Ohio State has been one of the best college football teams in the country over the last decade. The Big Ten has recently eclipsed the SEC as the top conference in Division I football, and the Buckeyes are a big part of it.
Every year, the NFL gets a surplus of Ohio State players joining the league through the NFL draft. No matter what, they are pumping out wide receivers, offensive linemen, running backs, and defensive players at a high rate. They even produce a high-end quarterback prospect now and again.
This year, in particular, they have as many as seven players who could be selected in the Top 100. Two of them, pass rusher Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs, could go as high as the top five. Linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Carnell Tate may go in the Top-15 as well, which would be a great look for the Buckeyes.
The Bears will not have a chance to land any of them unless they make a huge trade up. Their first pick, 25th overall, could be a spot to take a different Buckeye who projects to go late in the first round. There are also a handful to consider later in the draft as well. General manager Ryan Poles may want to keep an eye on these two players:
Kayden McDonald, DT
If the Bears want to select Ohio State edge rusher Kayden McDonald, they have to take him with the 25th overall pick. He won’t be there when they come up to pick next.
When you’re selecting 25th instead of in the top 10, which is where the Bears have been comfortable drafting for the three years, you’re less likely to get a high-octane contributor. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find one, however.
If McDonald came to the Bears, he’d be in a position to be a star, but he’d have to earn it with his play over time. Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett are currently the starting interior linemen, but McDonald could earn additional playing time with a strong debut. Coupled with Montez Sweat off the edge, the pair could be a force when it comes to creating pressure.
Davison Igbinosun, CB
The Bears could certainly be looking to add a cornerback to compete for the starting job opposite Jaylon Johnson, as well as provide depth should Chicago wind up dealing with injuries once again. It’s certainly possible that they address that in later rounds.
In the third or fourth round, Davison Igbinosun is someone to think about selecting if a cornerback is on Ryan Poles’ mind. They likely won’t use a top second-round pick on one, but the third round can be where they start to get creative.
The Bears have a lot of hype coming into 2026 because of their coach and quarterback. However, if the defense doesn’t improve, it’ll be difficult to repeat as NFC North champions. The draft is an opportunity to add a handful of contributors.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2 Ohio State prospects the Bears should consider in 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
