Needs: QB, LB, OL, CB

I resisted as long as I could. I still think Drake Maye is a very good quarterback. But all signs point to Williams being the Bears’ pick.

It’s a logical choice; Williams has the highest ceiling of any passer in this year’s draft class. While he has some of the hero ball traits that make Justin Fields so tantalizing AND frustrating, his ability to spin straw into silk suggests he could have a Patrick Mahomes/Lamar Jackson type impact in the league. Now he gets to join a rising Chicago squad with a safety blanket in D.J. Moore at wideout — and another high impact pass catcher on the way later in the draft.

Needs: OT, QB, EDGE, CB

One recent trend in the pre-draft process has seen prolific college quarterbacks shake off perceived flaws through March and April en route to a higher draft selection than experts assumed back in November. We saw it with Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. We’ll see it again with Daniels this spring.

Daniels would be a departure for Washington; a gifted dual-threat passer the likes of whom hasn’t been seen in the nation’s capital since Dan Snyder was breaking Robert Griffin III. The reigning Heisman winner would be a spiritual do-over for new owner Josh Harris, a chance to prove that things actually are different in his haunted burial ground of a franchise. The LSU star has the talent to be the face of that revival; an uber-efficient playmaker who’d get an immediate boost from playing with Terry McLaurin but have to prove he can adjust to the Commanders’ rebuilt offensive line.

Needs: EDGE, DT, QB, CB

Atlanta stops dragging its feet and pays up for a quarterback here, giving up the eighth pick, a 2025 first round pick and third round selections this year and next for No. 3 and New England’s fifth round pick. That’s a hefty price, but the Patriots have no impetus to move without a godfather offer; they could use Maye’s services as well.

Ultimately, New England has many more holes to fill than QB and a dangerous division to navigate. The Falcons, on the other hand, have an offense built to prop up a shaky passer and rivals whose quarterbacks include Bryce Young, Derek Carr and Baker Mayfield. Maye wasn’t as prolific in 2023 as he was the year before, but it’s not difficult to see some Josh Allen bonafides in his game film. He’s an efficient runner with a big arm and the capacity to turn slivers of daylight into big gains.

Needs: EDGE, WR, CB, LB, QB

Quite possibly the easiest pick to make in this year’s draft. The Cardinals don’t need a quarterback and landed in a draft spot just outside the range of this year’s top passing prospects, which may limit their return in a trade back. Fortunately, this is a team that badly needs a wideout and the best receiver to enter the league in years is waiting for them at No. 4.

Harrison Jr. is as close to a sure thing as you’ll get in the draft. He’s got NFL bloodlines, sure, but the headline is his unimpeachable combination of athleticism, body control and hand strength. He’s already a polished route runner who now gets to pair with Kyler Murray, who was sneakily a top 10 quarterback over the last six games of 2023.

Needs: QB, LB, OL, CB

While Nabers would be a wonderful fit in Los Angeles, the Chargers’ myriad needs and limited cap space instead divine a trade back. The Bears late season surge left them just good enough to require a trade up to ensure a top three wideout. Thus, they ship the ninth and 75th overall picks, plus 2025 second and fourth round picks, to the Chargers for the fifth selection and a sixth rounder to grab him.

Nabers is a perfect complement to DJ Moore, the latest link in a chain of NFL-ready receivers from LSU. He’s buttercream as a runner and explosive with the ball in his orbit, vaulting toward deep balls while shielding them from opposing cornerbacks. He’d be ideal roaming free in Williams’ improvisation-heavy offense, finding holes and then exploiting the hell out of them for massive gains.

Needs: QB, WR, OG, CB, LB

New York missed out on the quarterback frenzy but could still pick up a top notch wide receiver here. But wideouts aren’t especially useful if your QB is getting sacked more than 14 percent of the time. Andrew Thomas remains strong, but Evan Neal hasn’t developed as the Giants have hoped, leading to the team’s third first round offensive tackle since 2020.

