home” to Dallas – and he has some “waterfront property” he can make available.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a “serious opportunity” to relocate to their original home in Dallas, the city’s mayor Eric Johnson told The Athletic.

Johnson is openly lobbying for a second NFL team near his home city. And he sees the Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, as a reasonable candidate.

Johnson, who has been in office since June 2019, pushed for the Chiefs to consider Dallas following a rejection by voters in Jackson County, Mo., of a ballot initiative for a tax that would have helped the Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals.

“Welcome home Dallas Texans,” Johnson said on X, alluding to the original name of the Chiefs franchise.

“The connections are so deep, the history is so rich,” Johnson told The Athletic. “We actually could put together the deals that would make sense for them to get them here.”

Before there was the Chiefs Kingdom or the franchise’s four Super Bowls, American businessman Lamar Hunt established an American Football League (AFL) franchise called the Dallas Texans. The Texans started playing in 1960, sharing the Cotton Bowl with the Cowboys. Hunt relocated the franchise to Kansas City in 1963 and renamed the team the Chiefs.

Six decades later, Lamar Hunt’s son Clark Hunt is the current owner of the Chiefs. Clark Hunt is a Dallas native and lives in the city’s affluent neighborhood of Highland Park with his wife, Tavia, and three children. He is also the chairman and CEO of the MLS franchise, FC Dallas.

Johnson said he speaks with Hunt but declined to say whether they have spoken about a move for the Chiefs. “I’m not really at liberty to say other than I have a good open line of communication with Clark Hunt,” Johnson said. “And that line of communication remains.”

Johnson argues that there’s a good economic argument for a team in Dallas, too. The Cowboys play about 20 miles away in nearby Arlington. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Dallas-Fort Worth increased by approximately 23.1 percent since 2010. That is the most for any metropolitan area in the U.S. during that time frame, according to the census, which estimates that Dallas-Fort Worth could be the third-largest metro area in the country by the 2030s.

That would put Dallas right behind Los Angeles and New York — cities that each have two NFL franchises.

“When the NFL looks at the next round of expansion, they will not find an American city where there is not an NFL franchise currently that will be a more lucrative or faster-growing market to put a team,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had a conversation about a second Dallas team a couple of years ago when the city was pushing to host games for the men’s World Cup in 2026. Jones dismissed the idea of a second local NFL team.

“You can be rest assured that you would not have the NFL supporting another team because of the kind of value that the game and the NFL receives of having [the] Dallas Cowboys as one of its marquee teams,” Jones told the Dallas Morning News in 2022.

According to the most recent valuations from Forbes, the Cowboys are the most valuable NFL franchise at $9 billion. Johnson believes a second NFL team near Dallas could financially benefit Jones.

“You never say never because he’s a businessman and he’s in the business of making money,” Johnson said. “There is a strong argument to make that the Cowboys’ franchise value is not tied to the city it plays in or is connected with. It’s an international phenomenon at this point.

“It’s not about us. It’s about what’s in the best interests of these organizations we care about. I believe there’s an argument to be made to Jerry Jones that is not hurtful and potentially beneficial to the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys to be the epicenter of football by having two NFL franchises, one in each conference, that compete here every single week and bring attention to this market.”

Since 2010, there have been three major relocations in the NFL: the Rams moving back to Los Angeles from St. Louis (2016), the Chargers also to L.A. from San Diego (2017) and the Raiders relocating to Las Vegas from Oakland (2020).

For a second NFL team to play in Dallas, there needs to be a stadium and player complex. Johnson said that Hensley Field, a 738-acre city-owned site that was once the Dallas Naval Air Station, could be a future home. He said the waterfront property has the space and nearby room for a mixed-use development that could become “an economically vibrant district of the city that brings new opportunities to its residents and workers.”

Johnson, who rebuffed a recall effort last month, has long pushed for another major sports team for his city.

Two years ago, Johnson put together an ad hoc committee to attract and retain teams of all types. He said the group meets regularly.

Kansas City’s taste for moving remains uncertain, even following the failed vote. The proposed sales tax was projected to generate about $2 billion, including funds to help renovate Arrowhead Stadium, a 52-year-old structure that will be one of the host sites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The agreement to keep the Chiefs at Arrowhead ends in 2031.

