2026 Bears draft: Infante’s final 7-round projections

Round 2: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

The 6’3”, 293-pound Gracen Halton is an athletic specimen whose elite level testing at the Combine is reflective of what you see from him on tape. He’s explosive in his first step off the line of scrimmage, he has impressive closing speed in pursuit for his position, and he’s agile enough to execute stunts and create pressure off the edge. He has a deep arsenal of pass-rushing moves he can string together, and he demonstrates ideal pad level in the trenches. Though Halton isn’t the biggest or strongest defender against the run, he’s a high-level pass-rushing threat as a 3-technique defensive tackle. That’s exactly what the Bears need.

Round 3: Brian Parker II, C, Duke

Unless the Bears get really good value at left tackle in the first round, no offensive lineman they draft is going to start in 2026. That said, positional versatility would be a huge plus in whichever blocker they select, assuming they take one early at some position. Brian Parker II was a top performer at tackle for Duke, but due to a lack of length, I project him at center in the pros, where he performed well at the Shrine Bowl. His ability to line up just about anywhere along the offensive line helps him out tremendously. On tape, he’s a solid athlete but really wins with accurate strike placement, good pad level, and a high football IQ.

Round 4: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

As of this writing, the Bears’ WR5 and WR6 are J.P. Richardson and Maurice Alexander, respectively. They’re going to need to improve the depth they have behind their current starting lineup. De’Zhaun Stribling is a player whose projection I’ve seen as high as late Round 2, but I’m in agreement with PFSN’s simulator that Round 4 is better value. He’s a bit raw as a route-running technician and doesn’t explode with super sharp cuts, but he’s a 6’2” receiver with 4.36 speed who has strong hands and is a tenacious run blocker. I like him to compete for the WR3 role with Kalif Raymond and Jahdae Walker in 2026, with the upside to serve in that role going forward.

Round 7: Latrell McCutchin, CB, Houston

A 6’2” cornerback with good length who’s been an impact starter for Houston the last two seasons, Latrell McCutchin has the aggression to thrive close to the line of scrimmage in coverage and excel on special teams. He most notably had six special teams tackles for USC in 2022. He’s scrappy through a receiver’s stems, and he’s a physical tackler at the point of contact. McCutchin also ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the Combine, and while his fluidity and form as a tackler are both works in progress, the tools are there to take a chance on. Don’t be surprised if the Bears draft a cornerback earlier than this if the value is right, however.

Round 7: Enrique Cruz Jr., OT, Kansas

Enrique Cruz Jr. has close to 34-inch arms and over 10-inch hands, and he puts those to good use. He’s physical at the point of attack, nasty working through blocks, and possesses high-level play strength when engaged with defenders. The power is what enticed me on tape, but he outperformed my expectations for him at the Combine. With a 35-inch vertical at 313 pounds and a 4.94 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split, his testing indicates there’s more athletic upside with him than I previously thought.