Alt has the capacity to not just be New York’s best blocker but one of the best tackles in the NFL. His college tape showcases a strong, quick and perpetually in-control mirror to edge rushers. His combine performance backs that up, painting him as one of the most athletic big men in his class. With at least one more year left in the Daniel Jones experience, the Giants give their embattled quarterback a little extra insurance in the pocket.

Needs: WR, CB, S, LB, OT

DeAndre Hopkins had a nice comeback season in 2023, but he turns 32 this summer. The top two pass catching options behind him are Treylon Burks and Chigoziem Okonkwo, both of whom are lottery tickets with plenty left to prove on Sundays. This is not an ideal situation for Will Levis as he attempts to blossom into a bonafide franchise quarterback.

No wideout in the draft may jive better with Levis’ “f- it, let’s go deep” philosophy than Odunze, a gifted tracker who turns 50-50 deep shots into catches 75 percent of the time. His combine performance showcased a guy with elite athleticism but also the kind of maniac coaches love.

.@RomeOdunze won't leave the field until he hits his target of 6.6 on the 3 cone drill.

Total dedication. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/vIxbd3V52k

— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024

Needs: QB, WR, OT, TE, CB

The Patriots could snipe J.J. McCarthy here, but if they were dead set on a first round quarterback they’d keep the No. 3 pick. They could trade the pick to someone else who wants him. Or, knowing the New York Jets badly need offensive line help, they can pick the draft’s second-best tackle prospect and frustrate the franchise that ended Bill Belichick’s career (thus far) on a loss.

So, yep, New England stands pat with its new draft position and revitalizes an offensive line slated to lose both its starters at tackle this spring. Head coach Jerod Mayo is frustratedly aware of how a young quarterback can struggle without the right support system, so his first draft pick is a gifted lineman capable of providing the extra seconds necessary to turn disaster into success.

Needs: CB, DT, IOL, LB, TE

The Chargers have plenty to fix and new head coach Jim Harbaugh understands the value of a smothering defense. Thus, the trade back that still allows Los Angeles to be the first team to select a defender in 2024.

Mitchell starred at Toledo. He starred at the Senior Bowl. He starred at the combine. He has the production and athleticism to be an immediate impact player in the NFL. Now he gets to pair with Derwin James and Asante Samuel Jr. as the Chargers do their damnedest to shut down their air space against the AFC’s top quarterbacks.

Needs: OL, QB, WR, S, DT

Amarius Mims’ physical gifts will tempt New York. Unfortunately there’s a 40 year old quarterback at the center of its offense, leaving precious little time for a blindside protector to develop. Fuaga is the more ready blocker, a mean tackle capable of standing up and batting away defenders on the edge or getting out in space and demolishing linebackers in the run game.

The Oregon State product is tall with long arms to keep pass rushers at bay, utilizing solid lateral quickness to keep from ceding his leverage. He’s quick with that first punch, knocking linebackers off balance before finishing the job. While his technique could stand to be refined, he has all the tools to immediately jump to the starting lineup and keep Aaron Rodgers upright.

Needs: QB, EDGE, LB, CB

Folks around the combine either really like McCarthy or are really good at puffing up smokescreens. If it’s the former, the Michigan man could wind up working his way into the top 10.

If he slides, he could be too tempting for the Vikings to pass up. Minnesota has a significant decision to make on Kirk Cousins’ future. If they opt not to pay up for a 35-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles — or if they land Cousins on a short-term deal — McCarthy could slide in as the team’s future cornerstone. He doesn’t have prototypical size or arm strength, but he processes through his reads quickly, minimizes mistakes and, most importantly, wins a ton of games.

Needs: QB, CB, LB, EDGE, S, TE

Denver needs a lot of cheap talent to engineer a rebuild around the $85 million in dead cap space Russell Wilson left behind. A trade back from No. 12 would make sense — and put the Broncos in position to take a reasonable mid-level quarterback later on (Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr.).