Developers across the state line in Kansas have proposed a shorter move in the past few years. In those discussions, developers have recommended multiple sites that are attractive for a state-of-the-art NFL stadium and training facility. One logical destination could be in Kansas City, Kan., near the Kansas Speedway and Children’s Mercy Park, the home venue of Sporting Kansas City.

“We’re disappointed,” Chiefs team president Mark Donovan said following the failed vote. “We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County. We were ready to extend the longstanding partnership the teams have enjoyed with this county.

“We will do, and look to do, what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”

As for Johnson, he’s going to keep pushing his idea for Hensley Field for a second NFL franchise.

“There is a deal to be had here,” he said.

Well, he did talk to Jones and Jones told him to pound sand.

And, Dallas had a NAVAL Air Station?

A look at the map shows Hensley Field on the shores of Mountain Creek Lake (Dallas has mountains?) in the far southwest part of the city which abuts Gran Prairie, which abuts Arlington.

That’s 8.3 miles from Jerry World if you use surface streets, 9.5 miles if you take the relatively straight shot on I-30.

This in a Metroplex where it is 84 miles from Weatherford in the west to Rockwall in the east.  Or 69 miles north-south from Denton to Waxahachie.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The Chargers should trade down at #5 says Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com:

5. Los Angeles Chargers

What they should do: Trade down.

This roster has been battered by subpar drafting and decision-making in recent years. The Chargers have seen first-round picks (linebacker Kenneth Murray, wide receiver Quentin Johnston) and free agent additions (cornerback JC Jackson, linebacker Eric Kendricks) fail to live up to expectations, leaving a cap bind that led to the departures of top wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Ten of the 22 players who started for L.A. in the playoff loss to the Jaguars in January 2023 are no longer on the roster, a group which doesn’t include Williams (who was injured in a meaningless Week 18 game and inactive for the defeat) and center Corey Linsley (who is likely to retire after June 1 because of a heart condition).

The Chargers were much better than their record a year ago, and new coach Jim Harbaugh turned around the 49ers in a flash after taking over in 2010, but L.A. needs to be thoughtful about how it approaches its roster with Justin Herbert making elite quarterback money over the next few years. With holes at wide receiver, tackle and cornerback, new general manager Joe Hortiz would be wise to do something his predecessor, Tom Telesco, failed to do once in 11 seasons as GM: Trade down.

CLEVELAND

Adam LaRose of ProFootballRumors.com on the possibility of an extension for WR AMARI COOPER:

Deshaun Watson‘s two-year tenure with the Browns has not gone as planned, but Amari Cooper has proven to be an effective addition to the team’s offense over that same span. The latter has one year remaining on his contract, setting himself up for a potential free agent period in 2025.

However, he may have a new Browns deal in place by that point. Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry recently spoke about Cooper, who is set to carry a cap hit of $23.78MM in 2024 and an additional $7.55MM the following season due to the void years present on his deal.

“Coop’s a Pro Bowl caliber receiver,” Berry said (via Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan). “He’s played really well for us the past two years. He’s a strong presence in the locker room. We love him. Players like that, you want to make sure that you can retain as long as possible.”

No reports have indicated player or team are eyeing a round of contract talks in Cooper’s case. Given Berry’s stance, though, it would certainly come as little surprise if negotiations took place aimed at keeping the 29-year-old in the fold for years to come. Cooper has produced a 150-2,410-14 statline between his two Browns campaigns, operating as the team’s clear-cut top receiving option. That is noteworthy considering Cleveland’s efforts to trade for Calvin Ridley before ultimately sending the Cowboys a fifth-round pick (along with a swap of sixth-rounders) to acquire Cooper.

The five-time Pro Bowler will still face major expectations in 2024 considering his pedigree, but Cleveland has made a major addition at the WR spot. The Browns brought in Jerry Jeudy this offseason, acquiring the former Broncos first-rounder for a pair of Day 3 picks. That move was followed in short order by a restructure along with a three-year extension being worked out, the value of which could reach $58MM.

