Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft: Picks by round, biggest needs, best fits

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off live from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 and the latest crop of rookies will be hearing their names called all weekend long. For the Chicago Bears, the biggest need is an obvious one: Edge rusher.

Safety Coby Bryant was the type of player Chicago's secondary needed, especially after the departures of DBs Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker and Jonathan Owens, but the Bears' ability to rush the passer is still a weakness. Chicago ranked second to last in pass rush win rate last year, per ESPN.

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Here's everything you need to know about the Chicago Bears for this year's draft, including a round-by-round look at picks and a potential trade candidate already on the roster:

Chicago Bears NFL draft best prospect fit: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

Per USA TODAY's Ayrton Ostly:

Chicago lost Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in free agency from their NFC North-winning defense. Both were key contributors. Coby Bryant was a solid signing but the need is still pretty glaring at the safety spot. McNeil-Warren is a long, fast safety with a thumping presence in the running game. Pairing him with an experienced player like Bryant could help him get up to speed.

NFL DRAFT: Finding the perfect prospect for every team