Instead, the team can beef up a defense that made the difficult decision to release All-Pro safety Justin Simmons this March. Turner isn’t a finished product, but he’s an elite athlete who can get to the quarterback even as a raw prospect. He had 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss with the Crimson Tide last season, then put on a show in Indianapolis that boosted his draft stock into the possible top 10 range.

Needs: CB, LB, WR, EDGE, QB

The Raiders and a wide receiver with sterling combine results. That’s a pairing that just feels right. — While a cornerback like Terrion Arnold makes more sense here, Thomas’s toolbox may be too diverse to pass up. The LSU wideout dazzled in Indianapolis, running a 4.33-second 40 at 6-foot-4.

Needs: OT, IOL, TE, WR, EDGE, LB

Offensive line help would be ideal, but the Saints were so hard up at tight end that Jimmy Graham had four touchdown catches last season. Here, thanks to circumstance, one of the best tight end prospects in years falls into their lap.

Bowers is small for a blocker and didn’t work out at the combine. None of this matters, because his game film at Georgia showcases an absolute monster in the receiving game who can roast both linebackers and cornerbacks. Derek Carr helped Darren Waller thrive in their Raider days together; now he gets an arguably more athletic tight end to keep New Orleans in the NFC South hunt.

Needs: CB, OT, EDGE, LB, WR

Kenny Moore’s pending free agency leaves a gap in the secondary, but even if he returns Indianapolis could use an upgrade at the boundary. Arnold, a 6-foot ballhawk with impressive quickness and explosion, could pair with JuJu Brents to give the Colts one of the league’s best young cornerback tandems.

Arnold can play inside or out, creating the kind of defensive flexibility coordinator Gus Bradley can use to expand his playbook. He had 12 passes defensed and five interceptions in a breakout season with the Crimson Tide last fall. While he may not have the name recognition of Kool-Aid McKinstry, his cover skills and consistency make him the safer pick.

Needs: IOL, LB, DT, EDGE

Murphy is a keg of dynamite, a compact tackle capable of exploding into the backfield or chasing down runners beyond the line of scrimmage. His ability to split blockers and crush through gaps makes him an undeniable piece of every opposing offensive coordinator’s game plan.

Here, he gets to join a Seattle defensive front in need of cohesiveness. The Seahawks are loaded with young talent, but that didn’t stop them from fielding the league’s 30th-ranked defense last fall. Murphy’s ability to consume blockers and shrink pockets from the inside out should make life easier for everyone, even if he isn’t a perfect fit in the team’s 3-4 lineup.

Needs: OT, DT, EDGE, S, CB

Ineffectiveness and cap concerns prodded the Jaguars to reconfigure their secondary. Darious Williams and Rayshawn Jenkins are out, leaving a sizable hole in the defensive backfield. But with Mitchell and Arnold off the board, Jacksonville has the latitude to address a different position of need.

Cam Robinson’s time with the team is almost certainly coming to a close. Drafting Latham adds a player who might be a top three blocker in his draft class with the 17th overall pick. That’s a boon for Trevor Lawrence, even if it doesn’t address the defense that fell apart as the Jags skidded off a cliff to finish the 2023 season.

Needs: OT, DL, EDGE, WR, TE

By resume alone, Latu should be a top five pick. There’s no arguing with his production; 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in the last two seasons alone.

But his stock has fluctuated despite a solid showing in Indianapolis. That’s a shame for him and a godsend for the Bengals, who add a polished pass rusher to their defense and create a high-level exit strategy as Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard barrel toward their 30s. Adding an edge threat isn’t Cincinnati’s top priority, but Latu’s value may be too strong to pass up.

Needs: OL, S, EDGE, QB, DT

The funniest possible outcome to Les Snead, connouseir of the superstar trade, getting his hands on the Rams first first round pick since Jared Goff and then using it on the most boring position possible. Thus, here we are; with Los Angeles replacing Coleman Shelton and Brian Allen with the 2024 draft’s top center.

