What better time to cook up your first mock draft of the year than right after the NFL Combine, right?
Things are already getting interesting for the Chicago Bears after Drew Dalman unexpectedly retired, and Maxx Crosby trade rumors are beginning to heat up. Oh yeah, and that whole free agency thing kicks off next week, too. Good times!
Moreover, we got some up-close looks at measurements and testing for several key prospects at the combine ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, meaning we’re going to start seeing some guys rise or fall a bit (justifiably or not) in people’s projections.
Some of that might actually help the Bears in the first round of this draft, as you’ll soon see.
Here’s my take on a post-combine mock, starting with a new face at a position people have circling for Chicago.
Pick No. 25: Peter Woods, DT (Clemson)
Remember all that stuff I’ve been saying about not needing to take a defensive tackle at No. 25? I meant that…but not when it comes to the possibility of Woods falling.
For the record, I don’t think either he or his teammate T.J. Parker will be available at No. 25 the way they were in this simulation. But if they were, they’d be my top options here over Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald or Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter. And I’d go with the explosive 3-technique who fits the more athletic archetype Dennis Allen likes in his inside guys.
People will have concerns about his arm length and wingspan, as well as his lack of production last season, though the latter is due to him playing more at the nose than over the tackle.
But at No. 25, I simply do not care. He’s too good to pass up. Need that.
Pick No. 57: Jadarian Price, RB (Notre Dame)
If you asked me before the combine if Price would be available here, I’d have said it was more likely the Bears would need to take him at No. 25. But this might be a year in which running backs do get pushed down a bit due to free-agent shuffling and trades, leading to Price, this year’s RB2, being available later than he should be.
The league better not let that happen.
Forgive me if I neglect the Bears’ other projected defensive needs in order to grab RB2, who proved himself one of this class’s best big-play threats outside of his own teammate Jeremiyah Love. If not for Love being a madman, Price could’ve put up wild numbers with his no-fuss, slashing style and formidable long speed, which saw him house three kickoffs in college along with his six yards-per-carry average.
Plus, there’s plenty of receiving upside to mine from him—something he showed he’s willing to work on at the combine by doing receiver drills after his workout.
The Bears want more explosiveness out of their running back position and are likely to cut D’Andre Swift this offseason. It’s hard to replace him better than this, and it’ll give Ben Johnson his new “Sonic and Knuckles” combo with Price and Kyle Monangai.
Pick No. 89: Zakee Wheatley, S (Penn State)
The Bears get their Jaquan Brisker replacement from the alma mater they share.
Wheatley didn’t test, but his workout was quietly one of the smoothest we saw last Friday. He has both the range and ball skills to play the deep part of the field and the versatility to jump down into the box and make tackles in the run game as a pseudo-linebacker, making him the perfect modern interchangeable safety.
You might have to take him a little higher than this by the time the draft rolls around. But if whenever you get him, he’s going to be a Week 1 starter. The only question is who he’s playing next to.
Pick No. 129: Jude Bowry, T (Boston College)
As much as we’d love the idea of Ozzy Trapilo coming back in 2027 and reclaiming his spot, the Bears should frankly be operating as if he’ll never play again. Patellar tendon injuries are no joke, and the recovery might be especially hard on someone with Trapilo’s size. And I’m sorry: I’m not trusting Caleb Williams’ future to Theo Benedet.
Bowry is a project with a lot of raw ability who gave up 14 pressures all year last year and allowed no sacks. He also smoked the combine, showing off the athleticism to play in a zone-based scheme like the Bears that relies on movement. You’d need to bring in a veteran for competition, of course. But given the way the Bears made Benedet and Trapilo look good as rookies next to Joe Thuney last year, this is a mid-round flyer worth taking.
You already know Poles will chat with the fellow BC grad at some point.
Pick No. 163: Tacario Davis, CB (Washington)
Dennis Allen loves his tall cornerbacks, with more than half of the corners he’s had a hand in drafting as a position coach, coordinator, or head coach measuring over six feet tall and none coming in shorter than 5-11.
Davis’ combine was absolutely monstrous at almost 6-4, 194 pounds, putting up a 4.41 40 and jumping 37 inches on his vert. Put that together with 33.5-inch arms, and his guy’s radius for playing the ball is massive. His production wasn’t elite (just two interceptions and four pass breakups), but his 50.6 passer rating allowed last year ranked 838th out of 892 cornerbacks. That’ll play.
Also, you know who NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein comps him most closely to? Nahshon Wright.
Seems like a match made in heaven, if you ask me. Also, those Washington defensive backs always know how to play ball. Putting him alongside Jaylon Johnson and fellow Huskie Kyler Gordon could be fun.
Pick No. 239: Xavian Sorley, LB (Arkansas)
Sorley has a lot of work to do at playing the position, particularly when it comes to cutting down on missed tackles and disengaging from blocks. But you can’t deny the former Georgia LB, who transferred to Arkansas to finish his college career, can move. That alone could make him an immediate contributor on special teams. From there, perhaps you can develop him into a player who can bridge the gap between the heavier looks defenses now must play to counter more ground-centered attacks and the speed you need to chase down athletic backs.
If nothing else, the Bears need some bodies at linebacker, and Sorley’s got some raw materials you can work with.
Pick No. 241: Micah Morris, G (Georgia)
Give me the athletic freak who ran a 5.08 in the 40 yard dash, please.
Morris has played both guard spots in college, and there’s no reason he couldn’t join Luke Newman as insurance at center and right guard now that Drew Dalman’s retired and with Jonah Jackson approaching a cut point in his contract next year.
You can never have enough options on the interior of the offensive line, and Morris might be one who ends up playing more than you think going forward.