As a result of the investment made in Jeudy (along with Watson and tight end David Njoku, who is on the books for two more seasons), a new Cooper deal would further complicate the Browns’ financial picture on offense. The latter is due $20MM this season, and an extension would no doubt keep him near the top of the receiver market. Plenty of time remains for negotiations to take place, and it will be interesting to see if either party proceeds in that direction during the offseason or as the 2024 campaign unfolds.

TENNESSEE

Bill Barnwell advises the Titans to trade up:

7. Tennessee Titans

What they should do: Trade up.

While Ran Carthon has made plenty of moves this offseason, the one position he conspicuously has not touched is offensive tackle. The Titans let Chris Hubbard hit free agency and cut free agent disaster Andre Dillard after one season, leaving them without many options at the position. Saahdiq Charles played outside during his time in Washington with little success, while Nicholas Petit-Frere missed most of 2023 between a gambling suspension and a shoulder injury. Dillon Radunz hasn’t looked like an NFL-caliber offensive lineman. Peter Skoronski, a first-round pick last year, played tackle at Northwestern, but I’m not sure he showed enough at guard last season to make Tennessee feel confident about bumping him outside.

Even if Skoronski or Radunz start at one tackle spot, the Titans need to add another lineman to the mix. They’ve been popularly linked to Joe Alt (Notre Dame) at No. 7, but the Chargers could add a right tackle at No. 5. Jim Harbaugh already has highlighted the value of a strong offensive line in talking to the media. That could just be a coach platitude — everyone thinks having a strong offensive line is a good idea — but it could also hint toward what the Chargers are thinking. If the Titans want to ensure they land their tackle of choice, they probably need to give the Cardinals a call.

NEW ENGLAND

The Patriots continue their plan of signing their own.  S KYLE DUGGAR has a 4-year deal per Chad Graff of The Athletic:

The New England Patriots continued their offseason plan of re-signing their own pending free agents, inking safety Kyle Dugger to a four-year deal worth $58 million, per a team source.

The Pats had already placed the transition tag on Dugger, assuring they’d have a chance to match any offer Dugger got.

Instead, they got an extension done with another core member of their team. They’d already re-signed Mike Onwenu, Hunter Henry, Anfernee Jennings, Kendrick Bourne and Josh Uche this offseason.

There’s certainly fair criticism for why a 4-13 team is returning so many players, but the Patriots’ new regime has struggled to attract top-flight free agents, and they don’t want to lose the decent players that they do have.

Dugger, 28, figures to be a key part of first-year coach Jerod Mayo’s defense and represents the kind of position flexible player the Patriots covet. A 2020 second-round pick from Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, Dugger improved slowly through his first few seasons. He snagged four interceptions in 2021 and nabbed two pick sixes in a standout 2022 season. In 2023, Dugger finished third on the team in total tackles with 109 and was the leader in solo tackles with 71.

– – –

Bill Barnwell on what the Patriots should do at #3:

3. New England Patriots

What they should do: Stay put.

I swear, there are going to be some recommendations for teams to trade up or down in this column, but this is a unique beginning to the draft. The Patriots find themselves with a more complicated version of the problem the Commanders face. New Washington general manager Adam Peters can go to bed at night knowing he’ll have his pick of the non-Williams quarterbacks at No. 2 (or, if the totally unexpected happens, he can simply take Williams).

The Patriots don’t know whether Daniels or Maye will still be on the board for them at No. 3, and that uncertainty creates some trade possibilities. If they don’t love Maye or J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), they would be better off trading down and adding one of the lesser-tier quarterbacks while racking up significant draft capital from a team wanting to move up. It’s entirely possible they could have a trade lined up with the Vikings or Raiders if New England scouting director Eliot Wolf’s quarterback of choice is off the board by the time the clock starts.

On the other hand, if the Patriots feel confident about three (or more) quarterbacks — or if the passer they want slips past the Bears and Commanders to No. 3 — they have to stay put and take that quarterback. My colleague Matt Miller has made the argument the Patriots should wait on taking their quarterback because they don’t have the infrastructure to support that rookie, and I can certainly see his point given what the Pats have at left tackle and wide receiver. Still, there is no guarantee they will be in position to take a quarterback again across the next few drafts. If the Pats like one of these passers and he is available at No. 3, they have to go for it.

