In the last 15 years, only three players at selected at pick No. 25 in the NFL Draft have made the NFL’s All-Pro Team. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (2020), center Tyler Linderbaum (2022), and linebacker Dont’a Hightower (2012), who was a two-time selection and three-time Super Bowl champion.
This isn’t to set in doubt for the Chicago Bears or their fans, but it just isn’t a great spot to draft, and honestly, the Chicago faithful will take it. Since 2015, the Bears have picked in the top 10 eight times, and the last time they had a first-round pick No. 20 or higher was in 2013.
This will also be general manager Ryan Poles’s fifth draft with Chicago, each of which he’s drafted in the top 10, minus his first season when the Bears didn’t have a first-round pick.
With that all being said, Chicago can really do just about anything at No. 25, from trading up, because they have the assets in this draft and in future drafts, to trading back to acquire more draft capital, or just stay put.
The defensive line was the weakness last season, both against the run and in pressuring the quarterback, and it works well that the 2026 NFL Draft class is primarily defense-heavy. But again, with the Bears picking at No. 25, they have to play this waiting game more than ever, and see how the board falls.
Staying put at No. 25
This scenario puts Chicago in the mix for several potential personnel adds. Defensive tackles will be available, and I might be that nearly all of them could be there for the Bears to choose from. Kayden McDonald, the run-stopper; Peter Woods, the versatile but raw prospect; Caleb Banks, an athlete but has some injury questions; or Christen Miller, the slightly undersized but powerful player.
Every pick is a risk, but at No. 25 it’s about weighing your options, getting a feel for what players could be falling, the ones as a team you like, on tape and in person. Staying put at No. 25, I see it going one of two ways, and it will either be on in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball or on the offensive side.
Shoring up the trenches
The Bears cannot neglect that if an offensive tackle is available with good value, especially late in the first round, they jump on. I believe Chicago either goes left tackle, Caleb Lomu from Utah, or edge rusher Akheem Mesidor from Miami, obviously, if available.
Players like Keldric Faulk, T.J. Parker, and Zion Young could also be in play, but I feel Young is where Chicago draws its line on how far down they reach. With 35 sacks a season ago, getting help opposite of Montez Sweat is a must, and it will go a long way for the secondary.
Safety first
Now, another option for the Bears, and the only way I see them ignoring the trenches, is if safety Dillon Thienenman is still there. Chicago lost both starting safeties in All-Pro Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. And even with Coby Bryant, there’s still a starting job to be filled, as well as depth to fill out. But even then, the defensive line is still the top priority in my eyes.
Trade back
With a deep edge rusher and defensive tackle draft, if Chicago opted not to look for a future left tackle replacement, trading back with a team looking to get into the late first round, like the Arizona Cardinals or Tennessee Titans, could benefit to address nearly all three defensive positions in round two. This would mean Chicago would acquire a third second-round pick and take an edge rusher, safety, defensive tackle, or center.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: What could the Chicago Bears do with pick No. 25 in 2026 NFL Draft?
Reporting by Preston Zbroszczyk , Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
