The Chicago Bears are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, aiming to improve their roster after a near NFC championship appearance. General Manager Ryan Poles has upgraded their draft capital to address key defensive needs.
Key points
Chicago Bears nearly reached the NFC championship game
Ryan Poles traded DJ Moore for a second-round pick
Bears need to improve their defense for the 2026 NFL Draft
Chicago ranked poorly in defensive performance metrics in 2025
Peter Woods is a key draft target for the Bears
Mentioned in this story
Ryan PolesBen Johnson
Peter WoodsChicago BearsBuffalo BillsDJ Moore
The 2025 Chicago Bears nearly made it to the NFC championship game. How can they improve their roster in the 2026 NFL Draft to get over the hump?
That's a question every Bears fan is trying to answer alongside Chicago's general manager, Ryan Poles; its head coach, Ben Johnson; and the team's scouts and other executives.
Earlier this offseason, Poles made a significant step to ready up for the draft by sending wide receiver DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick. The upgraded draft capital provides Poles the opportunity to add a talented player to a position of need early in the draft.
The Bears' biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball. While Chicago led the league in forced turnovers last season, the defense's performance outside of the takeaways left much to be desired. The unit ranked 21st in expected points added (EPA)/play allowed and 26th in success rate allowed in 2025.
USA TODAY Sports has compiled a seven-round mock draft to boost the 2026 Bears' roster. Here's how Chicago might use its seven picks in the upcoming NFL draft:
Who did the Chicago Bears trade for a second-round pick?
The Chicago Bears traded wide receiver DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick.
What are the Chicago Bears' biggest needs for the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Bears' biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball, particularly to improve their overall performance beyond forced turnovers.
How did the Chicago Bears perform defensively in 2025?
In 2025, the Bears ranked 21st in expected points added (EPA)/play allowed and 26th in success rate allowed, indicating significant defensive struggles.
What position is Peter Woods expected to fill for the Bears?
Peter Woods is expected to reinforce the trenches, addressing the Bears' defensive needs in the upcoming draft.
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Getting the Bears' defense right starts in the trenches. Chicago ranked 31st in the NFL in pass-rush win rate and 26th in the league in run-stop win rate in 2025, according to ESPN. Dennis Allen's defense tied for seventh-fewest sacks as a team (35) during the season. While Gervon Dexter had another solid season, Grady Jarrett's performance left much to be desired, and he'll be 33 by the weekend after the draft.
Woods is the top defensive tackle prospect in his draft class, as a guy capable of stuffing opposing rushers and has real upside as an interior pass-rusher as well. A 3-tech who can be effective on all three downs would be a nice tool to add to Allen's arsenal on the defensive side.
Round 2, No. 57 overall: S A.J. Haulcy, LSU
With two more picks in the second round, the Bears have a good chance to bring in several young, new starters to upgrade their defense. With Poles addressing the trenches first, he could look to the secondary with the Bears' second pick in the draft. Chicago let five defensive backs walk in free agency earlier this offseason and brought in safeties Cam Lewis and Coby Bryant to help plug the new holes in the secondary.
Bryant only recently became a consistent starter, and Lewis had a lot of special teams snaps but rarely started on defense with the Bills. Haulcy is one of the best safeties in this class outside of projected first-rounders Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He lined up all over the field – free safety, in the box and in the slot – in his collegiate career and tallied eight interceptions and 10 PBUs in his last two seasons.
Even after adding Woods in the first round, the Bears could still use the extra help in the pass-rush. Montez Sweat had the second double-digit sack season of his career in 2025, but fellow defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo had one sack before tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 9.
With uncertainty around Odeyingbo's effectiveness when he returns from injury and a lack of sacks production from those not named Montez Sweat, Moore steps in as a plug-and-play starter. He's a powerful pass-rusher who broke out in 2025 with 10 sacks in 12 games with the Wolverines. Moore's run defense is less pretty, but the pass-rush ceiling is too enticing to pass up in the late second round.
Round 3, No. 89 overall: C Connor Lew, Auburn
After tripling down on defensive help in the first two rounds, Poles finally turns his attention to the offense in Round 3 of this mock. Center is not an immediate need for the Bears. After Drew Dalman's surprising retirement, Chicago traded for Patriots center Garrett Bradbury. But Bradbury will be 31 in June and is a free agent after this year. Lew can join the Bears' squad of offensive lineman as Bradbury's (and Dalman's) heir apparent on the interior.
Round 4, No. 129 overall: OT Drew Shelton, Penn State
Trenches win football games. That's the philosophy for this mock draft and a sound strategy to get the Bears closer to a Super Bowl win next February. Darnell Wright has the right tackle spot locked down for Chicago for at least 2026 and likely 2027, once the Bears exercise his fifth-year option. It's the left tackle spot that is a bit more uncertain.
Starter Ozzy Trapilo tore his patellar tendon in the playoffs after a breakout rookie season in 2025, and the Bears signed three tackles to one-year deals in free agency. Shelton provides a possible short-term reinforcement if Trapilo experiences any setbacks from his patellar tendon injury. He could also be a long-term replacement if Trapilo does not return to form post-injury.
Round 7, No. 239 overall: WR Zavion Thomas, LSU
If Poles doesn't want to trade back up into the fifth or sixth round of the draft, he can take a short breather before the Bears' next pick. With the first of Chicago's two picks this late in the draft, the Bears could take a swing on a receiver who was the third-fastest player at the NFL combine. Thomas was not a hugely productive receiver in college, but he has real upside as a kick returner and gadget player for Ben Johnson's offense.
Round 7, No. 241 overall: CB Andre Fuller, Toledo
Closing things out with another defensive pick. Fuller is a raw cornerback prospect with the tools to develop into an impact defender, given further development. He has the frame – 6-foot-1, 200 pounds – and physicality to give a glimpse into his potential as a press-man, boundary corner. Early in his career, he can earn a roster spot with special teams contributions before developing into a rotational corner who thrives in Cover 2 scenarios.
Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Kansas City Chiefs – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
Cincinnati Bengals – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)
Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