THIS AND THAT

2024 DRAFT

Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com is not as convinced as most that the 2024 draft has a bunch of QBs that are worth chasing or expending high picks on.  And he thinks NFL GMs secretly feel the same way, so he offers this Mock Draft at CBSSports.com:

What if we’re wrong? That’s the question I focused on all week as I prepared to write my latest mock draft. As we approach the NFL Draft later this month, there has been an avalanche of acceptance when it comes to the theory that the first four picks could all be quarterbacks.

On the one hand, it’s understandable. Quarterbacks are important, and plenty of teams with the opportunity to grab one need one. But then there’s the other part of this equation: the one that says we’ve never seen anything like that happen before. In 2021, the first three picks were all QBs (how’s that working out, by the way?), and last season saw three go in the top four, but four straight? That would be unprecedented.

So what if we’re wrong? What if we’re all caught in an echo chamber about this QB class, and the teams don’t feel the same? What if those teams are happy to let the rest of us believe it will happen so they could trade down or see players they want fall to them?

That’s the approach I took for this mock. That we’re all idiots who know nothing. If you’re one of the 5% of people who read this intro, you’ll understand what you’re about to see. The other 95% can assume I’m a clueless moron. I’m fine with that.

1 – CHICAGO (from Carolina)

Caleb Williams QB                 USC • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS

I remain unchanged here. Caleb Williams will be a Chicago Bear. Not only do we know Williams was in Chicago this week for his team visit, but we know what restaurant the team brass took him to. The Bears are dropping any pretense of mystery surrounding the pick.

2 – WASHINGTON

Drake Maye QB                       NORTH CAROLINA • SOPH • 6’4″ / 230 LBS

While I’m taking a different approach to this mock with the QBs, I’m not changing the top two. The Bears and Commanders will take a QB. The only question is whom the Commanders take, and I’m going with Drake Maye because he’s No. 2 on my board.

3 – NEW ENGLAND

Joe Alt OT                                  NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’7″ / 322 LBS

Now the fun begins. What if the Patriots don’t want a QB? What if nobody is interested in trading up for one here? What if the Patriots decide they’d rather solve the left tackle spot for the next decade and take Joe Alt? There’s been plenty of talk about how great this draft class is for tackles. If it’s that good, it would make sense for one to go in the top three, wouldn’t it?

4 – ARIZONA

Marvin Harrison Jr. WR                   OHIO STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

I’ve seen smart people speculate that the Cardinals may trade down and trade back up to get Marvin Harrison Jr. That seems overly complicated, and the kind of theory you concoct when you’ve spent far too much time thinking about the draft. If the Cardinals want Harrison, and he’s on the board when they pick, just take Harrison.

5 – LA CHARGERS

Taliese Fuaga OT                                    OREGON STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 334 LBS

If things break this way, the Chargers would likely love to trade down with a team racing to get a quarterback, but it doesn’t break that way here. A receiver makes sense, given the needs, but I’m holding firm to my theory that Jim Harbaugh will address the LOS first and then get a receiver later.

6 – LAS VEGAS (Mock Trade from NY Giants)

Jayden Daniels QB                                   LSU • SR • 6’4″ / 210 LBS

Wait a second, what if a team did try to trade with the Chargers, but the Chargers were asking for too much to make a deal with a division rival? No problem: the Raiders find a trade partner in the Giants that allows them to come up to get Jayden Daniels.

7 – TENNESSEE

Dallas Turner EDGE                                 ALABAMA • JR • 6’4″ / 252 LBS

I’ve had the Titans going tackle in this spot in most of my mocks, but with two already drafted, they opt to take the top EDGE rusher on their board in Dallas Turner.

8 – ATLANTA

Jared Verse EDGE                                   FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS

I don’t rate this EDGE class all that highly, as I see a lot of potential quality starters, but not guys who strike me as game-changers. That said, Atlanta has a need, and Verse may not be an elite prospect, but he’s well-rounded and improves the defense.

