Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft Rumors: Buying or selling buzz around the team’s potential draft approach
The Chicago Bears continue to be a difficult team to predict going into the 2026 NFL Draft, so let’s break down some of the top draft rumors attached to the team and if we’re buying them as viable options or not.
The 2026 NFL Draft is just two weeks away from kicking off and the Chicago Bears continue to be a fascinating team that’s hard to predict, even beyond the 25th overall pick in the first-round.
Positionally, experts have an idea of what areas of need the Bears plan to attack in some capacity. At the same time, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson are intent on drafting the best players available, regardless of position, a plan that could completely throw people’s expectations out of the window.
With so much draft intel coming out this week, let’s break down five of the top draft rumors that could directly impact how the Chicago Bears approach the 2026 NFL Draft.
1. Bears will consider trading up for a top edge rusher
Credit to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell for presenting this as a potential path for the Bears earlier this week. If one of the top edge rushers (i.e. Rueben Bain Jr.) falls out of the Top-10, the Bears do have the draft capital needed to trade up and make a splash on April 23.
Sitting with the 25th overall pick, it’s not a guarantee the Bears land a Day 1 impact player and might miss out on multiple top edge rushers if they stay put (more on that later). Moving up to ensure they land a blue-chip player shouldn’t be overlooked and Chicago does have four Top-100 selections. As enticing as that could be, it’s not something I see Ryan Poles eager to make happen and having one of the Big 3 fall out is high unlikely.
VERDICT: Selling
2. Bears pass on adding an edge rusher entirely in the first-round of the draft
As I alluded to earlier, the Bears might not have a top edge rusher on the board when the 25th overall pick comes up. It would be a nightmare scenario for fans, but I could easily see the following edge rushers come off the board before the Bears are on the clock: Averell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr., Keldric Faulk, Akheem Mesidor, and Malachi Lawrence.
If that’s indeed the case, the Bears would be looking at Zion Young and Gabe Jacas as the top edge options that are ideal scheme-fits with the 25th overall pick. I don’t think either player should be considered by Chicago in the first-round at this point, even if Young is a “popular” name. I can easily see Poles passing on the position altogether on opening night and bank on the depth at the position in a later round.
VERDICT: Buying
3. Bears acquire a top offensive tackle in the first-round to be a long-term starter at left tackle
If the Bears don’t go edge in the first, offensive tackle seems to be the direction experts are leaning. Poles was the only GM in attendance to watch Kadyn Proctor at the Alabama Pro Day but that doesn’t mean other teams aren’t showing interest in the massive tackle. Other late first-round options include Max Iheanachor, Blake Miller, and Caleb Lomu.
Ben Johnson expressed real concerns about the long-term state of the left position at the NFL Annual Meeting. However, he had great things to say about Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. competing for the job. Personally, I’m comfortable letting those two veterans battle it out and then see how Ozzy Trapilo looks post-recovery in 2027 before making such a major investment. Reading between the lines, that means I’m leaning toward the Bears using the 25th overall pick on another position besides DE or OT (i.e. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren).
VERDICT: Selling
4. Ben Johnson will find a way to draft an offensive weapon, despite multiple needs on defense
For starters, I don’t mean this in the sense that the Bears use the first-round pick on an offensive weapon (unless Jordyn Tyson really falls that far). After the first-round, Ben Johnson could, and should, look to add another weapon to his offense.
My ideal second-round target for the Bears would be Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, who is the perfect fit for Johnson’s offense. I could also easily see the Bears adding a tight end on Day 3 to replace Durham Smythe. As for running back, the Bears have looked into a few late round options and could look to find a long-term replacement for D’Andre Swift, who’s entering into the final year of his contract.
VERDICT: Buying
5. Ryan Poles will trade down from one of the Top-100 selections
The Bears are set to enter into the draft with seven selections, including four selections in the Top-100 (25, 57, 60, and 89). After that, the Bears other three selections are Nos. 129, 239, and 241. We’re going into the fifth draft under general manager Ryan Poles and if there’s one thing we learned, the Bears are going to make calls all weekend long.
Not getting the two third-round compensatory draft picks for losing Ian Cunningham adds even more incentive for the Bears to trade back at some point on the first two days of the draft. I’d lean more toward the Bears trading down from 60 or 89 than moving off the first-round selection. Moving back from one of those two picks could allow the Bears to pick up an extra Day 3 selection and avoid having a 100+ pick gap between their fourth and seventh-round draft picks.
VERDICT: Buying
