Bears draft
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: A J Haulcy of the Louisiana State Tigers participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears have a lot to consider with not one, but two second-round picks during the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’ll be contingent on who the Bears draft in the first round, but the philosophy won’t change for general manager Ryan Poles: draft the best player available.
“You look at the draft, when I’ve been here, we’ve taken the right mentality and taken the best available,” Poles said. “I think the biggest mistake you can make is forcing something just because that’s what you need.”
That said, Pro Football Focus listed four prospects who could be on the Bears’ radar during Round 2.
Bears Draft Option 1: Oklahoma Edge Rusher R Mason Thomas
If the Bears want a pass rusher, R Mason Thomas could be an option. With a 20.3% pass rush win rate in 2025, Thomas could bring some serious pass rush juice to Chicago, but he is on the smaller size at 6’2″ and 249 pounds.
One NFC scouting director had this to say regarding Thomas: “He gets beat up for being small and not long enough but I think he’s going to be a nightmare for tall tackles because he can bend and he’s really explosive.”
NFL comparison via Bleacher Report: Nik Bonitto
Option 2: Georgia DT Christen Miller
Christen Miller is an intriguing option, considering how productive he is as a pass rusher with a 11.3% pass-rush win percentage. Other notable DTs include Peter Woods (8.0%), Kayden McDonald (4.0%), Lee Hunter (10.6%), and Caleb Banks (11.2%).
The downside with Miller is that he’s never recorded more than 30 tackles or 1.5 sacks in a season, which means the Bears would be drafting him based on upside, not proven production. Another point it’s hard to imagine he’ll be available by the time the Bears are on the clock in Round 2 at pick 57.
NFL comparison via Bleacher Report: Kenny Clark
Option 3: LSU S A.J. Haulcy
The Bears need a safety to complement Coby Bryant in the backfield, and Haulcy could be that guy. He has the instincts to make plays in the deep half of the field with proven production (10 career INTs).
Among this year’s draft prospects, Haulcy ranked third in NFL Next Gen Stat’s overall draft scores (85) behind just Ohio State star linebacker Sonny Styles (94) and Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey (85).
A realistic option that would address a huge need for Chicago in the second round.
NFL comparison via Bleacher Report: Xavier Watts
Option 4: Illinois Edge Rusher Gabe Jacas
Gabe Jacas fits what Allen likes in a bigger pass rusher at 6’4″ and 260 pounds, and had a PFF pass rush grade of 88 in 2025.
“He’s smart, he’s a great teammate and he’s really, really strong,” another NFC scouting director said. “Play-through-your-face type of guy.”
Since 2022, Jacas has only improved, going from four sacks a season in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to eight in 2024 and then 11 in 2025.
Out of the four options PFF laid out, a personal preference would be Haulcy and Jacas. However, Poles should continue to stick to his ‘best player available approach.’
Who knows, the two BPAs in the second round could be one of these four prospects.
NFL comparison via Bleacher Report: Jonathan Greenard