The 2026 NFL Draft opens Thursday in Pittsburgh, and the Chicago Bears hold the 25th pick in the first round.
It’s the second draft of the Ben Johnson era, and after last year’s class delivered immediate contributors in Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, and Kyle Monangai, the bar has been set. Chicago’s contention window is open. The question now is how fast they can widen it, and how long they can keep it open.
This is the fourth and final mock of the 2026 cycle for Bleacher Nation. For this edition, I used the new BN Mock Draft Simulator and ran it with trades active — you’ll see Chicago move around the board throughout, acquiring picks and maneuvering to address specific needs.
The urgency behind getting these picks right is real. Contract extensions for Caleb Williams and Darnell Wright are on the horizon, with more to follow as Chicago’s core matures. That kind of financial compression is coming for every contender, and the Bears are no different. The way to stay balanced, to keep the offense loaded, the defense functional, and the cap from becoming a ceiling, is to find starters on rookie-scale deals.
That’s what good teams do. That’s what this weekend is for.
Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: 4.0
(*) Denotes pick received via mock trade scenario.
Round 1, Pick 25: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | S | Toledo
I’ve said throughout this cycle that unless a can’t-pass talent falls to 25, the Bears should be looking to trade back. McNeil-Warren fits that description, and the slide chatter makes this pick more compelling, not less.
Draft insider Daniel Jeremiah reported this week that he’s hearing McNeil-Warren could slip into the second round. If that’s accurate, Chicago should make sure it doesn’t happen on their watch. The Bears have been deliberate about not tipping their hand at the safety position — assistant GM Jeff King said Tuesday that the signing of Coby Bryant gives the organization flexibility on who they add to competition in that room — and McNeil-Warren is exactly the kind of prospect that kind of roster construction accommodates. Bryant holds down a spot regardless. McNeil-Warren comes in and competes for the other.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
What they’re saying …
“McNeil-Warren is an impressive size/speed athlete on the back end, who is at his best when roaming to read his keys, flow to the ball, and quickly close space. He has the rangy tools to push for starting safety reps as an NFL rookie.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Round 2, Pick 60: Caleb Tiernan | LT | Northwestern
In this mock, Chicago trades No. 57 (the pick acquired from Buffalo in the DJ Moore deal this spring) to Miami in a move that nets the Bears No. 75 and No. 87. Their own second-rounder, No. 60, is where they take a swing at a long-term answer at left tackle.
Ozzy Trapilo is going to miss most of 2026, and the Bears can’t afford to hedge Caleb Williams’ blind side on a player who isn’t going to be available. Tiernan is the real fix. The Northwestern product replaced Peter Skoronski and logged more than 2,400 snaps at left tackle for the Wildcats. He arrives in the NFL as one of the more experienced tackles in this class, and it shows in his game. He’s smart, balanced, and technically sound, earning an 84.3 pass block grade and an 80.3 true pass set grade at PFF.
The limitations are real; a naturally high pad level and shorter arm length will be tested against NFL edge rushers, but his football IQ and refined technique give him a legitimate path to a starting role. For a team with a franchise quarterback entering the meat of his rookie deal, finding a potential long-term answer at left tackle in the second round is exactly the kind of draft efficiency Chicago needs to pull off this weekend.
What they’re saying …
“Tiernan is a large-framed blocker with the controlled, efficient movements as a pass blocker to stay square against various pass-rush angles. His use of hands is advanced for his age, and it allows him to quickly reset and toy with defenders.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Round 3, Pick 75 (via MIA)*: Antonio Williams | WR | Clemson
Ben Johnson’s offense runs on slot receivers who can do a little bit of everything. Create, adjust, and move, and Antonio Williams checks every box.
The Clemson product is a quick-footed athlete with genuine burst off his plant foot, generating separation mid-route rather than relying on speed alone. He has enough vertical juice to stress a defense past the sticks, and his feel for option routes, reading coverage, and settling into open zones makes him a natural fit in a system that asks receivers to process and react in real time. His body control is a standout trait, allowing him to make focused catch-point adjustments on balls that aren’t perfectly placed.
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The efficiency numbers back it up. Williams posted a 79.6 receiving grade and a 75.6 grade against man coverage in 2025 per PFF, with a drop rate that fell from 9.6 percent in 2024 to just 1.8 percent in his final college season. He caught 55 of 72 targets for 604 yards in 2025 after a breakout 75-catch, 904-yard, 11-touchdown campaign the year prior.
There’s very little lag in his transition from receiver to runner after the catch, and he offers punt return experience on top of it — averaging 9.0 yards per return for his career. He also found the end zone four times in non-receiving roles over his final two seasons, a detail that speaks to his versatility within an offense.
At 76, after moving back from 57, this is the kind of pick that justifies the trade. Two third-rounders for a second, and you come away with a starting-caliber slot who fits your offensive identity to a tee.
Round 3, Pick 87 (via MIA)*: Sam Hecht | C | Kansas State
Most centers at this level of the draft come with a clear ceiling stamped on their forehead. Sam Hecht is harder to pin down.
The Kansas State product is a wide-bodied, anchor-first blocker whose instincts operate ahead of his athleticism. He finds the right man, gets there, and covers him up with the kind of play strength that doesn’t show up in a workout but absolutely shows up on tape. His PFF profile reflects a player who has quietly assembled one of the more well-rounded interior resumes in this class: an 80.3 overall grade in 2025, a 77.7 run block grade, and a 79.6 pass block grade. Zero sacks allowed in three seasons.
