April is here, which means the 2026 NFL Draft is just over three weeks away. Following another busy free agency period around the league, teams have turned their full focus to the busy weekend ahead, which includes seven full rounds and plenty of undrafted free-agent additions shortly after.
For the Chicago Bears, the draft might be the biggest key to adding talent this offseason. While free agency wasn’t exactly quiet, it was considerably more mellow than it has been over the last three years. Following an 11-win season and their first playoff victory in 15 seasons, the goal for taking the next step hinges on their immediate success from the draft. The good news is that they are slated to have four picks in the Top 83. The not-so-good news is that they have plenty of holes and have not shown a willingness to stretch their budget.
Barring a surprise addition, the Bears will be looking to finalize the bulk of their roster over the next few weeks. Between their seven projected draft selections and finding a gem (or two) with undrafted free agency, fans should have a good idea of what the majority of their Week 1 roster will look like heading into May.
With the table set, let’s take a look at the Bears’ remaining needs and how they stack up in the draft.
Top Needs:
Defensive End
Considering the Bears have made zero effort to add to this room heading into the draft, it’s hard to argue that any other position other than edge rusher is their top need heading into late April. The bigger issue, at least in Chicago, is that, while this is a quality class that lacks that top-end superstar, scheme fit will play a big role. Thus, you might see some notable omissions from this list, simply due to size or athletic limitations.
Keldrick Faulk, Akheem Mesidor, T.J. Parker, and Zion Young.
It’s hard not to imagine Faulk as one of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s favorite edge prospects. He has the length and athleticism that are coveted in this scheme. The biggest issue, at least for me, is simple- He does not produce. Similar to players like Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart a year ago, Faulk is a big ball of clay who lacks many of the things you’d like to see on tape in a first-round pick. Mesidor’s length is right on the verge for Allen, but his production, bend, and toolbox should be intriguing late in the first round. His biggest knock is that he’s one of the oldest prospects in the class, which might limit his ceiling. Parker and Young are both similar players. Much like Faulk, there’s a lot to work with physically, but the product on the field has been less-than-ideal. Parker at least has some production to his name, but he is coming off a down year in 2025. Young feels like another player than Allen will covet, and seems more likely to be at No. 25 than Faulk or Mesidor.
Malachi Lawrence, Gabe Jacas, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Derrick Moore, Joshua Josephs, and Keyron Crawford.
The deeper I dive into this class, the more I think that most of the team’s needs will be best addressed on Day 2. While they currently hold three picks on Day 2, a trade down in the first round could make sense. Especially considering how similar the talent is to what they’ll see at No. 25. With every draft, the biggest concern, especially at edge rusher, is how much of a run there will be before the Bears’ first second-round selection at No. 57. Lawrence could be a sneaky option in the first round, but lacks production. Jacas might be my favorite Day 2 prospect for Chicago, but it’s hard to see him lasting until their second-round picks. Dennis-Sutton and Josephs are two more “balls of clay” type of players, while Moore and Crawford had production in school, but it’s fair to wonder how high their ceilings are. While Faulk continues to garner plenty of first-round consideration, Crawford was the far more productive edge rusher at Auburn.
Anthony Lucas, L.T. Overton, Mikail Kamara, Max Llewellyn, Mason Reiger, Patrick Payton, Logan Fano, Njalik Kelly, and Marvin Jones Jr.
Taking an edge rusher on Day 3 is always a crapshoot. Sure, you might end up with a Maxx Crosby, or you might select a player that isn’t on the roster in two years. Lucas’ physical profile fits well in this scheme, while I have Overton as one of my “riskier” prospects in the entire class. Kamara came in on a Top 30 visit and will almost assuredly check the “Bears Box” as a leader. Reiger is another fun name, as is Kelly, when taking a developmental prospect with enough traits to make it worth it. If they take anyone on Day 3, fans should expect an Austin Booker-like developmental plan at best.
Defensive Tackle
Heading into free agency, I would have labeled defensive tackle the Bears’ biggest need. Three moves later, it’s easy to argue that they’ve raised the floor simply based on better scheme fits, but how good can that group be as currently constructed? I have my doubts. The issue, at least on the surface, is that this doesn’t project as the deepest class. Allen has a very specific “fit” for interior linemen, and not many in this class fit his bill. Will he compromise on size? Or will they rely more on what they see on film versus some of the testing results from the combine and pro days? Those are questions that need to be answered to predict better who will even be on their board in a few weeks.
Peter Woods, Kayden McDonald, and Caleb Banks.
