NFL Draft: Winners and Losers for 2026

Carnell Tate ran a 4.53 and was the first receiver taken. Spencer Fano had arms shorter than Francis Mauigoa (and shy of the magic “33”) yet he was the first offensive lineman taken. Ty Simpson is barely 210 and went in the top half of the first round. So did Rueben Bain, who apparently has Tyrannosaurus rex DNA according to some. Akheem Mesidor is too old according to his birth certificate but not according to the LA Chargers. This year saw the tape beating the tape measure.

Winner: Big Pharma

There are more than two hundred blood pressure medications and several dozen anti-anxiety medications approved in the United States. With Chicago’s defense receiving relatively minimal investment in the offseason–especially in the draft–it seems likely that Bears fans are going to help keep that industry afloat. The Cardiac Bears are likely to continue to require heroics from the offense, at least unless the coaching staff knows something important that fans are missing.

Loser: Bears’ Passing Records

Of course, in order to stay in those games, Caleb Williams is going to need to take advantage of yet another surge of high-end investments on offense. That suggests that some of the ancient records this team has carried for so long in the passing game are going to need to fall if the Bears are going to stay competitive in 2026.

Winner: The Old Guard on the Defensive Line

Barring a truly breakout performance from an undrafted free agent or a last-minute vet signing, nobody appears to be about to take snaps away from Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, or Dayo Odeyingbo. Gervon Dexter’s role seems entrenched, as does Grady Jarrett’s. Whatever Shemar Turner does, he’s going to get plenty of chances to do it. This draft class was remarkably barren of people who might threaten their job security.

Loser: Clarity on the Poles-Johnson Era

For his entire tenure with the Chicago Bears, Ryan Poles has had a history of taking intelligent risks and making equally questionable gambles. Trading for Chase Claypool was a blunder but trading for Montez Sweat acquired the team’s sack leader, for example. Usually, his Day One picks have been good to excellent, his Day Two picks have included some headscratchers, and his Day Three picks have been decent at finding depth and even starters, even if the fourth round picks (Tyler Scott, Roschon Johnson, Tory Taylor, and Ruben Hyppolite II) have been blunders. That does not seem to have changed now that Matt Eberflus is gone and Ben Johnson is fully integrated into the process. Fans can only hope that the positive momentum from 2025 continues and proves doubters wrong.