The month of November is officially coming to an end, as is the conclusion of the college football regular season. With the NFL season ready for it's final stretch, we've had the opportunity to better understand how the 2026 NFL Draft could shake out.
What we know so far is that this class is expected to be loaded with pass rushers. That bodes well for teams like the Chicago Bears, who will look to add some young talent to the front seven. Beyond that, this is expected to be one of the weaker quarterback classes in recent memory, really putting into perspective how many teams could pass on a signal caller this year in order to have a shot at Archie Manning in 2027.
But focusing back in on the Bears, there are a lot of positives. The Ben Johnson effect is in full effect. We're seeing rookies Colston Loveland, Kyle Monangai, Luther Burden III, and Ozzy Traplio put together solid campaigns in year one, helping build a solid foundation for the future.
Another positive is that heading into week 13, the Bears are in first place in the NFC North, ready to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Much has changed over the last four weeks for the Bears. Caleb Williams continues to play his best football, Burden and Loveland have emerged, and linebacker may be a need the front office has to address in 2026.
Keep in mind that everything you see in this mock draft is merely projections and it'll continue to be all projections until the winter months, when NFL personnel and the media have a much clearer picture of how the class has shaped out. None of the players have officially declared and if your favorite prospect isn't listed or drafted where you think, it's okay. A player listed as a projected first-round pick in November could end up being a fifth-rounder when all is said and done, even though the picture of what the upcoming draft class looks like is getting a bit clearer.
For the Chicago Bears, 2026 will be the second year of the Johnson-Ryan Poles-Caleb Williams marriage. While much of the Bears' core is under contract through at least 2027 or 2028, Chicago is expected to have seven picks in 2026, presenting an opportunity to get even younger while continuing to stack talent.
Each month during the college football season, expect to see a monthly mock draft. The picks will be made in accordance with the Bears regular season record at time. Player selections will also fluctuate based on where the Bears are picking and potential roster needs that could pop up as the season progresses. Both are factors that could alter what the 2026 draft cycle for the Bears looks like. Player rankings were based on the simulator used in this mock draft.
Before we get into all the mock drafting, one quick note to make: The Bears are now projected to have three seventh-round selections next April and none in round six. The Bears traded their own sixth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and a seventh-round pick.
Let's get into the November edition of our way-too-early Bears 2026 mock draft.
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