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We're roughly two weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and there are holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball for the Chicago Bears. While there are no extra compensatory picks on the way, the Bears will have seven picks, including four in the top 89.
However, the strategy remains unchanged – in fact, general manager Ryan Poles has adhered to the same philosophy since his arrival in Chicago, and he’s doubling down on it again this year, particularly in the early rounds. Draft the best available.
Last season was a prime example. Poles drafted tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall despite still having Cole Kmet under contract, and in the second round, at No. 39 overall, landed in a scenario where wide receiver Luther Burden III was still available and drafted him.
This year, Chicago doesn't have the luxury of drafting in the top 10, and I’m sure all Bears fans agree that this will continue to be the case going forward. Here’s a look at our latest seventh-round mock, looking ahead at who potentially could be calling Chicago home.
Edge rusher has been a need for the Bears for the last two seasons, and while Montez Sweat has given Chicago productivity, there is a need on the opposite side. Zion Young has only been climbing the draft boards at 6-foot-6, 262 pounds, and 33-inch arms. Young has a motor and competitiveness that only get stronger as the game goes on. He has power, the ability to transfer the power from his hips to his hands, as well as good footwork and good body control. Young might climb even higher as the first round begins, but this would be a small dunk pick for the Bears at No. 25. But don’t be surprised if Chicago takes a tackle. Poles was at the Alabama pro day with Kadyn Proctor, who tested well, and Blake Miller and Caleb Lomu could also be options.
Chicago lost their starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker this offseason, and the first move the Bears made in free agency was signing Coby Bryant to play the strong safety position, coming off a Super Bowl-winning season with the Seattle Seahawks. Poles has preached speed and getting faster, and Treydon Stukes gives you that after running a 4.33 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-6, he excels at tracking the ball and staying downfield on the deep ball. Stukes has good technique and is a willing tackler in space near the line of scrimmage. He tore his ACL in 2024 and will turn 25 in September.
Drew Dalman was the shock of the offseason, which clearly nobody saw coming, when he decided to retire at age 27, following a Pro Bowl season. Chicago quickly shifted and traded for Garrett Bradbury, giving up a fifth-round pick in 2027. Sam Hecht is being graded as the best center in this draft with his athleticism and body control. He gets his hands inside, which makes up for the times his mass and length let him down. But adding muscle mass is something that can be addressed. Scouting reporters have said that Hecht is sticky to blocks once he connects, and he pass protects with a wide base.
Chicago signed Neville Gaillmore and Kentavious Street to add depth to the defensive line for a unit that allowed 134 rush yards a game, sixth most in the league. But even passing up on high-end guys in the first round, DeMonte Capehart, who I see being available here in the late third round, might even be considered a reach, but he has so much upside. At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash and a 1.71 10-yard split; he had a 33-foot, 5-inch jump. Capehart has heavy hands and played 57 games for Clemson in six seasons. He has impressive power, is light on his feet, and accompanies good lateral movement. Capehart has girth, good strike, and eats blocks with good footwork and contact balance. And with the depth, he won’t need to make an immediate impact, giving him time to get a feel for the NFL game and develop.
The Bears let Nahshon Wright walk in free agency after he delivered a Pro Bowl season that most didn’t see coming. From his length to his turnover-creating instincts, Chicago might want to see if it could find that replacement. The Bears will be getting back Zah Frazier, who didn’t play last year, but is 6-foot-3 and brings that length. At 6-foot-4, Tacario Davis, who ran a 4.40 40-yard dash, displays the speed Chicago is looking to mold their defense around. Davis did interview with the Bears during the NFL Scouting Combine, and with 33 ⅜ inch arms, he has shown strength to reroute on press coverage. He does struggle on multi-break routes, but makes it impossible to throw over and has a good sense of when to jump and break on routes.
In the late rounds, why not take a shot on a position that could use some more bodies for competition? Enrique Cruz Jr., who spent four seasons at Syracuse, transferred to Kansas to play his last season. In 2023, he started all 12 games for the Orange at left tackle, but in 2025, he started all 12 games at right tackle. Cruz attended Willowbrook High School in suburban Chicago and is a big, burly prospect with good length. He has good slide quickness, but gets beaten with inside moves. Cruz can deliver heavy hands and grip to rush control.
The speed for Zavion Thomas is off the charts, running a 40-yard dash at 4.28 seconds. He would give the Bears a special teams value and learn from Kalif Raymond. Thomas has good size with enough vertical speed to stress defenses, and has shown the ability to beat man coverage and sit underneath in zone. But with Ben Johnson and Antwaan Randle El, anything is possible.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 7-round mock draft: Chicago builds up defense
Continue reading...