Powers-Johnson has been one of the spring’s biggest movers, rocketing up draft boards by proving his Rimington Award-winning play at Oregon is sustainable. He crushed Senior Bowl practices, then wowed at the combine to cement his place in the first round. While he’s not a sexy pick, he’s exactly the type of player who can maximize the final years of Matthew Stafford’s waning prime.

Needs: QB, OL, CB, LB

The real world Steelers might opt for Cameron Heyward’s eventual replacement by drafting one of the most impactful interior linemen in the draft in Jer’Zhan Newton. But Mims potential could be too much to pass up; a player who could make a top five impact from his spot at the 20th pick.

Mims has only eight college starts to his name, but he looks like he was made in a lab to create the perfect NFL tackle. And since Pittsburgh’s perpetual “pretty good”-ness means a quarterback is off the table here it makes sense to add an asset to make whomever is taking snaps next season’s life easier. Mims could be that guy in 2024, and he could be an All-Pro in 2026.

Needs: OT, IOL, S, EDGE, CB

Emmanuel Ogbah was a logical salary cap cut. And while replenishing the interior of a line that may lose Robert Hunt and Connor Williams is important, those are positions that can be addressed later in the draft. A player of Verse’s caliber, by comparison, will be long gone by Day 2.

The Albany-turned-FSU star didn’t quite expand on his breakout 2022 season, but his 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss in ths final two games of 2023 show just how dangerous he can be. Miami’s defense set the tone up front, ranking third in the NFL in both pressure rate and total sacks. Verse could be an immediate addition that keeps that tradition rolling into 2024.

Needs: LB, CB, S, WR, EDGE

The Eagles will be looking to trade up should the board fall this way; there’s a higher floor for cornerbacks like Mitchell and Arnold than Wiggins, whose 173 pound frame raised eyebrows at the combine. Philadelphia saw a similarly slim corner struggle as a rookie last season when it faced Emmanuel Forbes and the Washington Commanders twice. A player like Wiggins may not fit into the “win now, maybe save Nick Sirianni’s job” plans.

In terms of overall talent, however, he may be the best defensive back in his class and a player with too much upside to be ignored. Wiggins is a deterrent who punishes quarterbacks who dare throw his way with elite closing speed. With 4.28-second 40 speed, he’ll be the fastest player on the field most games — quick enough to chase down even the most dangerous NFC deep threats.

Needs: IOL, EDGE, DT, TE, WR

Jonathan Greenard will be a commodity on the free agent market and Houston may need to find a replacement. Look no further than the ultra twitchy Robinson, who gets off the line with such speed you’ll swear he was offside at least twice per game.

Robinson still has room to fill out his game, but his speed rush is good enough to sew havoc on Sundays from Week 1 onward. He’ll be an asset as a pass rusher and the kind of presence who can redirect sweeps and off-tackle runs. More importantly, he’s good enough to chase quarterbacks right into the waiting arms of defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr.

Needs: OT, C, S, CB, RB

Tyron Smith is a pending free agent and the Cowboys don’t have much spending room. The future Hall of Famer could be on his way out and the most reliable way to fill his shoes is via first round draft pick.

Enter Fautanu, one of the smoothest blockers in the game. He combines tight end movement with lineman strength who delights in mashing defensive ends into pulp.

Needs: OT, OG, S, LB, CB

The Packers have needs at safety, cornerback and, if Keisean Nixon leaves in free agency, kick and punt returner. DeJean can do all these things very, very well.

DeJean is an absurd athlete who can keep his spot at corner or, since Green Bay is in danger of losing both starters at safety, slide to the middle of the field. His closing speed makes him a capable eraser at either position, swiping away quick outs on the sideline or tracking down deep balls in the middle of the field.

Needs: QB, IOL, OT, S, EDGE

The middle of the line was a fatal flaw that helped chase Tom Brady into retirement. That group wasn’t significantly better in 2023. Now it adds a versatile blocker who can move to guard or center and sweep up defensive tackles for what had been one of the league’s lowest octane running attacks.

