Locked into Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall with Carolina’s pick, the Bears are evidently more ambivalent about their own selection at No. 9. Of course, it is bigger news when a team isn’t “very open for business,” but the Bears could be of the mind to trade down, accumulate picks, and surround Williams with as much talent as possible during his rookie contract.

Jones’ report comes amidst chatter the Rams are looking to vault from No. 19 to the top 10. It has been genuinely uncertain if Bowers will crack the top 10, with the Jets looking like an option at 10 and the Broncos the potential fail safe at No. 12. A unique player who did not test, Bowers is the kind of prospect who lends himself to teams either outsmarting themselves or overthinking his résumé.

“But at this moment KC doesn’t exactly know the number of games,” Palmer added. This has been the expectation all along since Rice surrendered to Texas police, but there seems to be a wide range of potential outcomes as to the number of games. Receiver was a Chiefs need even before Rice’s legal woes, and it would be unsurprising to see KC select a wideout at No. 32 in Thursday evening’s first night of the draft.

Armed with a first-round pick for the first time since 2016, the Rams apparently don’t know what to do with themselves. They are currently sitting at No. 19 overall. Moving up a minimum of nine spots would take a lot of ammunition for a team with an aging quarterback, one that just lost Aaron Donald to retirement. We can’t say we would advise it, especially were it for a pass catcher. Alas, Sean McVay has long been addicted for bold moves for star receivers, with extremely mixed success.

Schultz also notes that the “prevailing belief is [a trade] is a long shot to happen.” While he acknowledged the Patriots are listening to all calls from teams hoping to move up, it’s also been reported that Patriots ownership hopes to secure a quarterback in the first round as they look to usher in a new era under head coach Jerod Mayo. The Giants are one of a handful of teams in need of a quarterback upgrade who are stuck picking outside of the top five. Teams like the Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders could also be in a position for a trade-up to acquire a franchise quarterback, which could net a significant pick haul for the Patriots.

When asked where he will end up, McCarthy said he had “somewhat of an idea. New York Giants, I’ve spent the most time with.” Earlier rumors from The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicated the Giants and Vikings will be in a race for McCarthy. Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll, and company have been doing their due diligence on quarterbacks, holding the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft. They currently have Daniel Jones at quarterback, signed through 2026. With injuries through an underwhelming season for Jones, McCarthy would signal a fresh start for the franchise. As the top-two picks shake out, the Giants could trade with the Patriots for No. 3 to pick McCarthy or sit back at No. 6 with the trust the Pats don’t select him or teams like the Vikings or Broncos don’t move up instead.

While previous reports from the offseason indicated interest in a reunion between Elliott and the Cowboys, Anderson confirms that the two parties are meeting the day before the NFL Draft. Elliott began his career with the Cowboys, spending seven seasons in Dallas and earning three Pro Bowls, a first-team All-Pro, and a second-team All-Pro honor during his time. He spent last season with the Patriots, totaling 184 carries for 642 yards and three touchdowns. The 28-year-old has a lot of tread on his tires but could return to a familiar place in Dallas. The Cowboys currently have Royce Freeman, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn in the backfield. They are expected to consider adding a running back through the draft, and a potential Zeke reunion shouldn’t change that.

Hendrickson is set to make $15 million this season before hitting free agency in 2025. He has been looking for an extension from the Bengals, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement. Any trade for Hendrickson would have to include a new deal for the elite pass-rusher. Hendrickson tallied an absurd 17.5 sacks in 2023 despite playing through several injuries. He is more than deserving of a new deal and could be traded by the Bengals on draft night.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, this is the largest deal ever for an offensive lineman. With the draft just around the corner, the Lions are taking care of their current roster with extensions for its biggest names. They signed Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million extension earlier today. Drafted in 2021, Sewell played a mix of left and right tackle as a rookie and earned a top-25 grade at the position from Pro Football Focus. He moved to full-time right tackle in the following season. After two strong campaigns, Sewell took the next step in 2023 and was PFF’s top-graded tackle. They charted him with one sack allowed on 674 pass-blocking reps. He is also elite in the run game, perfect for the Lions’ ground-heavy approach. Jared Goff is entering the final year of his contract and should be next in line for an extension in Detroit.

Chase is now signed through the 2025 season as the Bengals and their superstar wideout work on a longer-term deal. Chase, 24, has established himself as one of the NFL’s elite receivers, both on the intermediate level and downfield. Chase in 2023 managed 100 receptions and over 1,200 yards despite Joe Burrow missing much of the year with lingering injuries. His 2023 receiving success rate (57 percent) was the highest of his NFL career. Chase will continue operating as the team’s WR1 whether or not Tee Higgins stays in Cincinnati.