However, the strategy remains unchanged – in fact, general manager Ryan Poles has adhered to the same philosophy since his arrival in Chicago, and he’s doubling down on it again this year, particularly in the early rounds. Draft the best available.
Last season was a prime example. Poles drafted tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall despite still having Cole Kmet under contract, and in the second round, at No. 39 overall, landed in a scenario where wide receiver Luther Burden III was still available and drafted him.
This year, Chicago doesn't have the luxury of drafting in the top 10, and I’m sure all Bears fans agree that this will continue to be the case going forward. Here’s a look at our latest seventh-round mock, looking ahead at who potentially could be calling Chicago home.
Round 1, Pick 25: Zion Young , EDGE, Missouri
Edge rusher has been a need for the Bears for the last two seasons, and while Montez Sweat has given Chicago productivity, there is a need on the opposite side. Zion Young has only been climbing the draft boards at 6-foot-6, 262 pounds, and 33-inch arms. Young has a motor and competitiveness that only get stronger as the game goes on. He has power, the ability to transfer the power from his hips to his hands, as well as good footwork and good body control. Young might climb even higher as the first round begins, but this would be a small dunk pick for the Bears at No. 25. But don’t be surprised if Chicago takes a tackle. Poles was at the Alabama pro day with Kadyn Proctor, who tested well, and Blake Miller and Caleb Lomu could also be options.
Round 2, Pick 57: Treydon Stukes, S, Arizona
Chicago lost their starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker this offseason, and the first move the Bears made in free agency was signing Coby Bryant to play the strong safety position, coming off a Super Bowl-winning season with the Seattle Seahawks. Poles has preached speed and getting faster, and Treydon Stukes gives you that after running a 4.33 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-6, he excels at tracking the ball and staying downfield on the deep ball. Stukes has good technique and is a willing tackler in space near the line of scrimmage. He tore his ACL in 2024 and will turn 25 in September.
Round 2, Pick 60: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
Drew Dalman was the shock of the offseason, which clearly nobody saw coming, when he decided to retire at age 27, following a Pro Bowl season. Chicago quickly shifted and traded for Garrett Bradbury, giving up a fifth-round pick in 2027. Sam Hecht is being graded as the best center in this draft with his athleticism and body control. He gets his hands inside, which makes up for the times his mass and length let him down. But adding muscle mass is something that can be addressed. Scouting reporters have said that Hecht is sticky to blocks once he connects, and he pass protects with a wide base.
Round 3, Pick 89: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
Chicago signed Neville Gaillmore and Kentavious Street to add depth to the defensive line for a unit that allowed 134 rush yards a game, sixth most in the league. But even passing up on high-end guys in the first round, DeMonte Capehart, who I see being available here in the late third round, might even be considered a reach, but he has so much upside. At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash and a 1.71 10-yard split; he had a 33-foot, 5-inch jump. Capehart has heavy hands and played 57 games for Clemson in six seasons. He has impressive power, is light on his feet, and accompanies good lateral movement. Capehart has girth, good strike, and eats blocks with good footwork and contact balance. And with the depth, he won’t need to make an immediate impact, giving him time to get a feel for the NFL game and develop.
Round 4, Pick 129: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
The Bears let Nahshon Wright walk in free agency after he delivered a Pro Bowl season that most didn’t see coming. From his length to his turnover-creating instincts, Chicago might want to see if it could find that replacement. The Bears will be getting back Zah Frazier, who didn’t play last year, but is 6-foot-3 and brings that length. At 6-foot-4, Tacario Davis, who ran a 4.40 40-yard dash, displays the speed Chicago is looking to mold their defense around. Davis did interview with the Bears during the NFL Scouting Combine, and with 33 ⅜ inch arms, he has shown strength to reroute on press coverage. He does struggle on multi-break routes, but makes it impossible to throw over and has a good sense of when to jump and break on routes.
Round 7, Pick 239: Enrique Cruz Jr., OT, Kansas
In the late rounds, why not take a shot on a position that could use some more bodies for competition? Enrique Cruz Jr., who spent four seasons at Syracuse, transferred to Kansas to play his last season. In 2023, he started all 12 games for the Orange at left tackle, but in 2025, he started all 12 games at right tackle. Cruz attended Willowbrook High School in suburban Chicago and is a big, burly prospect with good length. He has good slide quickness, but gets beaten with inside moves. Cruz can deliver heavy hands and grip to rush control.
Round 7, Pick 241: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU
The speed for Zavion Thomas is off the charts, running a 40-yard dash at 4.28 seconds. He would give the Bears a special teams value and learn from Kalif Raymond. Thomas has good size with enough vertical speed to stress defenses, and has shown the ability to beat man coverage and sit underneath in zone. But with Ben Johnson and Antwaan Randle El, anything is possible.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 7-round mock draft: Chicago builds up defense
Continue reading...