9 – CHICAGO

Malik Nabers WR                                      LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBS

Given the picks they’ve traded away this offseason, I felt the Bears were obvious trade-down candidates to add more picks. However, recent comments from GM Ryan Poles have caused me to reconsider. Reading between the lines, I don’t think the Bears love this class at their positions of need, so they add Malik Nabers to a WR corps that already includes D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen. What more could Caleb Williams ask for?

10 – NY JETS

Rome Odunze WR                                   WASHINGTON • JR • 6’3″ / 215 LBS

Maybe the Jets go tackle in this situation, but the idea of pairing Rome Odunze with Garrett Wilson was just too enticing to pass up. Their games compliment each other so well, and would give the Jets an incredible array of talent on offense.

11 – MINNESOTA

J.J. McCarthy QB                                      MICHIGAN • JR • 6’3″ / 202 LBS

The Vikings have two first-round picks and didn’t have to package them together to move up to get the QB they want. Can you imagine? Opinions on McCarthy vary, but what he’s shown an ability to do well lines up with what Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings ask their QB to do. The reason you keep seeing the Vikings connected to McCarthy is because it just makes sense.

12 – DENVER

Brock Bowers TE                                    GEORGIA • JR • 6’4″ / 240 LBS

This is a best player available situation for the Broncos. They may move up to grab a QB, but it seems unlikely, given their lack of trade assets. Instead, they get Bowers, who immediately upgrades their thinning cadre of pass-catchers.

13 – NY GIANTS (Mock Trade from Las Vegas)

Quinyon Mitchell CB                                    TOLEDO • JR • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

I love Quinyon Mitchell. I love his size. I love his length. I love his athleticism. I love his tenacity. I want to get all that out of the way before I say the dumb thing I’m about to say. I love all of it, but am I the only one concerned about a corner from the MAC? There isn’t exactly a long list of success stories! The concern isn’t enough to keep me from drafting him, but my big dumb brain has big dumb thoughts it wants to share.

14 – NEW ORLEANS

Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT                                  PENN STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 317 LBS

I’m constantly caught in an internal dialogue about Olu Fashanu. I have concerns about Fashanu returning to school last season and not improving as a run-blocker. At the same time, he’s still very young, and perhaps he needs to get on an NFL roster to learn how to be better at it. Either way, he’s immediately one of the 10 best pass blockers at left tackle in the league.

15 – INDIANAPOLS

Laiatu Latu EDGE                                          UCLA • SR • 6’5″ / 265 LBS

It’s not the most pressing need for the Colts, but it’s a need, and the way this mock has played out, I can see the Colts addressing the pass rush now instead of waiting until later when this class thins out significantly.

16 – SEATTLE

Graham Barton OT                                          DUKE • SR • 6’5″ / 314 LBS

I’ve heard so many conflicting opinions on Graham Barton that it’s hard to know where he’ll end up. I’m coming around on him. I don’t know that he has elite traits, but he’s versatile and doesn’t show any glaring weaknesses. He also shows better recovery balance than some of the other highly rated tackles in this class, and it’s an important trait to have.

17 – JACKSONVILLE

Terrion Arnold CB                                           ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

I consider myself a charter member of The Terrion Arnold Fan Club, so I’m a little surprised it took this long to see him come off the board in this mock. Don’t worry, I shall be writing an angry letter to the author about it!

18 – CINCINNATI

Johnny Newton DL                                         ILLINOIS • JR • 6’2″ / 295 LBS

I watched Johnny Newton play his entire college career because I’m one of maybe 10 people who actively watch Illinois football games on Saturdays regardless of their opponent. In that time, I saw Newton dominate games — not opposing linemen, games — from the defensive tackle position far more often than I’ve seen any other tackle not named Aaron Donald or Jalen Carter do at the college level.

19 – LA RAMS

Byron Murphy II DL                                        TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 308 LBS

Byron Murphy II could easily be the first defensive tackle off the board, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes a lot earlier than this. With Aaron Donald’s retirement, taking Murphy (or Newton) here makes sense for the Rams.

20 – PITTSBURGH

Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL                            OREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 320 LBS

If I could design my ideal center, it’d be Jackson Powers-Johnson. Everything from his size, shape and demeanor aligns perfectly with what I want from the position. He’s also much more athletic than his build would have you believe at first glance. He can handle himself in open space.

