The Chicago Bears are kicking off an important offseason where they’re looking to bolster the roster under head coach Ben Johnson following an impressive 2025 campaign.
After picking in the top 10 for the past three years, Chicago is going to have to wait a little bit. The Bears will have the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after they went 11-6, won the NFC North and earned their first playoff win in 15 years.
Chicago has some important needs to address on the roster, especially as they look to make a repeat trip to the postseason, and the biggest come on defense. The defensive line, in particular, is a glaring issue, whether it’s off the edge or along the interior.
We’ve rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Bears will no doubt use that first-round pick to land a defensive lineman to shore up arguably the team’s biggest weakness heading into the offseason.
USA Today Sports: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: “The Bears can’t let a likely regression to the mean on the takeaway front threaten the defense’s well-being. Able to detonate both pass and run plays from the interior, Banks generates a more tenable brand of splash plays, which Chicago surely would love to incorporate.”
ESPN: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Mel Kiper Jr.: “The Bears are in “best player available” territory. Edge rusher would obviously be a target, but once Akheem Mesidor went off the board at No. 20, the value disappeared at the position. Maybe Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell? But why not kick inside and address the interior? Gervon Dexter Sr. is entering a contract year, Grady Jarrett will be turning 33 and most of the depth behind those two — namely Andrew Billings and Chris Williams — is headed toward the open market. McDonald had a huge breakout season, showcasing power and quickness with 67 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. And considering Chicago was gashed for 5.0 yards per carry this season, it could use a solid 326-pound presence up the middle.
Pro Football Focus: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Gordon McGuinness: “The Bears could benefit from some reinforcements against the run, and Miller should be able to make an impact in that regard from day one. He earned a 90.2 PFF run-defense grade in 2025. While his 70.0 PFF pass-rush grade is far from bad, he will likely be most valuable in the run game as an NFL player.”
CBS Sports: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Josh Edwards: “Chicago invested heavily in the position last offseason with the free-agent acquisitions of Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett, but both players are advanced in age. A first-round pick is a premium investment at the position.”
Yahoo! Sports: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Nate Tice/Charles McDonald: “The Bears’ defense has been effective, but inconsistent. Miller had an up-and-down season for Georgia, but closed out strong and looks like a viable starter as an interior defender in the NFL.”
FOX Sports: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
FOX Sports: “Overton fits the mold of all the past Alabama defensive linemen over the past decade in that he’s incredibly athletic, nasty, physical and relentless. At 6-5, 283 pounds, he can play inside and can thrive in multiple schemes. Chicago can go with an offensive player here, but Overton has the potential to be a game-wrecker for it if he’s available.”
Draft Wire: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Curt Popejoy: “The Bears have an incredibly active and physical defense and Allen fits right in with that mindset.”
Pro Football Network: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Reese Decker: “The Bears can build on a phenomenal 2025 season by fortifying their defensive front. McDonald brings a powerful interior presence with an extremely high motor. He’s a true gap eater with impressive lateral movement, an elite run stuffer who has the power and leg drive to collapse the pocket consistently.”
Bears Wire: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Mike Pendleton: “Coming into the 2025 season, T.J. Parker was listed as a potential Top-10 draft selection, but he did not have the season he or many expected. Nonetheless, Parker is an absolute force at the edge rusher position, totaling 21.5 sacks in three seasons for the Clemson Tigers, headlined by his 2024 season when he had 20 tackles for loss and 11 sacks on the year. After Chicago lost their top free agent signing Dayo Odeyingbo at the pass rush position early in 2025, it became clear that the team needed to address their depth at the position. The Bears leaned on Montez Sweat and Austin Booker to carry the load for their pass rush, but adding Parker would help give Dennis Allen another physical tool to work with.”
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears target defensive line at No. 25
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
