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 offense, there aren’t a lot of concerns. In fact, we could be looking at the starting lineup for Week 1 right now. But there is an opportunity to upgrade at left tackle, as well as find the center of the future beyond Bradbury. Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, we’re projecting what the Bears starting offense will look like:
QB Caleb Williams
The Bears appear to have found their franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, who had a breakout year in his sophomore season and first year with head coach Ben Johnson. Williams established himself as one of the NFL’s most clutch quarterbacks, leading an NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comebacks in 2025. He also set the franchise single-season passing record (3,942 yards) and fell just shy of becoming the Bears’ first 4,000-yard passer. Williams still needs to improve in the short passing game, but there’s no denying he has the potential to be one of the NFL’s best.
RB D’Andre Swift
There were plenty of doubts surrounding D’Andre Swift heading into the 2025 season, but he proved doubters wrong as part of a 1-2 punch with rookie Kyle Monangai on the league’s third-best rushing attack. Reunited with Ben Johnson, Swift had a career year where he totaled 1,087 rushing yards on 223 carries with nine touchdowns. He also proved to be a weapon in the passing game with 34 receptions for 299 yards and a score. Swift is heading into the final year of his contract, where the expectation is he’ll once again serve as the starter with Monangai complementing him.
WR Rome Odunze
With DJ Moore being traded to the Buffalo Bills, Rome Odunze is now the unquestioned No. 1 receiver on the Bears. Odunze got off to a hot start last season, with 20 receptions for 296 yards and five touchdowns, but he fell off while dealing with a foot injury. Odunze finished with 44 receptions, 661 yards and six touchdowns after missing the final five regular-season games with that stress fracture and made his return during the postseason. But Odunze admitted that his 2025 season was “absolutely” an underachievement.
WR Luther Burden III
The Bears didn’t go into the 2025 NFL Draft looking to draft a wide receiver. But when Luther Burden III was there in the second round, they couldn’t pass up on his talent, and it’s already payed off for Chicago. While it took Burden some time to get going on offense, amid an abundance of talent on offense, he showcased himself as a dangerous downfield weapon in just one year with Ben Johnson. Burden totaled 47 catches on 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns. Burden is the reason why the Bears were able to trade DJ Moore, land a second-round pick and free up $16.5 million in salary cap space.
TE Colston Loveland
While there were some initial hesitations about Chicago’s decision to draft Colston Loveland at 10th overall last year, the rookie tight end put those thoughts to bed with a mini-breakout year where he showed his potential to be one of the league’s most impactful tight ends. Loveland led the team in receptions (58) and receiving yards (713), and he really didn’t even get going until midway through the 2025 season. More than that, Loveland showed up in big moments down the stretch, where he proved to be Caleb Williams’ most dependable weapon.
LT Braxton Jones
For the second straight offseason, the Bears will have a competition at left tackle featuring some familiar faces. After re-signing both Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet, they’ll compete alongside newcomer Jedrick Wills Jr. for that job. Right now, Jones gets the nod given his experience as a three-year starter and the fact that he should be healthy this season. His biggest competition just might be Wills, who took off last season to get his body right, and Chicago might also turn to the NFL draft to add a young player with the 25th pick. So this projection could certainly change.
LG Joe Thuney
Joe Thuney was the best addition (not named Ben Johnson) for the Bears last offseason, and he proved to be worth the fourth-round pick and money as one of the league’s best interior lineman. Thuney earned First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods along one of the NFL’s best offensive lines while also winning the inaugural “Protector of the Year” award for the best offensive lineman. Thuney now reunites with his former North Carolina State teammate Garrett Bradbury along the interior.
C Garrett Bradbury
Following Drew Dalman’s surprising retirement, the Bears were left with a massive hole at one of the most important positions on offense. While many expected Chicago to try to make a splash for Tyler Linderbaum, the Bears went the cheaper and safer route to add an affordable veteran center for Ben Johnson’s offense. Bradbury, who spent six years with the Minnesota Vikings, started all 17 games for the New England Patriots last season, where he didn’t allow a sack or commit a penalty. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Bears won’t add another center in the NFL draft for the future.
RG Jonah Jackson
The Bears acquired Jonah Jackson last offseason in a trade with the Rams as part of the overhaul of the interior offensive line. While he was under-looked on the offensive line, he had an overall solid season at right guard. Jackson allowed just three sacks and committed just five penalties in 1,133 snaps. Ryan Poles said he wants to keep Jackson at right guard alongside Darnell Wright to keep consistency on the right side.
RT Darnell Wright
Darnell Wright continues to bring consistency to the right tackle position, and he’s establishing himself as one of the most promising right tackles in the NFL. Last season, Wright allowed just three sacks in 1,074 sacks, but he allowed a whopping 11 penalties, which he needs to clean up. But he proved to be vital to the success of one of the league’s best offensive lines en route to Second-Team All-Pro honors. Wright is eligible for a contract extension this season, and he’s certainly played himself into a new deal. Chicago recently picked up his fifth-year option.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Predicting the Bears’ starting offense before 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
