{"id":873517,"date":"2026-04-24T13:03:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873517\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:03:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:03:26","slug":"nfl-draft-best-players-available-for-the-bears-to-pick-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/873517\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Draft: Best players available for the Bears to pick Day 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bears<\/a> general manager Ryan Poles is being more aggressive than ever in highlighting exactly the kind of player that fits the Bears in the NFL Draft<\/a>. If they don\u2019t, he said, they\u2019re off his draft list.<\/p>\n

In the moments after the first round ended Thursday night, Poles looked at those remaining players and thought, for a moment, that Friday\u2019s crop looked thin. He reminded himself, though, that these things tend to work out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels really thin, but that\u2019s a good thing,\u201d Poles said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a really good things because we\u2019re really selective of who we want. Now, there\u2019s some historical numbers that I have that makes me feel confident that there\u2019s gonna be guys that we like still available to us. Thankfully the numbers are high enough where I\u2019ll be able to sleep a little bit [Thursday] night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are players at the Bears\u2019 positions of need \u2014 edge rusher, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver \u2014 that could be available Friday when the Bears pick at No. 57 and 60 in Round 2:<\/p>\n

Edge rusher<\/p>\n

Clemson\u2019s T.J. Parker, Texas A&M\u2019s Cashius Howell and Missouri\u2019s Zion Young highlight the best remaining defensive ends. They all have their flaws \u2014 Parker had five sacks last year and Howell has short arms \u2014 but that\u2019s easier to overlook on Day 2 and 3 of the draft. Other edge rushers who will be picked Friday include Oklahoma\u2019s R. Mason Thomas and Illinois\u2019 Gabe Jacas.<\/p>\n

Defensive tackle<\/p>\n

Ohio State\u2019s Kayden McDonald is only 21 and probably the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in the draft. Texas Tech\u2019s Lee Hunter can stop the run but is a more skilled pass-rusher than McDonald. NFL Network ranks McDonald No.33 and Hunter No. 41. Georgia\u2019s Christen Miller and Missouri\u2019s Chris McClellan are other candidates to be picked.<\/p>\n

Offensive tackle<\/p>\n

The Bears could find their next starting left tackle just down Green Bay Road, where Northwestern\u2019s Caleb Tiernan toiled his whole college career. At 6-7, 323 pounds, he\u2019s got a similar build to that of Ozzy Trapilo, who is expected to miss most \u2014 if not all \u2014 the season with a patellar tendon injury.
Mulleted Iowa redhead Gennings Dunker, who can play all five spots on the line, is available, too.<\/p>\n

Cornerback<\/p>\n

If the Bears want to find someone to challenge Tyrique Stevenson for the starting job, cornerback is the deepest position left on the board. NFL Network top-100 cornerbacks still available include the Tennessee duo of Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy, South Carolina\u2019s duo of Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore, Clemson\u2019s Avieon Terell, Indiana\u2019s D\u2019Angelo Ponds, Miami\u2019s Keionte Scott, Georgia\u2019s Daylen Everette, Washington\u2019s Tacario Davis, Arkansas\u2019 Julian Neal, Arizona State\u2019s Keith Abney II and Florida\u2019s Devin Moore.<\/p>\n

Wide receiver<\/p>\n

The Bears can improve upon Kalif Raymond as their third wide receiver. Washington\u2019s Denzel Boston, Clemson\u2019s Antonio Williams and Notre Dame\u2019s Malachi Fields are atop the list of best remaining wideouts.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019ll be harder to find a pass rusher in the second or third round than it would\u2019ve been to get a safety there, and the Bears\u2019 defensive line still needs work.<\/p>\n

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The Bears have had an opening in the starting lineup alongside newcomer Coby Bryant, and Thieneman will get the inside track to win the job. <\/p>\n

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The Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall Thursday night.<\/p>\n

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