The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, where the Chicago Bears welcomed seven new rookies to the roster.
Chicago also added some new offensive pieces for Ben Johnson with center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush and wide receiver Zavion Thomas, while adding some new defensive players in cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. While it’s not the flashiest class, it’s one assembled by Johnson and GM Ryan Poles that one analyst believes will be the thing to get the Bears to the Super Bowl.
Chicago is slated to hold their rookie minicamp from May 8-11, where we’ll get a first glimpse at the newcomers before the offseason program kicks into high gear with organized team activities (OTAs) later this month.
While we’ll be glad to give mock drafts a rest for the foreseeable future, there were some way-too-early 2027 mock drafts that surfaced after the 2026 draft. We rounded those up, where experts make their first picks for Chicago — where defensive tackle, edge rusher and running back were the popular selections.
USA Today: Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (28th overall)
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: “Dennis Allen’s defense might require more meaningful disruption from the interior than Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett can provide. Moten’s quick-twitch movements that leave plodding blockers playing catch-up could yield the level of penetration that Allen relishes.”
The Athletic: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State (18th overall)
Dane Brugler: “Listed at 6-4, Jones has rare speed and ability for a player his size, which will draw obvious attention from NFL teams.”
ESPN: Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (16th overall)
Jordan Reid: “The Bears went surprisingly light on the interior defensive line in last week’s draft, waiting until the sixth round to address the position. Moten is an explosive disruptor who finished with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. He has quick and powerful hands to swipe away interior blockers and is a stout run defender who can stand his ground in gaps. Moten needs to play with better pad level, as his aggressiveness can cause him to play high and be pushed out of position, but he could be the Grady Jarrett heir apparent in Chicago.”
CBS Sports: Caden Green, OL, Missouri (17th overall)
Ryan Wilson: “Green plays with a sturdy anchor against power rushers, and while he needs to play with lower pads in the run game, his high-level awareness makes him a reliable blindside protector whose NFL future could be inside at guard.”
Pro Football Focus: Cade Pieper, iOL, Iowa
Daire Carragher: “The Bears selected Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pieper will transition from guard to replace Jones at center this season for the Hawkeyes, and if his form carries over, there is no reason he will not be the first interior offensive lineman selected next year. The bulldozing run-blocking style of these Iowa offensive linemen could remind Ben Johnson of players like Frank Ragnow in Detroit.”
Sports Illustrated: Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami (18th overall)
Justin Melo: “Grady Jarrett is an aging asset, and Gervon Dexter Sr. will be a pending free agent. The Chicago Bears should re-sign Dexter, but even if so, pairing him with an appropriate running mate should be a priority. Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Ahmad Moten turned heads during the National Championship Game, and could build on a 2025 season that saw him register nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.”
Sporting News: Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss (26th overall)
Vinnie Iyer: “The Bears likely won’t re-sign D’Andre Swift after the 2026 season and need to consider taking an explosive all-around back to support Kyle Monangai better in Ben Johnson’s offense. Don’t sleep on Lacy jumping Hardy at some point during the process.”
FOX Sports: John Henry Daley, DL, Michigan (16th overall)
Rob Rang: “With his blond hair, physical play and motor always running, expect there to be plenty of comparisons to Michigan great Aidan Hutchinson. Daley starred this past season for Kyle Whittingham at Utah before following the legendary head coach to Ann Arbor. He lacks ideal twitch, but he’s powerful and relentless, recording 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 2025.”
Bleacher Report: Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss (17th overall)
Brent Sobleski: “When Ben Johnson served as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, the organization chose to select Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round even though D’Andre Swift was already on the roster. The Lions traded Swift a day later to make room for the dynamic Gibbs. Swift is now the Chicago Bears’ RB1, though Johnson and the team’s front office may not be in a rush to re-sign their lead back when the organization may have the opportunity to upgrade.
Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy is a very different prospect compared to Gibbs, yet both have the ability to open up an offense. In Lacy’s case, he’s an explosive and powerful ball-carrier capable of carving through defenses. The Missouri transfer led the nation with 306 carries, ranked second with 24 rushing touchdowns and finished third overall with 1,567 yards. A staggering 1,010 yards came after contact. While listed at 205 pounds, Lacy is clearly put together and capable of being a workhorse option. He can be something special in the Bears ascending offense.”
Pro Football Network: Quincy Rhodes Jr., EDGE, Arkansas (16th overall)
Ian Cummings: “Quincy Rhodes Jr. still has room to keep developing in 2026, but his 2025 film was enough to fuel NFL Draft consideration. He logged a stellar PFSN EDGE Impact grade of 86.4, while generating pressure on over 11% of his pass-rush reps. At 6’6″, 277 pounds, Rhodes has the size and power profile that Dennis Allen covets in his defensive linemen, along with slant, stunt, and alignment versatility. He’s explosive, agile, and hard to corral working across-face with swims and spins, and he has a hot motor in run defense.”
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2027 NFL mock draft round-up: Way-too-early predictions for Bears
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
