The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft, where they’ll be looking to shore up their roster at key positions of need. And with four picks in the Top 89, including 25th overall and a pair of second rounders, the resources are there for general Manager Ryan Poles.
Most of Chicago’s needs come on defense, where defensive line and safety are the biggest and most mocked picks by NFL analysts. But is that what the Bears should do? After all, Poles and head coach Ben Johnson proved the importance of selecting the best available player on the board after last year’s draft landed them tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III.
NFL.com’s Adam Rank — noted Bears superfan — released his latest mock draft with moves that every team should make in the first round. For Chicago, it wasn’t focusing on defense, rather than addressing a key need on the offensive side of the ball with the selection of Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor.
I have a strong feeling you’re drafting offense here, so let’s not even look at the edge rushers still available. I also know you’ll take KC Concepcion if he’s still there (he won’t be). The bottom line: Ozzy Trapilo’s going to be out of the picture for some time while recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon, and Chicago cannot go into next season with Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills as the only options at left tackle. Kadyn is the sensible pick right here.
While the defense has garnered most of the discussion leading up to the draft, and rightfully so given the pass rush’s struggles and a starting safety job needing to be filled, left tackle remains a point of contention heading into 2026. Last year’s second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo was supposed to answer that question, but he’ll instead miss most of the season after rupturing his patellar tendon in the wild-card playoffs.
Chicago is right back where they started last offseason with a left tackle competition featuring Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet (with newcomer Jedrick Wills Jr. in the mix), leaving a glaring hole on the offensive line. If Proctor is still on the board, and if he’s high on the Bears’ draft board, this would be a smart pick for Poles.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: What Chicago Bears should do in the first round of 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
