The Chicago Bears are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft with significant draft capital and a need to address key roster holes. Experts suggest prioritizing safety to replace departed players.
The pre-draft process is almost complete with the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off next week, and the Chicago Bears have plenty of draft capital to make some more noise this offseason.
The Bears saw some key departures this offseason, including center Drew Dalman (who shockingly retired), wide receiver DJ Moore, safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. But they also did bring in some new faces, including safety Coby Bryant, center Garrett Bradbury and linebacker Devin Bush.
Chicago will now look to use their draft capital, which includes four picks in the Top 89, to fill out their roster holes. NFL.com's Gennaro Filice believes the Bears should target safety early in the draft, saying their big draft goal should be "safety first" to replace the departed Byard and Brisker.
Dillon Thieneman #31, Oregon Ducks (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
Continuing to foster Caleb Williamsâ growth is obviously paramount, so I nearly suggested that the Bearsâ biggest draft goal is obtaining Ozzy Trapilo insurance. But even if the left tackleâs serious knee injury bleeds into next season, Chicago didre-sign Braxton Jones, who started 44 games on the blind side over the past four seasons. Meanwhile, the pass rush definitely could use more juice, but the most pressing need on that side of the ball is at safety. The Bears lost their top four players at the position in free agency, and while they signed Coby Bryant to a lucrative deal, the other safety spot remains a huge question mark. And Chicagoâs first-round pick, at No. 25 overall, comes right in a range where a coveted safety prospect like Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could be available.
Chicago signed Bryant away from the Seattle Seahawks after their Super Bowl championship this past season, but he only fills one of the gaps left by Byard and Brisker. General manager Ryan Poles made it clear that the team had a goal to find the right fits for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to have a better performance in 2026, so they'll have to find the right complement for the coaching staff to slide next to the newly-signed Bryant.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears urged to address this position early
The Chicago Bears should prioritize the safety position early in the 2026 NFL Draft to replace departed players.
The Chicago Bears have four picks in the Top 89 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Bears lost center Drew Dalman, wide receiver DJ Moore, safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
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