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The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft, where general manager Ryan Poles and his staff are finalizing their plans before draft night in a few weeks.
Following free agency, the Bears have some big needs to address on the roster heading into head coach Ben Johnson's second season. Most of those needs are on defense, which includes defensive line and safety. And while most mock drafts have Chicago targeting those two positions at 25th overall, is defense really a lock with the Bears' best-available mindset?
We've rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where most experts still have the Bears leaning defense with their first-round pick but offensive tackle isn't necessarily off the board either.
Aryton Ostley: "Chicago lost Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in free agency and still has a glaring need on the back end. Luckily, the board lines up with that need pretty well with McNeil-Warren, Toledo’s latest top defensive back prospect. He has the size and speed to hang in coverage and brings a hard-hitting edge in run defense as well."
Bruce Feldman: "If McNeil-Warren were still on the board, Chicago would’ve loved to scoop up the big safety, but Mesidor fills a big need too. The Ottawa native, who began his college career at West Virginia, was the other edge guy on a Miami D-line that gave QBs nightmares. Mesidor had 17.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2025. Like his teammate Rueben Bain, the 6-3, 265-pound Mesidor was at his best in Miami’s Playoff run, notching 5.5 sacks.
“Because Bain’s such a beast, people tend to overlook what a monster this guy is,” said an ACC head coach. “He’s really violent with his hands and can really bend too. And he’s got a really good motor. He won’t stay blocked and he just keeps coming.”
Mel Kiper Jr.: "Best player available and checking off a need -- that's a win late in Round 1. At his best, Woods is a penetrating 3-technique who would help the Bears' run defense (5.0 yards allowed per carry, 29th) and pass rush (35 sacks, tied for 22nd)."
Nick Shook: "The run on tackles continues at No. 25, where the Bears show they understand protecting Caleb Williams is priority No. 1. With Ozzy Trapilo returning from a patellar injury, it would be prudent for the Bears to invest in the position with Proctor, a massive, athletic tackle with the build to keep Williams’ jersey clean."
Josh Edwards: "Peter Woods was once regarded as a potential top-five overall selection. Although I never saw him as a clear blue-chip talent, this is good value for the Clemson product and fills a need for the Bears."
Charles McDonald: "Woods’ draft day slide stops here with the Bears adding a real home run swing at a position of desperate need. Chicago’s defensive line was not stout enough last season and, at his best, Woods can be an impact defender at multiple alignments along the interior. The Bears have tried their hand at a few defensive tackle prospects over the last few years, but Woods has a higher floor than their recent Day 2 ventures."
Rob Rang: "The Bears enter the draft with seven selections, but that number is deceiving as they have a 110 pick gap on Day 3 between the fourth and seventh rounds. I expect Bears GM Ryan Poles will trade down at some point to bridge that gap. If he can do so early and still get a dynamic edge rusher (who, frankly, should be in consideration with their original pick at No. 25), Poles will be giving the Bears their best chance for the kind of draft class that can spring a Super Bowl run."
Luke Easterling: "It’s no secret the Bears need to get their defense on the same level we saw from their offense in Year 1 under Ben Johnson, and the biggest improvements need to happen in the trenches. Chicago needs a disruptive interior defender who can blow up run plays and push the pocket as a pass rusher, and Woods has the talent to check both boxes. His film was frustrating to watch in college as he played out of position too often, but if he’s used properly, he could be much more dominant in the pros than he was for the Tigers."
Gilberto Manzano: "Thieneman is excellent in coverage and can do a lot more than just roam as the center fielder. His versatility, combined with the arrival of Coby Bryant, would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen two chess pieces in the back end of his defense."
Vinnie Iyer: "The Bears also will think about safety, but they also will find it difficult to ignore the size and athletic upside of Proctor to boost them overall at guard or right tackle."
Daniel Harms: "The losses of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker in the same offseason aren't ideal after Chicago's successful turnaround during the 2025 campaign. However, McNeil-Warren adds a much-needed physical presence and a defender who can float between the hash and box. His instincts are better than he gets credit for, and the 6'3", 201-pound defensive back brings a unique body-type to the secondary, with the ability to mix it up with NFL tight ends and tackle in the run game."
