The Chicago Bears are entering the second wave of the 2026 NFL offseason with a few of their biggest issues already addressed.
Coby Bryant helps resolve the safety room, and Devin Bush is a great replacement for Tremaine Edmunds. After Drew Dalman's surprise retirement, Garrett Bradbury is a solid fill-in. But, there is still one major need remaining.
As ESPN's Courtney Cronin noted, the edge rusher position is the team's clear biggest hole on the roster. And the most perfect way to fill such a hole is with the 25th overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, thanks to great options at that spot.
Bears have perfect chance to fill EDGE need at 25th pick
"Biggest remaining roster hole: Edge rusher," Cronin writes. "The Bears hold the No. 25 pick in the draft and could use it to find a defensive end who projects to start opposite Montez Sweat."
While prospects Ruben Bain and David Bailey won't make it to 25th overall barring a miracle, there will be plenty of realistic options to make it to the Bears' pick at No. 25 overall.
Miami's Akheem Mesidor, Auburn's Keldrick Faulk, Texas A&M's Cashius Howell, Clemson's T.J. Parker, Missouri's Zion Young, and Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas should all have good to great odds of making it to the Bears' pick at No. 25 overall.
Gabe Jacas out of Illinois, Malachi Lawrence out of UCF, Dani Dennis-Sutton out of Penn State, Joshua Josephs out of Tennessee, Derrick Moore out of Michigan, and Romello Height all should be available as well, barring a complete surprise.
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Montez Sweat needs a pass rusher to pair with him going forward. While they could go after Maxx Crosby for a blockbuster trade or add Kayvon Thibodeaux from the New York Giants, taking a rookie at No. 25 would give at least four years of cheap edge rusher play.
While there's a risk of the player not turning out to be good, one of those names, between Mesidor and Thomas, should be a solid draft pick for the Bears with the 25th pick.
There's no guarantee the Bears will have a worthwhile pass rusher available at that spot, but the odds are good that one of those top names, other than Bailey and Bain, will make it to the Bears' first-round pick.
With the 25th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bears will likely have a perfect chance to land a long-term answer at edge rusher opposite Sweat. Whether it's Mesidor, Faulk, Howell, Parker, or Young, Ryan Poles should have an option at No. 25.
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