Todd McShay chooses between Kayden McDonald vs. T.J. Parker for Bears in 2026 NFL Draft

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: T.J. Parker #DL55 of Clemson participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In just two days, the Chicago Bears might find themselves debating the very choice ESPN’s Mina Kimes just posed to NFL draft guru Todd McShay: if given the choice between Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald or Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which do you take?

It’s a perfect question for a team and fanbase that are rightfully obsessed with upgrading the Bears’ defensive line, which was by far the worst aspect of the 2025 squad.

On paper, it’s hard to go wrong with either choice, according to McShay.

“Very similar grades on both of them—I actually think it’s identical grades,” he explained. “I like Kayden McDonald a lot. I actually think there’s a little bit more in that tank as a pass rusher. What I like about him is most of the time, the zero techniques, the nose tackle, are space eaters. This dude was like fourth or fifth on that defense in tackles. He finishes.” (McDonald was fifth with 65 total tackles. No other OSU defensive tackle had more than 26.)

That defense, of course, being Ohio State’s all-world defensive lineup that included Caleb Downs, widely considered a top-three overall player in this draft class, and his mutant linebacker teammates Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. In other words, McDonald’s no mere big man, in McShay’s eyes.

But that doesn’t mean he’s definitely the pick for the Bears at No. 25, even if the Bears do badly need defensive interior players.

“With all that said, Dennis Allen, I think he’s gonna be more like 300-310 pound defensive tackles,” McShay added. (For reference, McDonald checks in at over 320 pounds and is limited as a mover relative to other prospects.)

That’s why Parker, a bigger edge whose foundation is length and strength, better fits the Bears’ prototype.

“Long arm, power. … I think that he’d be a really good fit. When you think about what the Saints had for years at edge, I think Parker would kinda fit that mold. I would take Parker there.”

Therein lies the intriguing part when it comes to Parker, especially when you consider how much success a somewhat similar profile of player in Cam Jordan had under Allen in New Orleans.

Parker, who racked up 16 sacks and 64 stops in his final two seasons, represents a balance between the Bears’ need for pass rush and run-stopping. Plus, his physical build fits Allen’s archetype for his position more closely than McDonald does at his. For the record, Parker would be this author’s pick in this scenario as well.

That said, either would be a welcome addition to a Bears defense in need of an upgrade up front. Let’s see if this is the choice that actually plays out.