🏈 Bears NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & More
With Caleb Williams entering Year 2 and head coach Ben Johnson building one of the most promising young offenses in the league, the Chicago Bears hold the No. 25 pick and can afford to invest heavily on the defensive side of the ball after losing key pieces in the secondary and along the line this offseason.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Bears' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Chicago will draft in the first round, which begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Bears draft picks 2026
See where the Bears rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 25 |
| 2 | No. 57, 60 (via BUF) |
| 3 | No. 89 |
| 4 | No. 125, 129 |
| 5 | No. 165 |
| 6 | No pick |
| 7 | No. 239, 241 |
🆘 Bears team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, S, OL, DL, WR
- Key additions: Coby Bryant (S), Cam Lewis (CB), Jack Sanborn (LB), Devin Bush (LB), Garrett Bradbury (C, via trade), Kentavius Street (EDGE)
- Key departures: Jaquan Brisker (S, Steelers), Kevin Byard (S, Patriots), DJ Moore (WR, Bills via trade), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (S, Bills), Drew Dalman (C, retiring)
Chicago lost four of its top five defensive backs in snaps this offseason, headlined by Brisker's departure and the Moore trade that stripped the receiving corps of its most experienced target. While edge is a major need, safety is also a pressing concern after losing both Brisker and Byard, as the Bears allowed 61 completions of 20-plus yards last season - second-most in the NFL.
🏈 Bears draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Bears' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick tonight:
| Pick type | No. 25 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo | 7.15 | Adding a safety with McNeil-Warren's versatile skill set, size, and physicality beside recent signee Coby Bryant could help unlock Chicago's defense in a division full of playmakers |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami | 7.15 | The Bears need to bolster their pass rush and find a productive sack artist to line up opposite Montez Sweat, and while he is an older prospect (25), Mesidor is a readymade pass rusher with weaponized hands |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson | 7.0 | One of the most polarizing players in the draft class, if Woods can focus on being a gap-shooting 3-tech, he can be a disruptive player on Chicago's defense with his combo of quickness and active hands |
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📝 Bears mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the Chicago Bears' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect Chicago to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Zion Young, DE, Missouri (No. 25) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (No. 25) |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (No. 25) |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (No. 25) |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (No. 25) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (No. 25) |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (No. 25) |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah (No. 25) |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri (No. 25) |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah (No. 25) |
🎯 Bears first position drafted
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Chicago lost four of its top five defensive backs this offseason and desperately needs edge-rushing help opposite Montez Sweat, but the offensive line became a pressing concern after Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoffs. The market still sees the former as the bigger issue with defensive line the clear favorite.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 Bears draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 25: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
- Pro comparison: Abe Lucas
- Measurables: 6'6" | 313 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: 9.77
Could the Chicago Bears use help on their defensive line? Absolutely. But this is the Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams show in the Windy City now, and adding offensive line help is a must. Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoffs, so taking Caleb Lomu could help remedy the situation while giving the Bears one of the smoothest movers at tackle in the draft. Lomu is raw and needs to get stronger, but his ceiling as a pass protector is high with his sweet feet.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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