What makes Hecht interesting to Chicago is the question of versatility. He has spent his entire college career at center, and the fit is natural as a potential replacement for Garrett Bradbury. But the physical profile also translates to guard, and that becomes relevant with Joe Thuney turning 34 this season. His gap grade (67.0) and true pass set grade (64.6) trail his zone and base pass protection numbers, which suggests some refinement ahead. Hecht is a player with no catastrophic weaknesses, legitimate starting potential at center, and useful insurance at guard on a line that needs bodies it can trust.
What they’re saying …
“Hecht lacks ideal mass and length, but it will be hard to find a center in this year’s draft with better technique. He plays with well-placed inside hands that help maximize his leverage and core strength. All schemes are available to him, but his athleticism will shine when activated in space. He stays sticky to blocks once he connects, but his lack of length will put him on the wrong side of the battle from time to time in both the run and pass phases. Hecht needs to add more muscle mass to his frame, but he has the consistency and tape of a future starter.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL Media
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Round 3, Pick 89: Gracen Halton | DT | Oklahoma
According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Halton is a “win-early-or-clean-up-late” interior rusher whose best attribute is his get-off. He times the snap exceptionally well, and when he gets a clean release, offensive linemen are already behind.
A part-time starter at Oklahoma, Halton rotated across multiple alignments in Brent Venables’ scheme while sharing defensive tackle duties with Jayden Jackson. He made the most of every rep he got (his 30 pressures in 2025 were second-most on the Sooners despite the limited workload). The PFF numbers reflect a player trending in the right direction: an 84.7 overall grade in 2025 after back-to-back seasons in the mid-70s, with a run defense grade of 86.9 and nine sacks combined over his final two seasons.
Chicago’s defensive line is a work in progress under Dennis Allen. Halton won’t arrive as a finished product, but the production-per-snap profile suggests he’s been underutilized at Oklahoma. At 89, that’s a worthwhile gamble.
Round 5, Pick 142 (via TEN)*: Nicholas Singleton | RB | Penn State
D’Andre Swift’s contract expires after this season, and if he replicates his 2025 performance, re-signing him won’t come cheap. Kyle Monangai’s emergence as a rookie helps the depth picture, but Ben Johnson runs multiple backs through his offense by design. Finding a cost-effective complement (now or in the near future) is worth keeping in mind, and Singleton at 142 is exactly the kind of pick that fits that calculus without forcing the issue.
What they’re saying …
“Singleton can be a frustrating watch because of his inconsistent run discipline and vision, but he offers big-play potential with an exceptional blend of size and speed. From day one, his pass-catching and kick-return skills will expand the ways in which an NFL team can utilize his talent.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Round 5, Pick 144 (via TEN)*: Will Lee III | CB | Texas A&M
There’s some risk baked into this pick, and that’s fine at 144.
Lee is a man-coverage corner with a 76.6 man coverage grade at PFF, which fits cleanly into what Dennis Allen wants to do on the back end. He has the traits and scheme versatility to contribute as a quality backup or rotational piece right away, and the upside to develop into an outside starter down the line if the pieces come together. The ceiling is real. So is the variance. He’ll give up a big play or draw a flag at times, and that inconsistency is part of why he’s available this late.
But fifth-round picks are supposed to carry some risk. The Bears aren’t drafting Lee to start in Week 1; they’re drafting him because the man coverage fit is genuine, the tools are worth developing, and the cost is low enough to absorb the gamble. If he develops into a starter, it’s a steal. If he settles in as a dependable rotational corner, that’s still a useful piece on a defense that needs depth at the position.
What they’re saying …
“Boundary cornerback with good length and catch-disruption, but inconsistent instincts in coverage. Lee is better in man coverage than he is in zone, but he can handle both. Pure speed can break away from him, so he’ll need help on the roof as a pro. He has the length and timing to make plays on the football. However, he needs to play with more anticipation to match breaks and trigger more quickly from depth. As a run defender, he must beat blocks faster and replace the ankle-diving with more committed wrap finishes. Lee has traits and scheme versatility, toggling between quality backup and eventual starter as a prospect.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL Media
Round 7, Pick 239 (via CLE): DJ Rogers | TE | TCU
Ben Johnson loves a good tight end room, and Rogers fits the TE3 mold to a tee. A broadly built athlete with a massive wingspan, enough speed to threaten the seam, and the receiving chops to be a genuine option in the passing game rather than a body taking up a roster spot.
He finds space against zones and has the instincts to undercut man coverage, but his best work comes on corner routes and backside-in variations where he can use his size and length to his advantage. His hands are a standout trait, big and accepting, whether he’s wide open or covered, and he competes for every yard after the catch. The blocking side of his game is a bonus. He’s a competitive, improving technician with the upper body strength to sustain blocks and turn defenders once he locks on. At this stage of the draft, a tight end who can do both without being a liability in either direction is worth the pick.
Round 7, 241: Quintayvious Hutchins | EDGE | Boston College
The production at Boston College was underwhelming: 66 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks combined over his junior and senior seasons. That’s not a résumé that demands a pick. But Hutchins was a Senior Bowl standout for a reason, and the traits that showed up there are worth a seventh-round flier.