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears explore multiple options at No. 25
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Following free agency, the Bears have some big needs to address on the roster heading into head coach Ben Johnson's second season. Most of those needs are on defense, which includes defensive line and safety. And while most mock drafts have Chicago targeting those two positions at 25th overall, is defense really a lock with the Bears' best-available mindset?
We've rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where most experts still have the Bears leaning defense with their first-round pick but offensive tackle isn't necessarily off the board either.
USA Today: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Aryton Ostley: "Chicago lost Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in free agency and still has a glaring need on the back end. Luckily, the board lines up with that need pretty well with McNeil-Warren, Toledo’s latest top defensive back prospect. He has the size and speed to hang in coverage and brings a hard-hitting edge in run defense as well."
The Athletic: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Bruce Feldman: "If McNeil-Warren were still on the board, Chicago would’ve loved to scoop up the big safety, but Mesidor fills a big need too. The Ottawa native, who began his college career at West Virginia, was the other edge guy on a Miami D-line that gave QBs nightmares. Mesidor had 17.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2025. Like his teammate Rueben Bain, the 6-3, 265-pound Mesidor was at his best in Miami’s Playoff run, notching 5.5 sacks.
“Because Bain’s such a beast, people tend to overlook what a monster this guy is,” said an ACC head coach. “He’s really violent with his hands and can really bend too. And he’s got a really good motor. He won’t stay blocked and he just keeps coming.”
ESPN: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Mel Kiper Jr.: "Best player available and checking off a need -- that's a win late in Round 1. At his best, Woods is a penetrating 3-technique who would help the Bears' run defense (5.0 yards allowed per carry, 29th) and pass rush (35 sacks, tied for 22nd)."
NFL.com: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Nick Shook: "The run on tackles continues at No. 25, where the Bears show they understand protecting Caleb Williams is priority No. 1. With Ozzy Trapilo returning from a patellar injury, it would be prudent for the Bears to invest in the position with Proctor, a massive, athletic tackle with the build to keep Williams’ jersey clean."
CBS Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Josh Edwards: "Peter Woods was once regarded as a potential top-five overall selection. Although I never saw him as a clear blue-chip talent, this is good value for the Clemson product and fills a need for the Bears."
Yahoo! Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Charles McDonald: "Woods’ draft day slide stops here with the Bears adding a real home run swing at a position of desperate need. Chicago’s defensive line was not stout enough last season and, at his best, Woods can be an impact defender at multiple alignments along the interior. The Bears have tried their hand at a few defensive tackle prospects over the last few years, but Woods has a higher floor than their recent Day 2 ventures."
FOX Sports: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF (trade back with Patriots, No. 31)
Rob Rang: "The Bears enter the draft with seven selections, but that number is deceiving as they have a 110 pick gap on Day 3 between the fourth and seventh rounds. I expect Bears GM Ryan Poles will trade down at some point to bridge that gap. If he can do so early and still get a dynamic edge rusher (who, frankly, should be in consideration with their original pick at No. 25), Poles will be giving the Bears their best chance for the kind of draft class that can spring a Super Bowl run."
Athlon Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Luke Easterling: "It’s no secret the Bears need to get their defense on the same level we saw from their offense in Year 1 under Ben Johnson, and the biggest improvements need to happen in the trenches. Chicago needs a disruptive interior defender who can blow up run plays and push the pocket as a pass rusher, and Woods has the talent to check both boxes. His film was frustrating to watch in college as he played out of position too often, but if he’s used properly, he could be much more dominant in the pros than he was for the Tigers."
Sports Illustrated: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Gilberto Manzano: "Thieneman is excellent in coverage and can do a lot more than just roam as the center fielder. His versatility, combined with the arrival of Coby Bryant, would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen two chess pieces in the back end of his defense."
Sporting News: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Vinnie Iyer: "The Bears also will think about safety, but they also will find it difficult to ignore the size and athletic upside of Proctor to boost them overall at guard or right tackle."
Bleacher Report:
Daniel Harms: "The losses of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker in the same offseason aren't ideal after Chicago's successful turnaround during the 2025 campaign. However, McNeil-Warren adds a much-needed physical presence and a defender who can float between the hash and box. His instincts are better than he gets credit for, and the 6'3", 201-pound defensive back brings a unique body-type to the secondary, with the ability to mix it up with NFL tight ends and tackle in the run game."
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears explore multiple options at No. 25
Continue reading...
