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The 2026 NFL Draft is just hours away, and the Chicago Bears are one of the most intriguing teams to watch after winning the NFC North this past season, the first year under head coach Ben Johnson.
Chicago added extra draft capital this offseason by trading veteran wide receiver DJ Moore, and after several veterans departed in free agency on defense, they'll have plenty of opportunities to make up those losses with their draft selections. Coming off their big year last season, the Bears need to make sure they hit on their draft picks to help reinforce the roster following the losses of Moore, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, cornerback Nahshon Wright, and safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, to name a few.
We're examining four 'Dos' the Bears must accomplish during this draft at a time where it feels crucial that they nail the draft. The franchise has shown a real commitment to second-year head coach Ben Johnson, but that work doesn't just stop with the offseason moves they've made to identify the best fits on their roster; the work is not done until the draft is complete.
Here's what the Bears can do to strike big in the draft and complete their impressive offseason:
After losing both Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, the Bears landed Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant, but they still have a hole on their starting roster at the safety position. There are three different names at safety who are projected to go in the first round: Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and if all of them are off the board, Chicago can not afford to wait around much longer, they'll have to address safety in the second round, and no later, even if the top targets are off the board. If not the first round, there are some solid Day 2 options, including AJ Haulcy and Treydan Stukes.
For as quickly as the Bears need to bring in safety, they also need to address the defensive trenches, specifically at defensive tackle. Last season, Chicago made it a point of emphasis to upgrade their offensive line and saw the dividends pay off, now they must do the same on the defensive side to improve their defense. Getting after the quarterback needs to be a focus for the Bears, whether that's through an edge rusher or a defensive tackle who can disrupt the pocket as veteran Montez Sweat needs help alongside him on the defensive line. Last season, Chicago signed veteran Grady Jarrett in free agency, but he did not have the season he or others would've hoped for in the middle of the defensive line. Bringing in young reinforcements has to be a focus point for the front office.
Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet, and Jedrick Wills Jr. are the names competing for the left tackle spot in the Bears starting lineup this season with Ozzy Trapilo expected to be out most of the year. Chicago missed on their selection of Kiran Amegadjie, who's now getting a go at guard, in the third round of the 2024 draft, but Trapilo, before his injury, looked to be placing himself in position to be the left tackle of the future last season. None of the aforementioned names are world beaters at the position, and you can never have too much depth on the offensive line, so the Bears should proceed carefully when looking to bring in a potential left tackle in the draft. If one of the premier players at the position falls to them, they should leap on the opportunity. But they should not overly pursue the spot, just understanding that competition could bring out the very best in everyone battling for the job.
Last year it was running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round out of Rutgers, who came in and added an unexpected element to the running game for the Bears. Monangai, along with veteran D'Andre Swift, helped form one of the top rushing offenses in the league last season, showing that head coach Ben Johnson doesn't particularly care where a player is drafted, if they can play, he will find them a role to earn. Chicago did lose DJ Moore in the receiver room, as well as other veterans in Devin Duvernay and Olamide Zaccheaus, so the Bears could look to add a wide receiver late in the draft, and if that player can turn heads in training camp, Johnson has proved that as a head coach, he'll give them opportunities to contribute during the season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: What the Chicago Bears should do
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Chicago added extra draft capital this offseason by trading veteran wide receiver DJ Moore, and after several veterans departed in free agency on defense, they'll have plenty of opportunities to make up those losses with their draft selections. Coming off their big year last season, the Bears need to make sure they hit on their draft picks to help reinforce the roster following the losses of Moore, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, cornerback Nahshon Wright, and safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, to name a few.
We're examining four 'Dos' the Bears must accomplish during this draft at a time where it feels crucial that they nail the draft. The franchise has shown a real commitment to second-year head coach Ben Johnson, but that work doesn't just stop with the offseason moves they've made to identify the best fits on their roster; the work is not done until the draft is complete.
Here's what the Bears can do to strike big in the draft and complete their impressive offseason:
1. Do address safety as early as possible
After losing both Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, the Bears landed Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant, but they still have a hole on their starting roster at the safety position. There are three different names at safety who are projected to go in the first round: Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and if all of them are off the board, Chicago can not afford to wait around much longer, they'll have to address safety in the second round, and no later, even if the top targets are off the board. If not the first round, there are some solid Day 2 options, including AJ Haulcy and Treydan Stukes.
2. Do add to defensive trenches in the early rounds
For as quickly as the Bears need to bring in safety, they also need to address the defensive trenches, specifically at defensive tackle. Last season, Chicago made it a point of emphasis to upgrade their offensive line and saw the dividends pay off, now they must do the same on the defensive side to improve their defense. Getting after the quarterback needs to be a focus for the Bears, whether that's through an edge rusher or a defensive tackle who can disrupt the pocket as veteran Montez Sweat needs help alongside him on the defensive line. Last season, Chicago signed veteran Grady Jarrett in free agency, but he did not have the season he or others would've hoped for in the middle of the defensive line. Bringing in young reinforcements has to be a focus point for the front office.
3. Do bring in more competition at left tackle
Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet, and Jedrick Wills Jr. are the names competing for the left tackle spot in the Bears starting lineup this season with Ozzy Trapilo expected to be out most of the year. Chicago missed on their selection of Kiran Amegadjie, who's now getting a go at guard, in the third round of the 2024 draft, but Trapilo, before his injury, looked to be placing himself in position to be the left tackle of the future last season. None of the aforementioned names are world beaters at the position, and you can never have too much depth on the offensive line, so the Bears should proceed carefully when looking to bring in a potential left tackle in the draft. If one of the premier players at the position falls to them, they should leap on the opportunity. But they should not overly pursue the spot, just understanding that competition could bring out the very best in everyone battling for the job.
4. Do look to find another late-round difference maker
Last year it was running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round out of Rutgers, who came in and added an unexpected element to the running game for the Bears. Monangai, along with veteran D'Andre Swift, helped form one of the top rushing offenses in the league last season, showing that head coach Ben Johnson doesn't particularly care where a player is drafted, if they can play, he will find them a role to earn. Chicago did lose DJ Moore in the receiver room, as well as other veterans in Devin Duvernay and Olamide Zaccheaus, so the Bears could look to add a wide receiver late in the draft, and if that player can turn heads in training camp, Johnson has proved that as a head coach, he'll give them opportunities to contribute during the season.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: What the Chicago Bears should do
Continue reading...