21 – MIAMI

Nate Wiggins CB                                             CLEMSON • JR • 6’2″ / 185 LBS

The Dolphins could go any number of directions with this pick. Here I have them taking Nate Wiggins, whom I’ve been moving between No. 1 and No. 2 on my CB board with Terrion Arnold for a month now.

22 – PHILADELPHIA

Kool-Aid McKinstry CB                                        ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBS

Maybe it isn’t Kool-Aid McKinstry, but I’ll be surprised if the Eagles don’t begin their draft by addressing the secondary. It was just too big a problem for them last year.

23 – MINNESOTA (from Houston)

Chop Robinson EDGE                                        PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 254 LBS    

The Vikings have added a couple of edge rushers in free agency after losing Danielle Hunter, but you can never have enough. Chop Robinson could be the best pure pass-rusher of the class, and while he’s not as well-rounded as others, Minnesota wouldn’t need him to be a three-down player right away.

24 – DALLAS

Amarius Mims OT                                                   GEORGIA • JR • 6’7″ / 340 LBS

Amarius Mims doesn’t have the reps of other tackles in the class, but they lack his size, athleticism and potential. This would be a tremendous value for a Cowboys team that needs reinforcements up front.

25 – GREEN BAY

JC Latham OT                                                           ALABAMA • JR • 6’6″ / 360 LBS

When I watch JC Latham, the word that comes to mind is “solid.” There are some spectacular moments, but it’s the overall consistency of Latham’s not doing anything poorly that stands out.

Round 1 – Pick 26

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26 – TAMPA BAY

Cooper DeJean CB                                              IOWA • JR • 6’1″ / 207 LBS

Iowa has produced plenty of productive defensive backs over the years, some of whom have become solid NFL players. But Cooper DeJean feels different than those who came before him in the program. There’s a juice and electricity to his game that stands out, and if it weren’t for the broken leg that kept him from being at full strength in the pre-draft process, there would be a lot more buzz around him.

27 – ARIZONA (from Houston)

Max Melton DB                                                    RUTGERS • JR • 6’0″ / 190 LBS

Want a late first-round surprise? Look no further than Max Melton, whose name I’ve heard come up a few times lately as somebody to watch in the first round. He’s improved throughout his career and held up well in games against guys like Marvin Harrison Jr.

28 – BUFFALO

Adonai Mitchell WR                                         TEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 196 LBS

Have you looked at Buffalo’s WR depth chart following the Stefon Diggs trade? I’d be shocked if the Bills don’t select a receiver in the first round. They may even trade up to get one, but I don’t think they’ll have to, given how deep the class is.

29 – DETROIT

Tyler Nubin S                                                     MINNESOTA • SR • 6’2″ / 210 LBS

The Lions have shown they aren’t as concerned about positional value when they feel there’s a player available at a position of need. Tyler Nubin could be that player. He’s my favorite safety in the class and would be an upgrade for the Lions secondary.

30 – BALTIMORE

Troy Fautanu IOL                                              WASHINGTON • JR • 6’4″ / 317 LBS

In most years, Troy Fautanu isn’t likely to get past No. 20, but in this draft class, the Ravens could find a potential All-Pro falling into their laps late in the first.

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

Jordan Morgan OT                                        ARIZONA • SR • 6’5″ / 325 LBS

I do not understand the lack of hype surrounding Jordan Morgan. He has some of the most impressive tape of any OT in the class. The 49ers have to address their offensive line in this draft, and Morgan would be a steal at 31.

32 – KANSAS CITY

Brian Thomas Jr. WR                                       LSU • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

Tall, fast, and can catch a deep ball? Can you imagine one of those in the Kansas City offense? Brian Thomas Jr. is the final pick of this mock, but he could go much earlier. He didn’t run a complete route tree at LSU but didn’t need to in his role. There may be an adjustment period, but Thomas has more in his bag than he showed in Baton Rouge.

When all is said and done, Fornelli’s Mock doesn’t live up to the anti-QB hype with four off the board in the top 11.

Yes, he doesn’t force QBs BO NIX or MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. into the first round, which we get.  We still might see someone (Denver? New Orleans? New England?) move up into the first round to get one or the other.