Bears Pre-Combine 7-Round 2026 Mock Draft: Going against the grain with the first-round pick shakes up the remainder of the draft
Here’s how the draft could unfold if the Chicago Bears opt against a first-round defensive lineman.
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week and there’s no better time than now to dive into another seven-round mock draft for the Chicago Bears.
The top industry mocks seem to have similar feelings about the direction the Bears will go with the 25th overall pick in the first-round with the majority of mocks linking the Bears to one of the top defensive line prospects in the class.
For this mock, we’re going to go against the grain to see what the team’s draft could look like if Chicago opts out of selecting a defensive lineman with their top pick. Let’s break it down.
Chicago Bears 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine Edition
Round 1, pick 25: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
With the intention of not going with a defensive lineman in the first, I was torn between selecting a linebacker or a safety with this pick. Ultimately, I went with one of the top linebackers to replace Tremaine Edmunds, who’s widely expected to be a cut candidate.
If that’s the case, Chicago will need a new starter to lineup next to T.J. Edwards in the second level. CJ Allen projects as a Day 1 starter and is an elite run defender. He’s got great experience and high IQ. The best quality is that he’s still only 20-years-old and can become a long-term leader for Chicago.
Round 2, pick 57: Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois
Gabe Jacas is quickly rising as one of my favorite second-round targets for the Bears. After not going with a defensive lineman in the first-round, the Bears missed out on the top defensive tackle options but Jacas still being on the board made it an easy decision.
He was highly productive during his time at Illinois and his top comparison is Matt Judon, a player the Bears kicked the tires on adding multiple times over the last few years. With Montez Sweat and Austin Booker locked in as the starters, Jacas can be a solid player to add to the rotation off the edge.
Round 3, pick 89: Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina
Third-round is looking like the sweet spot to land a rookie safety with high potential to replace Kevin Byard III. Prospects in this range include Bud Clark, Zakee Wheatley, Treydan Stukes, Kamari Ramsey, and Jalon Kilgore.
For this mock I went with Kilgore, who has the skillset needed to replace Brisker as a box safety. He’s another player that can immediately improve Chicago’s run defense and working with DBs coach Al Harris can help improve his abilities in coverage to become a more well-rounded safety.
Round 4, pick 129: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Going the LB-DE-S route to open this draft left slim-pickings to find an interior defensive lineman, so this mock scenario only makes sense if the Bears add to that position in free agency. Just for the sake of seeing who’s available, I had the Bears going with Gracen Halton here.
He doesn’t have the size some of the top interior players have in this class, but he’s still a disruptive player with the quickness and athleticism the Bears need inside. He’s used to the rotational role and will play in a similar one in Chicago alongside Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett.
Round 5, pick 163: Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU
Ben Johnson finally gets into the action on Day 3 by adding a speedy wide receiver to the offense in Aaron Anderson. Anderson’s got real 4.3 speed and will be one to watch later this week when it comes time to run his 40-yard dash.
With DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden III the Bears don’t have any real downfield speed and landing a player like Anderson can help unlock that third level of the attack for the offense. He’s also a plus returner on special teams and can replace Devin Duvernay, who’s slated to hit free agency.
Round 7, pick 239: Connor Tollison, IOL, Missouri
The Bears used a third-round pick on a developmental interior offensive lineman in Luke Newman and I have them pulling off a similar move here. The Bears met with Connor Tollison at the American Bowl and he’s a much better fit than Newman as a backup center than can allow Newman to stick at guard to eventually take over when Joe Thuney retires.
Ben Johnson would love Tollison’s athleticism as a run blocker and having that depth behind Drew Dalman would be huge.
Round 7, pick 241: Barika Kpeenu, RB, NDSU
Regardless of what D’Andre Swift’s immediate future looks like with the team, Ben Johnson could benefit from adding another back that fits his offense. After Swift and Kyle Monangai, the Bears only have two backs on the roster in Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown.
Barika Kpeenu is another player Chicago met with at the American Bowl and fits the same process the Bears used in drafting Monangai by targeting a highly-productive back in the seventh-round. Kpeenu is coming off a 1,000-yard, 20 touchdown season with the Bison.
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