I’ve continued to struggle to project what the Bears might do on the defensive interior. On paper, Woods is the only player who fits the physical mold of someone Allen would like in Round 1. That said, McDonald is reportedly coming in on a Top 30 visit, which suggests they view him as a schematic fit. The love for Banks has continued to fascinate me. Physically and athletically, there’s a lot to love. His production on the field has been inconsistent at best, and two foot injuries in a year for someone that big is a huge medical red flag.
Christen Miller, Lee Hunter, Gracen Halton, and Kaleb Proctor.
On paper, Chicago could roll into the season with what they have, and it’s probably a slight upgrade in terms of overall fit with Allen’s defense. That said, they’d be foolish to rest on their laurels with such a low ceiling group. While I like Woods as a first-round player, Day 2 is where value and fit might line up better. Miller is slightly bigger than Allen prefers, but his testing numbers (and tape) show a player who fits the scheme like a glove. Hunter’s combine wasn’t great, and I have serious doubts about whether he fits the scheme. Speaking of fits, Halton might be the best fit at the position in the entire class. While his production wasn’t eye-popping at Oklahoma, he was one of the best in his rotation on a deep defensive line.
Zane Durant, Landon Robinson, David Gusta, Domonic Williams, and Anterio Thompson.
Without getting too much into the weeds on any particular player, most of their Day 3 options will be trait-based. This isn’t a super deep class, but all five players listed above possess a level of intrigue from an athletic and/or traits perspective. Think fast and agile, especially if they plan on going the developmental route.
Gone are Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and Jonathan Owens. In, are Super Bowl winner Coby Bryant and a hybrid defensive back in Cam Lewis. Maybe Chicago has more faith in Elijah Hicks to man a starting safety spot than I do, but this is yet another position with a clear starting need as they head into the early rounds of the draft. Typically, Allen has been great at identifying and developing secondary talent. Even better for him is that the top half of the draft boasts plenty of ideal scheme fits. Barring a change of heart, fans can expect a new safety who can play both single-high and in the box. Luckily, there are plenty who fit the bill from this class.
Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Versatility, versatility, and more… Versatility. At the top of the draft, that’s the story of the Bears’ two options. Thieneman is a top-level athlete who is probably going to be a better chess piece in coverage than he will be as a physical player in the box. The exact opposite could be said for McNeil-Warren, who can play multiple roles, but might be better suited as someone closer to the box. Both players have different strengths, but show a similar ability to play multiple roles. I still lean toward Thieneman being the better fit, but EMW’s energy is sure fun to watch at Toledo.
A.J. Haulcy, Kamari Ramsey, Zakee Wheatley, Treydan Stukes, Jalon Kilgore, Genesis Smith, and Bud Clark.
Surprise, surprise. Day 2 is where plenty more exciting fits live. Haulcy is a physically imposing player who can fit into this scheme. Ramsey might be more of a free safety, but again, the potential for versatility is there. Wheatley has plenty of traits to like, as does Kilgore. Stukes is a player who seemingly checks every “Bears box”, but Field Yates reporting that he’s 26 years old is a big red flag, especially considering his injury history. Smith is a quality player in coverage, but his physicality, at least for me, is a big question. In Round 3, Clark could make plenty of sense.
V.J. Payne, Robert Spears-Jennings, Cole Wisniewski, Kendal Daniels, Louis Moore, Jaokbe Thomas, and Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Typically, taking players on Day 3 is always a toss-up. That said, there are plenty of fun names that are worth keeping an eye on if the Bears wait until the fourth round or later. As of now, Chicago only has one pick between Rounds 4 and 6, but something tells me that they’ll do some moving around to land an extra pick or two between the fourth and seventh rounds.
Heading into the offseason, it’s fair to say that center wasn’t on many fans’ radars. After all, Drew Dalman was coming off his first Pro Bowl season and was going into just his sixth year in the league. Following his surprising retirement, the team traded for Garrett Bradbury. While head coach Ben Johnson seems confident that Bradbury will provide a seamless transition, the soon-to-be 31-year-old isn’t a long-term option. Thus, Chicago must seriously consider taking a center prospect that can spend the next year developing into a future starter.
Keylan Rutledge, Sam Hecht, Logan Jones, Connor Lew, Brian Parker II, and Jake Slaughter.
With no first-round names to speak of, the focus of this position will start in Round 2. Rutledge is the top name on the board, whom the Bears reportedly asked to work at center at his Pro Day. Hecht and Jones are the two players who fit the mold best, but timing could be a factor. Hecht is more of a mid-to-late second-round player, while Jones’ range could be anywhere from early Round 3 to the middle of Round 4. Lew and Slaughter are also good players, but in terms of scheme fits, they might not be nearly as good a fit as names like Rutledge, Hecht, and Jones. Finally, Parker II is a tackle who doesn’t have the length to stay outside, and many believe his best NFL position will be at center. Very similar to another former Duke Blue Devil, Graham Barton.
