The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here, and the Chicago Bears are gearing up for another important draft, where they’ll look to shore up the roster under second-year head coach Ben Johnson.
It’s been a busy offseason for the Bears, who lost some impactful contributors including center Drew Dalman, wide receiver DJ Moore, safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. But they also added some new faces, including safety Coby Bryant, linebacker Devin Bush, receiver Kalif Raymond and center Garrett Bradbury.
When looking at this defense, there are question marks across the board about starting jobs and depth, including along the defensive line and safety, as well as cornerback and linebacker. We’ll see how Chicago chooses to shore up the defense and at what positions. But, for now, ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, we’re projecting what the Bears starting defense will look like:
DE Montez Sweat
While the pass rush notably struggled, Montez Sweat had a bounce-back year after a disappointing 2024 season. Sweat recorded double-digit sacks for the first time with the Bears (he totaled 12.5 between Chicago and Washington when the Commanders traded him in 2023). He also totaled 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, 53 pressures, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. While Sweat wasn’t a superstar at the position, he was consistent and was easily the best part of Chicago’s struggling pass rush. He could certainly benefit from another big name opposite him.
DE Akheem Mesidor*
The Bears didn’t make a move at edge rusher in free agency, but they’re expected to target it during the NFL draft, and it could very well be with the 25th overall pick. While Dayo Odeyingbo has been penciled in as the starter opposite Sweat, you’d expect Chicago’s first-round pick (Akheem Mesidor in this mock scenario) to earn the starting job during training camp and the preseason. While Mesidor is on the older side (25) and has an injury history, there’s no denying his production, where he had 12.5 sacks last season with the Miami Hurricanes.
DT Gervon Dexter
Right now, Gervon Dexter is the best defensive tackle the Bears have, and he’ll need a big season in what’s a contract year for the former second-round pick. Last season, Dexter tallied a career-best six sacks, ending the season in total pressures (22) and hits (11) along to go along with 26 hurries. That’s the kind of production Chicago needs from its interior linemen to provide a boost for the pass rush. Dexter wasn’t elite by any means, but he still had his moments.
DT Grady Jarrett
The Bears bet big on Grady Jarrett last offseason, signing him to a multi-year deal to shore up the interior defensive line, but he had an overall disappointing season in 2025. Jarrett played in 14 of 17 regular-season games and both postseason contests, but he didn’t really make an impact as an interior pass rusher (3.0 sacks) or run defender. His biggest impact game in the locker room, but that might not be enough to retain a starting job if Chicago upgrades at the position, which could come in the first round of the NFL draft.
LB T.J. Edwards
The Bears signed T.J. Edwards to a two-year contract extension last April, keeping him in Chicago through 2027, but he didn’t live up to it during the 2025 season. Edwards missed most of the season due to injuries, but he started all 10 games he played in and logged 67 tackles, an interception and 0.5 sack. Edwards suffered a fractured fibula in Chicago’s wild-card win over the Packers, which will sideline him for most of the offseason, but he’s on track to return in 2026.
LB Devin Bush
After releasing Tremaine Edmunds, which freed up $15 million in salary cap space, the Bears addressed the departure with the signing of Devin Bush, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract. Bush is coming off a career year with the Browns, where he totaled 125 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, three interceptions, including two picks returned for touchdowns, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 2.0 sacks and four QB hits in 17 starts. He’ll bring a lot of speed to the linebacker room as he fills the WILL linebacker role left by Edmunds.
CB Jaylon Johnson
The Bears were without their star cornerback for most of the 2025 season after suffering a groin injury before training camp and led to him suffering a new groin injury in Week 2 that held him out until November. When Johnson did return to the field (he played in seven games), it was clear that he wasn’t healthy but trying everything to be there for his team amid the playoff hunt. Johnson admitted that he wasn’t 100 percent, and that it was going to take time, but he did improve and looked like himself at times during the final stretch of the season and the postseason. The hope is he’ll be able to rest up and return to his Pro Bowl form in 2026.
CB Tyrique Stevenson
Nahshon Wright had a Pro Bowl year for the Bears, but he departed in free agency. While cornerback is a need this offseason, it’s near the bottom of a lengthy list. So, for now, Tyrique Stevenson is penciled in as the starter opposite Johnson on the outside, although there are questions about whether he can be trusted as the long-term option. There will be opportunities to upgrade in the NFL draft, as well as some internal players who could compete for the starting job. But Stevenson gets the nod for now.
NCB Kyler Gordon
Like Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon missed most of the 2025 season due to injury. In fact, he spent two different stints on injured reserve (at the start of 2025 and then midway through). It was disappointing after the Bears rewarded Gordon with a lucrative three-year, $40 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid slot cornerback at the time. When on the field, Gordon has been a game-changer for this defense. But that was the issue as he appeared in just three games this season. He’s going to need to focus on conditioning this offseason with the hopes of playing his first full season in Year 5.
S Coby Bryant
The Bears signed a young playmaker in Coby Bryant on the first day of free agency to fill one of two starting safety jobs. Bryant, a former fourth-round pick, played a big part of Seattle’s Super Bowl run, totaling 66 tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble in 2025. He converted from cornerback to safety a couple of years ago, but he’s thrived in his new position. Bryant is a ballhawk who will slide into the role vacated by Kevin Byard.
S Treydan Stukes*
The Bears lost both starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, who departed in free agency. While they did land Coby Bryant, there’s still a starting safety job to fill in the NFL draft. Chicago could certainly use their first-round pick on Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, but there’s other safety talent, including Treydan Stukes, who should be available on Day 2, where the Bears have two picks. Stukes is a speedy, instinctual and versatile defensive back, having played nickel but also safety. He’s also known for his ballhawking process, which would make him a great fit in this secondary.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Predicting the Bears’ starting defense before 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
