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.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

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.

2. New York Jets: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech

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.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

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.

4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

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.

5. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

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.

6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah

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.

7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

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.

8. New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

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.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

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.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

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.

11. Miami Dolphins: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

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.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

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.

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

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.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

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.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami

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.

16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Jets could go for a wide receiver here, but that position is much deeper than cornerback. If coach Aaron Glenn wants to shore up the secondary, he might push for help at cornerback even after the Jets signed Nahshon Wright in free agency.

17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

This feels like a pretty good spot for the Lions to grab an offensive tackle. They could have a handful of choices and not feel like they’re reaching. Freeling could be a possibility at left tackle if the Lions want to keep Penei Sewell on the right side.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The Vikings need a safety to replace Harrison Smith, but they have a pressing issue in the middle of the defensive line, where they previously spent big money for players such as Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. McDonald is a run stuffer who could occupy blockers on passing downs for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Panthers were aggressive in free agency, adding edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. They could use some help on the offensive line, but Sadiq would add a playmaking element to the offense for QB Bryce Young.

20. Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

The Cowboys could use an edge rusher, but the defense is pretty nondescript at the second level and adding an athletic player with speed and range like Hill might make sense.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

If the Steelers don’t look to improve on the offensive line — they’re probably hunting for help at guard — they could add a playmaker on the outside, something they need even after the trade for Michael Pittman Jr.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama

The Chargers have been ravaged by injuries on the offensive line, and protecting Justin Herbert has to be the top priority. Proctor is a massive man (6-foot-7, 352 pounds) who might profile as a guard in the NFL.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The Eagles have done a good job over the years of backfilling offensive line spots, and with Lane Johnson entering perhaps his final season, Miller projects as a quality right tackle.

24. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

If the Browns resist the temptation to double up on offensive linemen, they could turn to wide receiver, where they need to improve for whoever emerges as the starting quarterback. Boston has a big frame (6-4, 212) and excels with contested catches.

25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

There’s no question edge rusher is a huge need for Dennis Allen’s defense, and Faulk’s size (6-6, 276) is comparable to Montez Sweat. He’s a fluid mover and he doesn’t turn 21 until September. If the Bears believe he’s just scratching the surface of his potential, it’s an intriguing option.

26. Buffalo Bills: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

The Bills surely would like to provide Josh Allen with more help, but their defense, especially the back half, really lacked speed last season. Thieneman would improve that and could be a versatile chess piece in the secondary.

27. San Francisco 49ers: T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

The 49ers will have pressing needs on the offensive line very soon, but their pass rush was nonexistent last season after Nick Bosa went out with a torn ACL. Parker had a super-productive college season in 2024 and might be a value pick at this point.

28. Houston Texans: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Texans have been busy reworking a leaky offensive line. If they’re convinced they have that shored up, they could add to the team’s strength — the defense — with a productive linebacker in Allen who is explosive around the ball.

29. Chiefs (from Rams): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

If the Chiefs can solve their cornerback issue with their first pick, wide receiver looms as a real need. Concepcion is a shifty operator with the quickness and burst to be an immediate playmaker for Patrick Mahomes.

30. Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Terrell might project best as a nickel cornerback. He has a lot of speed and quickness, and the rebuilding Dolphins have needs throughout the secondary.

31. New England Patriots: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Patriots have to improve protection for Drake Maye after he was sacked 47 times last season. Iheanachor is strong and powerful and could compete at right tackle.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The Seahawks took some hits in free agency, and one was losing safety Coby Bryant to the Bears. McNeil-Warren is a physical performer who had some on-ball production and would provide an immediate replacement.

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