Parker Brailsford, Jager Burton, Trey Zuhn, Febechi Nwaiwu, Pat Coogan, and James Brockermeyer.
Center is one of those tricky spots where guys taken on Day 2 aren’t nearly as much of a “lock” to be better players as those taken on Day 3. That said, there are multiple names on the final day of the draft who could make plenty of sense. Brailsford is a smaller player who followed his head coach from Washington to Alabama. He fits the athletic mold but will need a year (or two) to add the necessary bulk to his already compact frame. Burton, who was brought in for a Top 30 visit, brings the requisite size and athleticism, even if his ceiling isn’t as high as some of the other names on this list. Zuhn, much like Parker, is a tackle convert that most believe will settle somewhere inside at the next level. Nwaiwu primarily played guard at Oklahoma but showed a knack for being a reliable center. Coogan is another player who doesn’t have a super high ceiling but could end up being a rock-solid pro. Finally, Brockermeyer is the son of former Bear, Blake Brockermeyer. While there’s nothing overly impressive about his game, he’s another developmental player with a safer floor.
Future/Depth Needs:
Cornerback
Although corner falls into a future need, this is a sneaky position that I believe the Bears could be in higher in the draft than most expect. Jaylon Johnson is coming off an injury-filled season and did not look good when he played. Tyrique Stevenson has lost the trust of back-to-back coaching staffs and is heading into his final year under contract. While they have some intriguing depth options, including Terell Smith and Zah Frazier, neither player is proven enough to pencil in for a roster spot quite yet. While it would still be mildly surprising to see them use a first-round pick here, don’t be surprised to see them consider a Day 2 or early Day 3 selection at this spot.
Jermod McCoy.
Even if there isn’t an unquestioned No. 1 in this class, there are plenty of quality Round 1 options for teams. That said, the Bears will be operating with a different list of objectives than most. Size and length are key factors here, which leaves them with few options on Day 1. I’m not convinced McCoy will make it anywhere near their pick at 25, but if he does… There’s a conversation to be had, especially if they are truly committed to going with the best player available.
Chris Johnson, Brandon Cisse, Malik Muhammad, Davison Igbinosun, and Julian Neal.
While Johnson and Cisse would be on the “smaller side” of what Allen prefers, both Muhammad and Igbinosun are the prototypes. I personally like Muhammad’s game a little more, but Igbinosun’s ceiling might be slightly higher. The bigger issue for him was the penalties he faced during his time at Ohio State. Neal is another player who fits the mold.
Tacario Davis, Ephesians Prysock, Devin Moore, Hezekiah Masses, T.J. Hall, and Ceyair Wright.
Cornerback can be a little tough to project, so don’t be surprised if a few of these names go during the later part of Day 2. For now, we’ll stick with the consensus board, which has all six of these players ranked on the final day of the draft. Washington features a pair of long, lean, athletic corners in Davis and Prysock. Davis has received comps to Nahshon Wright. The rest of these players have their positives and negatives, but they all fit the physical mold Allen covets for a boundary corner.
Linebacker
Following the release of Tremaine Edmunds, it was fair to assume that linebacker would be a key need heading into draft weekend. With Devin Bush, D’Marco Jackson, and Jack Sanborn added to the mix on top of T.J. Edwards’ contract dictates another year in Chicago, it’s fair to wonder how big a need for a linebacker will now be. Although there are plenty of intriguing names, this feels like an area that might not be addressed until Day 3, if at all.
C.J. Allen.
For as mildly shocking as it would be to see a cornerback taken in Round 1, linebacker would be a spot where it would be a major surprise. Allen projects as the only player that would be around for the Bears in the first round. Although he’s a good player, it’s hard to imagine him being the “best player available” in many, if any, scenarios.
Jacob Rodriguez, Anthony Hill Jr., Jake Golday, Josiah Trotter, Kyle Louis, and Deontae Lawson.
The list of Round 2 and 3 linebackers available initially felt highly intriguing. Despite being a slightly older prospect, Rodriguez once felt like a perfect fit in this defense, although it shouldn’t be a surprise if he ends up going in Round 1. Hill is another fun fit, as is Golday. Trotter and Lawson are more traditional linebackers, while someone like Louis is slightly undersized and can also play safety. Most of these names will be gone by the time the Bears pick in Round 3.
Bryce Boettcher, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Keyshaun Elliott, Jimmy Rolder, Justin Jefferson, Jack Kelly, and Owen Heinecke.