Barton was a tackle with the Blue Devils but profiles to move inside at the next level. That’d make him a useful swing option behind Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke who’d occupy a full-time job in the middle. The Bucs could use him; they’ve ranked dead last on yards before contact when it comes to running plays each of the last two years.

Needs: EDGE, WR, CB, LB, QB

The Cardinals need beef up front. Fortunately, a boatload of salary cap space should address that problem. That leaves an opportunity for the team’s second first round pick to grab a high-ceiling prospect who could develop into a perennial Pro Bowler along the edge.

Robinson’s career began on the interior before a kick out to end displayed his true NFL potential. That means he’s still learning the position, but his 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss for a very good Mizzou team last season show just what his baseline might be. His long arms and power at 285 pounds give him the chance to lock down an end role in Arizona’s 3-4, even if his lack of top end speed suggests he can’t shift to outside linebacker.

Needs: WR, CB, S, EDGE

Buffalo’s inability to flank Stefon Diggs with reliable wideouts once again left the Bills staring down a playoff defeat. While Josh Allen’s tight end room is stocked between Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, his receiving corps has little meat beyond Diggs — especially with Gabe Davis headed to free agency.

Fortunately, there’s a wide array of second tier receivers available at No. 28 in the midst of a draft loaded with wideout talent. McConkey has been one of the biggest movers among that group. A 6-foot wideout capable of hypotic routes and an innate understanding of how to leverage centimeters of misplaced hip movement into yards of separation. He could work inside or, with 4.39-second 40 speed, be productive near the sideline as well.

Needs: CB, WR, EDGE, LB

Jer’Zhan Newton would be a fit here — there may not be a player up front I like more than the Illinois wrecking ball. But he’s been unable to workout this spring due to an injury that’s not expected to impact his rookie season. Let’s hold off on him for now.

Besides, Detroit needs more help at cornerback where last year’s fixes — Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and, eventually and regrettably Kindle Vildor — failed to create meaningful change. Rakestraw’s combine results weren’t wonderful, but he’s strong and aggressive and can provide sticky press coverage in the slot. That would allow Brian Branch a little more room to freestyle at safety and, ideally, make life easier for the entire Lions defense.

Needs: IOL, WR, EDGE, DT

Odell Beckham Jr. is a free agent. Rashod Bateman can’t stay healthy. Thus, it’s time for the Ravens to select their fourth first round wideout in six years.

Mitchell has all the tools to be a dominant force but only sparingly put them all together at the same time at Texas and Georgia. Fortunately for the Longhorns and Bulldogs that often manifested in College Football Playoff games, but the point stands. Baltimore will have to shape a massive piece of marble into a classic statue. But with 6-foot-2 size, 4.34-second 40 speed and some of the most explosive traits in his class, there’s a reasonable chance he becomes a masterpiece.

Needs: OT, IOL, S, CB, EDGE

Trent Williams remains a thorough butt-kicker at left tackle, even as he slides toward his late 30s. Colton McKivitz could not keep up on the other corner, however. There’s signficant room for upgrade on that side of the line, whether it’s at guard or tackle.

Guyton didn’t overwhelm anyone at the combine, but he’s the kind of high floor tackle who should be able to take on a starting role immediately for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. There will be some growing pains early, but his quickness and length should mitigate the risk of lunging and playing out of position that comes in year one.

Needs: WR, LB, EDGE, OT, DT

My last two drafts had Oregon’s Troy Franklin in this spot. But if the Chiefs are going to prioritize speed to rebuild their deep passing attack, who better than the guy with the fastest 40-yard dash time in modern combine history?

Kansas City has been just fine without Tyreek Hill in its lineup, but there’s undoubtedly been a missing element there. Marquez Valdes-Scantling couldn’t replicate his downfield success and was released this spring. But Worthy is an inexpensive addition capable of getting behind any and all defenses and hauling in whatever 70-yard flick of the wrist Patrick Mahomes graces the world with next season.