CHICAGO, Ill., — The NFL's league year begins next week as things are moving at a rapid pace here this offseason. With just under two months to go until the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears are getting a good idea of their big board for pick No. 25 in the first round.
For the Bears, this is a different offseason than they are used to.
They have limited cap space compared to previous years and have to somehow find a way to sustain the success they had a year ago. The best way to do that? Hit on your draft picks and that begins with No. 25.
After spending a week in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine, Ryan Poles got a first-hand look at the prospects for the upcoming draft. With drills, interviews and more, the building of the Bears board is starting to take shape. Chicago has some major needs to fill, especially on the defensive line where they need another pass rusher as well as a defensive tackle. They also need safety and linebacker help, as well as potentially more defensive back help. The Bears really could go a few different routes here at No. 25 on the defensive side of the football.
With the combine complete, I wanted to take a look at five prospects who make the most sense for the Bears in terms of a fit at No. 25 overall. These are prospects who could be there at 25 but some do have a higher stock in terms of potentially going earlier than that. Make sure to check back with the Bear Report for complete coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft and the offseason for the Bears.
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