If Chicago decided they wanted to use an early Day 3 pick on a developmental linebacker that could see time at SAM, this would be an ideal area to do it. Boettcher checks many boxes, including a well-known track record as a leader at Oregon. Elarms-Orr is extremely fun to watch. Rolder is a player they’ve already had in on a Top 30 visit, but athletic limitations might keep him more in the fifth-or-sixth-round range. Either way, plenty of teams can develop Day 3 linebackers into productive starters, and Allen’s track record at this position is noteworthy.
Wide Receiver
The debate of trading DJ Moore raged on in the early part of the offseason, but it became clear closer to the start of the new league year that it was a foregone conclusion. The reality is, there’s plenty of young talent at the position, and while Moore made some big plays down the stretch, Johnson seemed more focused on getting players like Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland the majority of the target share. That being said, the Bears do have an offensive-minded head coach, and speed has been a priority for the offense. So, don’t rule out a potential additional at any point during the team’s seven projected picks.
Jordan Tyson.
While I would label it “highly unlikely” that Chicago would once again spend a first-round pick on a receiver, you can never rule it out. After all, nobody saw the selection of Burden coming last year at pick No. 39. There aren’t any standout elite names in this year’s class, but there are plenty of players that could provide quality value in specific roles. For the Bears, the only player who really stands out as a potential fit is Tyson. Health has been an issue, which is why his projected status is a little more up in the air, but he might be the most complete receiver in this class.
Chris Brazzell, Chris Bell, Malachi Fields, Zachariah Branch, Skyler Bell, Ted Hurst, Bryce Lance, and Deion Burks.
Rounds 2 and 3 feel like sneaky spots for the Bears to add a speedy option to their group, potentially. While Johnson has spoken highly about Kalif Raymond, it’s fair to wonder if he wouldn’t be best suited as the team’s WR4 in the end. Similar to last year, any pass catcher taken here would start the year as the fourth option, but could easily work their way into a bigger role as the regular season progressed. Speed, speed, and more speed should be the focus here.
Ja’Kobi Lane, Brenen Thompson, De’Zhaun Stribling, Kevin Coleman Jr., Jeff Caldwell, J.Michael Sturdivant, and Aaron Anderson.
Some of these Day 3 names feel like great fits for a potential comp pick selection. Of course, it still seems unlikely that the Bears will talk the league into reversing course, but if they did, names like Lane, Thompson, Stribling, and Coleman Jr. could all make sense with the additional pick. If not, maybe a fourth-round selection could still be on the table. It depends on who is still available. Of all the fits from this group, Thompson and Stribling feel like the most ideal.
Left Tackle
The team’s search for stability at the left tackle spot took an unfortunate hit during the Wild Card Round when Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon. With last year’s second-round pick expected to miss the majority of the 2026 season, Chicago finds itself faced with a tough decision. Although they have Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. slated to compete for the starting left tackle spot, could they opt to take another rookie if the board falls that way? That’s the question heading into the draft. It should also be worth noting that players who have primarily played right tackle aren’t likely to be included on this list.
Monroe Freeling, Kadyn Proctor, and Max Iheanachor.
Athletically, Freeling is a player who could make plenty of sense for the Bears. That being said, he seems to have driven his stock up enough where, barring a surprise, he doesn’t seem likely to drop to No. 25. Proctor is an interesting name. Although there have been reports of a post-Pro Day workout with the Bears, it’s hard to imagine him being a physical fit for what they are trying to do. Iheanachor is the name for fans to keep an eye on if they are to surprise and take a tackle in the first round. Physically, he’s a freak. While he didn’t start playing football until later on in his youth, the traits and tools are all there. There’s a clear gamble on traits that would need to be taken, but he fits the prototype of exactly what they are looking for at tackle.
Caleb Tiernan and Austin Barber.
Length might ultimately be an issue for Tiernan, despite being 6’7, but we all know that Poles loves his local products. The Bears could also choose to take Tiernan with the idea of giving him a shot at tackle before ultimately kicking him inside. Although I don’t love the idea of doing this with so many needs, it’s worth the consideration. Barber is another 6’7 player but with better length. He performed well against SEC competition, but many wonder how high his ceiling is. Another plus to Barber is that he’s played on both sides of the line.
Jude Bowry, Drew Shelton, and Aamil Wagner.
The third day is typically when good teams take chances on players, even if they aren’t expecting to make an impact in Year 1. If the Bears want to add additional competition to the offensive line room, this might be the most economical option. Bowry is Trapilo’s former teammate, and while the ceiling as an NFL starter might not be impressive, you could do a lot worse than someone like him in Round 4. Shelton is a two-year starting left tackle at Penn State with a basketball background. The athletic traits are there, but his play strength needs work. Finally, Wagner is a Notre Dame local who could, at worst, provide a quality swing-tackle option for the Bears in the later rounds. He’s been one of my favorite options if they are simply looking to add depth with some eventual starter upside.