The Chicago Bears moved down from number one to number nine, and now the real mock drafting can begin. Sure, the team could still move down from nine, but it was pretty obvious they were going to move down from one, so any mock draft before this initial trade-down was a waste.
Now that we know when they will be picking, it is worth wondering who will be on the board when they pick. So, instead of the Chicago Bears' seven-round mock draft, we are going to look into the top nine picks, and find out which players are likely to fall.
1. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
There are reports that the Carolina Panthers do not actually have a top name on their board, and that they just wanted to move up to number one to make the decision now. However, the odds shifte greatly towards C.J. Stroud, and when you think of Frank Reich, and some of the best passes he has worked with, Stroud is the best fit.
Frank Reich is a fan of the bigger pocket passers. While you can debate all four quarterbacks in this draft, we can all agree that the best pocket passer is C.J. Stroud. Bryce Young may have a little more accuracy, but with the size in the pocket, Stroud is the clear safe pick.
If the team traded up for Anthony Richardson, they are risking losing way too much in their future first, because Richardson is not ready to start. Stroud can get on the field by week one and help them compete. You only make a move like that for Stroud, not someone who has big questions size-wise with Young, or accuracy-wise with Richardson.
2. Houston Texans: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Houston Texans did not trade up to number one, and they have been pretty confident that whoever fell to number two, they would be comfortable drafting them. One thing to keep in mind is that Nick Caserio, the Texans GM came from the New England Patriots. That means that Caserio at least knocks Nick Saban, or has a good relationship with people on that staff.
If any team may be comfortable with Bryce Young, it could be the Texans because of that. At the same time, if the Panthers do draft Young, you have to think that the Texans would just as easily be okay with Stroud.
The fact that they were probably comfortable with either of the top two on the board makes it easy to see why they would not move back. The Texans reportedly said that they would wait until their second first round pick to look into quarterback, but knowing one is going first, and knowing that there will be demand right behind this pick, the Texans have to take one now.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
All eyes have shifted to the Arizona Cardinals when it comes to a trade. The Indianapolis Colts are sitting right behind them at number four. We all know that the Colts are going to be connected to quarterbacks, and it is hard to think that they will not take one.
When you add in that two quarterbacks go first and second, the desperation for a quarterback is getting high. The reality is that now Anthony Richardson and Will Levis are going to go, and there will be a gap between QB5. By all accounts, it is Hendon Hooker as the next quarterback, and he is coming off an ACL, and most see him as a backup in the NFL.
If the draft starts with the Cardinals at three, and we know that the Colts are taking a quarterback it is going to be on teams to jump the Colts, or they will be down to their last option at quarterback. The Cardinals are going to draw heavy interest here, and it is hard to say that they will not trade back.
Teams such as the Raiders, and Falcons will have to be watched for the trade-up. Still, if the Cardinals do not trade up, the pick is easy. Beyond that, Will Anderson will not fall to number nine. He is the easiest lock for a player who is off of the board.
4. Indianapolis Colts: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
As we noted, the Indianapolis Colts are taking a quarterback. It is hard to think that they would be in this spot and not take one, even if they take the fourth passer left. As noted, the gap from the fourth guy to the fifth is big, and if the Colts do not take the fourth guy, they essentially will not enter the season with a legitimate starting quarterback.
In most cases, a team will trade up to three, and then the Colts take the fourth guy. With the Cardinals taking Will Anderson, the Colts now get a choice. We go with Will Levis, who has all of the traits that Chris Ballard loves.
Anthony Richardson is rising up boards, but the thought is that either someone likes him so much that he will not fall to four. He will be traded for. Or, his hype went from last first to top ten, and he is not a top-five pick. He will go closer to where Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes went in the 7-10 range.
This leaves the Colts to take Will Levis, who is more likely to earn the starting spot by week one.
5. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
The Seattle Seahawks get a huge gift here from the Denver Broncos. There were serious questions about the maturity and risk of drafting Jalen Carter. After news broke at the NFL combine that he had an arrest warrant teams went into scramble mode to find information.
For the most part, the legal aspects are behind him, and now teams just have to debate if this will happen again. While teams will do their due dilligence, we have seen teams take swings on talent with far greater questions off of the field. Carter is so young that it is hard to define him by this, and the NFL cycle moves so fast, that the backlash will not be that bad.
Pete Carroll has to think that he provides a layer of culture, and stability that woiuld make this pick easier. Even with his questions, it is hard to see Jalen Carter fall beyond number five.
6. Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
By most accounts, Christian Gonzalez locked himself into the top ten. He is over 6', over 200 pounds, ran under 4.4, has long arms, has great tape, and is coming out as an underclassman. Not many players check the boxes quite like Christian Gonzalez.
The Detroit Lions had been building up their trenches in recent drafts, but now they are a bit weak in the back end. Jeff Okudah has been up and down, but the rest of the team around him brings serious questions in the secondary.
The Lions have to take the highest upside, the best player at a premium position. Christian Gonzalez is one of the more clean prospects, and one of the highest-upside cornerbacks. The position is vital in todays NFL, and the Lions are lacking. They should not pass on Gonzalez.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
There are two scenarios where the Raiders end up with Anthony Richardson. As noted, if anyone trades up to number three, it may be the Raiders. They have been known to be aggressive, and we heard they were a team that came up short of the number one overall pick.
If they have eyes on Richardson, they could jump the Raiders. At the same time, of the four quarterbacks. Richardson is more likely to fall to seven due to his questionable accuracy.
This is the exact pick that Josh Allen was selected. Josh McDaniels drafted Tim Tebow once upon a time. When Cam Newton was available, it was McDaniels who built the offense around him. Neither of those worked, but McDaniels clearly values the running dynamic and the athletic upside.
Now that he has a second chance, he may swing again at Anthony Richardson.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Atlanta Falcons have a great chance to put their offense together with a few big picks. After Kyle Pitts and Drake London back to back, the Falcons now go to the trenches for Peter Skoronsi.
They are losing Kaleb McGary to free agency, but Skoronski may be viewed as a guard anyways. Eight may be high for a guard, but this is not the best class for high-end talent, and the Falcons did take a tight end at four pretty recently, so they are not all-in on positional value.
The Falcons had a revolving door at left guard last season. They shuffled multiple options in there, including Elijah Wilkinson, so you know that did not go well. In a draft without high-end talent, you have to turn to the safe bet. Skoronski is just that, and the best player available on tape. He fits right in at left guard and should be on the Falcons' radar at pick eight.
9. Chicago Bears:
The Short List: Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, Tyree Wilson, Myles Murphy, Lukas VanNess, Nolan Smith
You may notice a theme with the best players available. The Chicago Bears are about to have a great chance to build up their trenches with this pick, almost no matter how the board breaks.
Even if one of these names goes, it leaves someone like Skoronski, or maybe even Carter. Fans want to see Bijan Robinson, but nothing Ryan Poles has said and done makes you think he would ever in his right mind take a running back over multiple big names in the trenches.
The team may have faith in Braxton Jones and look to the defensive line. They need four starters on the line, and honestly need a backup or two as well. There is no chance that they can fix their defensive line just in free agency.
Nolan Smith is fun, but not quite a fit. If you had to bet, the Chicago Bears are going to draft one of Tyree Wilson, Myles Murphy, or Lukas Van Ness. If the board breaks like this, who would you draft? Is there anyone in the top eight that you could see falling to nine?