With April officially here, the countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is officially on. The Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top 100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks as the team continues year two of the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles era.
While Chicago invested in left tackle last offseason, drafting Ozzy Trapilo, he's expected to miss most of the 2026 season. The Bears did retain veteran Braxton Jones in free agency, and signed former first-round pick Jedrick Wills to a one-year deal, adding both to a group that already includes undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. Left tackle may not be the biggest need for Chicago but adding a long-term option may not be a bad idea, especially since the front office can't hinge on Trapilo returning to pre-injury form.
One name that could make sense in round two, at either 57th or 60th overall would be Northwestern Wildcats offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan.
Let's get into our scouting report on Tiernan.
Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern, (6-foot-8, 323 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Highly experienced college tackle who is likely to kick inside due to a lack of length that affects his protection projection. Tiernan is tall but carries the denseness of frame and core strength of a guard. Feet feature good initial quickness and he takes excellent angles on the move. He often finds early positioning advantages as a base blocker but lacks the anchor and play strength to consistently fortify/sustain. Leaky edges in pass pro will be less concerning with smaller spaces to patrol, while his punch timing and lateral quickness provide advantages. "Solid" feels like the ceiling for Tiernan as a guard/swing tackle who can eventually elevate into a starting role."
Film:
Strengths:
- Experience playing both left and right tackle in college.
- Hands are never too wide in pass protection, which means his chest is rarely exposed.
- Has the ability to get out in space quickly. This will be an asset for teams in the screen game.
- Polished as a pass protector, which means a team could be confident enough to start him at left tackle from day one.
- Durability isn't a concern since he's played in every game dating back to 2024.
- Strong anchor allows him to reset quickly and deal with speed-to-power edge rushers.
- Understands which angles to take in the running game.
Weaknesses:
- Arm length might be a concern for teams at the next level, who could decide to move him inside to guard.
- Struggles on an island against bigger, powerful, and much stronger pass rushers.
- Needs to be better as a run blocker if he's really going to take a step forward.
- Not the best mover laterally, which could limit his scheme fits at the next level.
- Hip flexibility is an issue and is easy to spot on tape.
Does Tiernan fit the Bears offense?
Tiernan is a good player due to his starting experience and ability to play both tackle spots, but how much of an impact he can have at the next level is a real question. The Bears will covet his ability to be a solid pass protector and the athleticism that his skillset presents. But he needs to improve as a run blocker and be more powerful at the point of attack if he's going to take another step forward. In short, he'd be a good but not great fit in Chicago's offense.
Conclusion:
Tiernan will arrive in the NFL ready to start from day one, and as a projected day two pick, it wouldn't be a surprise to see his pass protection flash as a rookie. He'll need a full season to really get acclimated with the rigors of the NFL game, especially as a run blocker, but he has the makings of being a good player who can be a consistent starter for a team.
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