The Chicago Bears finished with an 11-6 record last season in the NFL. Chicago was the number two seed in the NFC. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the NFC Divisional Round. The Bears are hoping to win the NFC North once again this season, but they will need to fix the defensive side of the football.
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Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Chicago Bears assistant offensive line coach Kyle Devan during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Chicago will have the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There is no doubt that they need to find a pass rusher. If they do not trade for Maxx Crosby on the Las Vegas Raiders by then, there is a good chance that the Bears will draft a pass rusher in the first-round. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson no doubt know that this team needs to address the trenches.
Chicago Bears Select DE Zion Young In Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
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Dec 27, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young (9) looks on before a play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
Mel Kiper Jr. of espn.com created his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft. With the 25th overall selection, he has Chicago drafting Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young with that choice. Kiper said, “The Bears had 35 sacks (tied for 22nd) and a lowly 28.0% pressure rate (29th) last season.Montez Sweat had 10 of those sacks, but there wasn’t much beyond him.Dayo Odeyingbo was signed last offseason to be the second guy off the edge, but he managed one sack over eight games before anAchilles injury ended his season. Despite struggling to find consistent quarterback pressure for a few years now, Chicago hasn’t used a top-50 pick on an edge rusher sinceLeonard Floyd went ninth in 2016.
Let’s change that. Young had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season, playing with power and a full-go motor. He’d bring some intensity to the Bears’ front.” There is no doubt that Chicago needs to address this in the NFL Draft. If they don’t, the Bears will take a massive step backwards next season.
Young is 6’5″ and weighs 262 lbs. Last season with Missouri, he recorded 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections. There is no doubt that Young would improve Chicago’s defensive line in a hurry also.
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