When to expect Chicago to pick in Thursday’s first round

TL;DR

The Chicago Bears are set to pick 25th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, which starts tonight at 7:00 PM CT. Fans should tune in around 10:00 PM CT for the Bears' selection, as the draft may not start on time.

Key points

Chicago Bears pick 25th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft
Draft starts at 7:00 PM CT with eight minutes between picks
Fans should tune in around 10:00 PM CT for the Bears' selection
Bears' odds of winning the NFC are +1300, eighth best in the conference
Over/under win total for Bears in 2026 is set at 9.5

Mentioned in this story

Caleb Williams

NFL DraftFanDuel SportsbookChicago Bears

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Roquan Smith of Georgia poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #8 overall by the Chicago Bears during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to start tonight at 7:00 (CT), and there are only eight minutes between first-round picks now. So if you’re planning on tuning in for the Chicago Bears’ selection at 25 overall, you should tune in at approximately 1o:20 p.m. (CT). That’s what the math says anyway. If the draft starts on time, which it likely won’t. And also, if each team takes the full eight minutes, which never happens. To be on the safe side, you should probably tune in about 10 p.m. (CT), or you can watch the first round with us on 2nd City Gridiron, where Bill Zimmeman will host a Bears-centric first round starting at 7. The Bears are coming off an NFC North title and a Wild Card playoff win, which means they are picking after all their divisional foes this year. The odds of getting a difference maker at 25 are lower than all their previous top 10 picks, but that’s the price of being a good football team. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams have altered the trajectory of the franchise, and they’ll look for a consecutive playoff appearance for the first time in twenty years. In 2006, the Bears reached the Super Bowl, and according to FanDuel Sportsbook, Chicago’s odds of winning the conference in 2026 are +1300. That’s eighth best in the NFC, and considering only seven teams make the playoffs, there’s not a lot of faith in Chicago matching last year’s 11 wins. In fact, FanDuel has the Bears’ over/under win total at 9.5. ***Do you think a strong draft weekend will move the sportsbook needle at all?***

Q&A

What time will the Chicago Bears pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Chicago Bears are expected to make their pick at approximately 10:20 PM CT during the 2026 NFL Draft.

What are the Chicago Bears' odds for winning the NFC in 2026?

The Chicago Bears have +1300 odds to win the NFC in 2026, which ranks them eighth in the conference.

How many wins are projected for the Chicago Bears in the 2026 season?

FanDuel has set the Chicago Bears' over/under win total at 9.5 for the 2026 season.