The 2026 NFL Draft has arrived, and the Chicago Bears have the 25th overall pick, where they’ll be looking to add an impact contributor to bolster the roster under second-year head coach Ben Johnson.
For the first time in four years, the Bears will not be selecting in the Top 10, which means a lot is going to happen and a lot of prospects will be off the board long before Chicago is on the clock — barring a trade. But depending on how the board falls, the Bears could still have some options to upgrade in the trenches, be it edge rusher, defensive tackle or left tackle, or in the secondary, with safety or cornerback.
Then there’s the possibility of trading back (or even trading up). But it’s important to remember that Chicago has four selections in the Top 89, so there will be opportunities to add several impact players between the first two days.
Ahead of the draft, our Bears Wire staff is taking a crack at predicting what Chicago does with its first-round selection at 25th overall. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we all can’t seem to agree, varying between prospects and position groups.
Alyssa Barbieri: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
I kept going back and forth between my final prediction, mostly because I have no idea how the first round is going to shake out before the Bears are on the clock at No. 25. In an ideal world, Kadyn Proctor falls to Chicago and they land a potential franchise left tackle to shore up the offensive line for Caleb Williams. Proctor has impressive size and length, as well as ability, to be a formidable force in the trenches. But he has been inconsistent in pass protection with his technique.
With Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss most of the year, the Bears could very well find a short-term solution in the battle between Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet and Jedrick Wills Jr. But if the opportunity presents itself to upgrade at a premium position, you have to take it. Plus, Ben Johnson is “heavily involved” in the draft process, according to Brad Biggs, so you know he’d be pushing for an impact offensive tackle to be a cornerstone on the offense for the foreseeable future. So while I’m picking Proctor, if any of the top offensive tackles fall, that would be my best bet. But a disruptive edge rusher would be a nice consolation prize.
Brendan Sugrue: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Now that draft day is finally here, it feels like the Bears have zeroed in on a couple of positions to focus on in the first round: offensive tackle and edge rusher. If Ben Johnson had his way, the Bears would find a way to land one of the premier players available on the offensive line, but chances are many of them will have been picked already. While a move up can’t be ruled out, I believe that drops Auburn’s Keldric Faulk right in their laps.
Faulk is the prototypical Dennis Allen defensive end. He has a big and long frame and is just 20 years old. His best football is ahead of him, and Faulk can be molded into a weapon off the defensive line. Though he wouldn’t be my first choice given some concerns about his production (just two sacks and five tackles for loss in 2025), Faulk makes a lot of sense for the Bears in this spot.
Mike Pendleton: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
I have put Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in nearly every mock draft I have done for this network leading up to Thursday. For the fans of the movie ‘Draft Day’ EMW is my version of Vontae Mack. He plays very similarly to Jaquan Brisker, and if he can just be healthier for the Bears than Brisker was, it would be quite the transition as the latter departed in free agency. Chicago has to address the defense in several areas early in the draft, but McNeil-Warren can not be a player they pass on if he is on the board at pick 25. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, no matter what.
Vincent Parise: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Bears have a handful of major needs, and most of them come in the trenches. If they go with a left tackle, center, edge rusher, or interior defensive lineman, it should shock nobody. Anything else would be a bit surprising. There are lots of lineman on both sides of the ball that will be taken in the 20s. Kayden McDonald, a defensive lineman for Ohio State, makes a lot of sense for the Bears. He would help create a better pass rush, but he’d also help them improve their run defense in every way. In his final year of college ball, he finished with 65 total tackles, 9 for a loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. A potential game breaker like that would do wonders for the defense.
Preston Zbroszczyk: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
The need to add in the trenches outweighs any other need for this team headed into the 2026-27 season. And if you’ve heard Ryan Poles talk about Akheem Mesidor he loves his production, leadership and maturity. He will come into the league at 25 years old, with experience, and ready to go. He won’t be an all-pro type guy, but a solid 8.0 to 12.0 sack guy who will take pressure off Montez Sweat, and he brings a good balance against the run game. He’s everything the Bears could ask for and someone who can immediately contribute.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Predicting the Bears’ first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Brendan Sugrue, Mike Pendleton, Vincent Parise and Preston Zbroszczyk , Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
