Feb. 6, 2026, 9:35 a.m. CT
The Chicago Bears are expected to target defense with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.After finishing 11-6 and winning the NFC North, the Bears will select 25th overall.Mock drafts show experts are split on whether the Bears will select a defensive tackle, edge rusher, or safety.Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks is a popular choice for the Bears in several mock drafts.
The Chicago Bears are fresh off an impressive 2025 season, where they fell just short in the NFC divisional playoffs, but the future is certainly bright under head coach Ben Johnson. Still, there’s plenty of work to be done with this roster this offseason for general manager Ryan Poles.
Free agency will present the opportunity to add some new veterans, but the 2026 NFL Draft will be crucial for Poles, especially after seeing the impact of Chicago’s 2025 draft class this season. After picking in the top 10 for the past three years, the Bears will select 25th overall after their 11-6 record and NFC North title-winning season.
At this point, Chicago doesn’t have any glaring needs on offense (outside of the status of left tackle Ozzy Trapilo), so the expectation is defense will be the focal point with the first pick (and likely the first few picks). The defensive line, in particular, is a big need, whether it’s off the edge or along the interior, as well as safety.
We’ve rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts agree the Bears will target defense with the 25th overall pick with the consensus being it’ll address the defensive trenches with some intriguing prospects.
USA Today Sports: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Jacob Camenker: “Copilot likes the idea of adding a “heavy‑handed run defender” like McDonald to Chicago’s defensive front. The chatbot had a minor faux pas in its analysis of the pick – it claimed McDonald would be a good fit for Matt Eberflus’ defense – but we’ll let it slide since the Bears could use more depth on the defensive line and a long-term successor for Grady Jarrett, who will turn 33 in April.”
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Matt Miller: “The Bears made a run to the divisional round of the playoffs and won the NFC North in Year 2 of the Caleb Williams era. Now general manager Ryan Poles has to plug holes and continue to develop a defense that needs a pass-rushing threat opposite Montez Sweat at defensive end. The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Young is more of a three-down edge setter than a sudden pass rusher, but he uses a long-arm move to set up tackles and establish the corner in the run game. Young needs to develop a secondary pass-rush move with a better plan, but the traits are there for him to be a solid starter in a 4-3 defense.
NFL.com: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Lance Zierlein: “With Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all headed for free agency, Chicago figures to have a need at safety. But the Bears also need to find a way to plug up the middle of their defensive front. Banks offers size, length and upside.”
Pro Football Focus: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Trevor Sikkema: “Hunter made a case for the prospect who had the best overall week at the Senior Bowl. He was impactful in team drills and one-on-ones as a run stopper and a pass rusher. He was good at UCF in years prior, but he really took his game to the next level at Texas Tech this past season, earning an 84.5 PFF run-defense grade and a 75.0 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets. His Senior Bowl momentum brings him into Round 1 conversations.”
CBS Sports: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Ryan Wilson: “McNeil-Warren is a sideline-to-sideline missile and an explosive thumper coming downhill. He offers versatility and range on the back end, using his closing speed and ball skills to make plays at all three levels of the defense.”
Justin Melo: “T.J. Parker was among the most productive EDGE rushers at this year’s Senior Bowl. Parker is athletic with a deadly long-arm and a repertoire of counter moves. The Bears should continue bolstering their pass rush opposite Montez Sweat.”
Sports Illustrated: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Sam Dehring: “After Chicago flashed what they could do with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson’s partnership on offense, it’s time to give Dennis Allen some more help on defense. Caleb Banks brings a ton of size and upper body strength to the table that could be an immediate impact for the Bears in a NFC North that again projects as tough in 2026.”
Pro Football Network: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Jacob Infante: “Ben Johnson led the Chicago Bears to a playoff appearance and an NFC North crown, solidifying them as one of the biggest turnarounds in the NFL this year. Much of that was due to their offense, though. Defensively, they’ve consistently struggled to get home with a four-man rush, and free agent additions Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett didn’t live up to the hype in 2025. Though Caleb Banks played in just three games in 2025 due to injury, he’s shown enough on tape during his time at Florida to warrant an early-round selection. He’s a 6’6″, 325-pound interior lineman with more pass-rush juice than expected for a player his size, giving him a very high ceiling at the NFL level. Banks are powerful and disruptive, passing down value to entice scouts.”