Bears have multiple top DE options with the No. 25 overall pick that could give Dennis Allen the impact he needs off the edge
Ranking the top defensive end options in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Less than a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft, the strong consensus is that the Chicago Bears will target a defensive player with the 25th overall pick in the first-round.
What defensive position the Bears target is still up in the air with the team still in need of a starting safety, an impact edge rusher, and you can’t rule out another interior defensive lineman. Looking at the potential options, the Bears might be best suited to snag an edge rusher in the opening round and will likely have plenty of top options to choose from.
So, let’s rank the Top-5 options, and it’s worth noting we excluded the top top names such as David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. that will be taken much earlier in the draft.
5. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year doesn’t have as much buzz as you’d expect less than a month from draft day despite his athletic profile. Size-wise, he’s not the ideal EDGE for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen but his explosiveness and pursuit speed stand out as obvious traits the Bears could use. The other concern with Howell is his run defense as he projects more as a designed pass rusher in a rotation. The A to Z Sports Big Board has Howell ranked 25th overall and the EDGE4.
4. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Faulk is coming off a really strong Pro Day this week and might have quelled some of the concerns. Bears fans have been low on the guy and I can’t see why. He’s very good against the run, has the desired size, and could even offer Chicago another versatile defensive lineman. As a pure edge pass rusher, he’s got some development but the ability to kick inside can still make him a three-down player. The A to Z Sports Big Board has Faulk ranked 14th overall and the EDGE3.
3. Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Mesidor is a player I’m really intrigued by. The concerns, however, are obvious and a reason why the Bears have spent time getting to know him. He’s an older prospect that finally broke out as a top edge rusher in Year 6 and has some injury history. That’s going to turn some teams off from taking him in the first-round but the Bears are one of the few teams that could make it work. As a player, Mesidor as a deep bag of tools and a fierce competitor. He fits what this defense intends to look like moving forward. The A to Z Sports Big Board has Mesidor ranked 40th overall and the EDGE7.
2. Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Lawrence has been getting legitimate first-round buzz the closer we get to the draft and Dan Brugler even said he can see Lawrence getting into the Top-25. As a second-round option, I really liked the fit in Chicago for Lawrence. He’s a super explosive player and has crazy speed, as evident by his 4.52 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine. He has room to get a bit bigger and stronger but the speed is a really enticing trait. He’s the kind of QB hunter the Bears need in late-game situations.
1. Zion Young, Missouri
The Bears most commonly connected with the Bears, as far as edge rushers go, has been Zion Young. He perfectly fits the length and size Allen usually desires in his edge rushers and a fiery player that head coach Ben Johnson would gravitate toward. He’s not the quickest player compared to the other options listed and that’s why this could be a long thought-out decision for the Bears. In Young’s case, it’s easy to see why many experts view Chicago as a logical fit.
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