(Photo: Jake Crandall / Syndication: Montgomery Advertiser, USA TODAY Sports)
If all goes according to plan, hopefully the Bears are picking in the middle or end of the first round in 2026. But that would mean that Williams has taken a step forward, the defense was really good in year one under Dennis Allen, and the offense found an identity that led to multiple wins.
The good news for the Bears as it pertains to next year's draft class is that a lot of really good talent will be available in round one. Compared to 2025, it's expected to be a deeper class overall. With five or six quarterbacks projected to go in round one, the likelihood of talent being pushed down the board is paramount, giving the Bears a chance at getting a day one starter.
In the first edition of our way-too-early 2026 Chicago Bears NFL Mock Draft, we identified that next year's draft is expected to have a plethora of talent at edge rusher, offensive tackle, and some excellent names to watch at linebacker and running back.
Potential pass rusher targets to watch in year one could include Keldric Faulk (Auburn), T.J. Parker (Clemson), Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), and Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State). While Chicago has Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo under contract through the end of the 2027 season, adding a pass rusher in round one next year gives the coaching staff to develop a young player to take over once both veterans' contract expires.
The outlook of the offensive line is a little bit more complicated. While Wright, Amegadjie, Thuney, Jackson, Dalman, and Trapilo are the players who will start for the Bears in 2025, they will be under contract in 2026. But the Bears could decide that drafting replacements for Thuney or Jackson, who will play next year on expiring contracts, is an option.
At running back, Nick Singleton (Penn State) and Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) are names that fit what Johnson is looking to do on offense. Roschon Johnson, D'Andre Swift, and Kyle Monangai will be under contract in 2026 but the first two will be playing the entire year on expiring contracts. So the possibility of drafting a running back seems high.