Bears 2026 NFL Mock Draft Tracker: Multiple experts link top defensive talent to Chicago with the No. 25 pick in the first-round
See who experts are linking to the Chicago Bears after the first wave of major mock drafts.
The NFL offseason is unfolding quickly with the start of free agency right around the corner in a few weeks and the 2026 NFL Draft will be here before we know it.
Speaking of the draft, we are in prime mock draft season and all of the top NFL draft experts have released the first wave of mock drafts for all 32 first-round picks. We decided to round up some of the top industry selections for the Chicago Bears to see what experts believe the team will do with the 25th overall pick in the first-round. Here’s what we gathered.
Chicago Bears 2026 NFL mock draft tracker (first wave of national mock drafts)
A to Z Sports Chicago: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Attacking the interior of the defensive front is a good plan for the Bears early in this draft. Chicago won’t have much roster turnover for that unit when looking at the 2026 books, but the team can certainly benefit by adding more elite depth.
The position that makes sense to upgrade is NT, and moving on from Andrew Billings. It’s hard to find a better first-round NT prospect than Kayden McDonald. Some are saying this guy has shades of Derrick Brown, and landing him in the back half of the first round would be a steal for the Bears.
ESPN’s Field Yates: Zion Young, DE, Missouri
“Pass rush is an obvious need after the Bears posted the NFL’s second-worst pass rush win rate in 2025. Young would help improve the unit in a hurry with his power and heavy hands off the edge. He also brings versatility, having played some at defensive tackle during his first two collegiate seasons at Michigan State. Young’s upper-body power and 33.5-inch arms allow him to power through the anchor of opposing tackles. That was on full display during a rock-solid Senior Bowl week. I could see him pairing with Montez Sweat really well.”
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Bears figure to be in the safety market with the contracts expiring for Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Thieneman can play both safety spots and could cover in the slot if needed.
The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
“McDonald seems to be the most popular selection for the Bears in these early mock drafts, and it’s hard to argue. He has the size (listed at 6-foot-3, 326 pounds) and had nine tackles for loss and three sacks last season. Brugler’s 26th-best player “is at his best as a run stuffer,” and that’d be welcome for a defense that gave up 5.0 yards per carry, 29th in the league and the franchise’s worst total since 2013.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
“McDonald had a huge breakout season, showcasing power and quickness with 67 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. And considering Chicago was gashed for 5.0 yards per carry this season, it could use a solid 326-pound presence up the middle.”
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
“Hunter is the playmaking defensive tackle Chicago has been searching for. He plays violently at the nose and can range sideline to sideline. For a team that ranked bottom five in pressure rate last season, this would be a major boost.”
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
“With Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all headed for free agency, Chicago figures to have a need at safety. But the Bears also need to find a way to plug up the middle of their defensive front. Banks offers size, length and upside.”
FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
“The Bears went heavy on drafting skill players over the last couple of drafts, which paid off. Now, they need to address their defensive interior, especially as they can’t rely on turnover luck to carry over from last year. McDonald was terrific in the interior for Ohio State, and it allowed the Buckeyes to play that odd defense. He plays with great effort and force.”
ESPN’s Matt Miller: Zion Young, DE, Missouri
“The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Young is more of a three-down edge setter than a sudden pass rusher, but he uses a long-arm move to set up tackles and establish the corner in the run game. Young needs to develop a secondary pass-rush move with a better plan, but the traits are there for him to be a solid starter in a 4-3 defense.”
Takeaways from the first wave of national mock drafts
Of the nine mock drafts sampled, a defensive lineman was selected by the Bears by eight different experts with Jeremiah being the only one not to choose a defensive lineman for Chicago and instead opting to go with a safety in the first-round.
McDonald was the overwhelming favorite with four different mocks listing him as the target for the Bears. Six different mocks had specifically an interior defensive lineman.
It’s clear how people expect this first-round to go for the Bears with the front office aiming to land an impact pass rusher for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. What I find compelling is that no mocks had the Bears using their first-round pick on a left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss the majority of the 2026 season. We’ll see if that need gets pushed higher up the board after a few weeks.
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