Chicago Bears NFL Draft Preview: Chicago’s five most logical first-round options as the board tightens at pick No. 25
Draft Day has finally arrived and the Chicago Bears have a big decision to make with the 25th overall pick in a few hours, here are the five most logical options for the team to target.
Draft Day has finally arrived and the Chicago Bears have a big decision to make with the 25th overall pick in the first-round, saying the team even sticks and picks with their current selection on Thursday night.
Many experts continue to have the Bears linked to top offensive tackles and defensive linemen in the draft. Personally, I see the run on OTs happening before the Bears are on the clock and see Chicago targeting a top defensive player.
With that being said, here are my final Top-5 logical options for the Bears to consider with the 25th overall pick later tonight.
5. Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois
The first-round buzz hasn’t been there lately for Gabe Jacas, but if any team were to call his name on opening night, it would have to be the Bears. Jacas is easily the ideal fit for Dennis Allen’s defense when it comes to edge rushers.
He’s got the length, size, explosiveness, and production. It helps that he’s a local guy as well. When it comes to landing a rotational pass rusher, Jacas is a strong option and he’s not going to be around when the Bears are back on the clock in the second-round. I see no issue in Chicago pulling the trigger if their top options are off the board.
4. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
EMW is my top defensive back for Chicago, saying Dillon Thieneman is well off the board by pick No. 25. There’s also some late buzz surrounding Treydan Stukes as a potential first-round option and if Chicago decided to go that direction, I wouldn’t be against it.
McNeil-Warren is just such an aggressive player and another trained killer for Chicago to add to the safety position. He’s a turnover machine and can be Pat Tillman 2.0 in Chicago.
3. Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
Malachi Lawrence was the pick at No. 25 in my final mock draft released earlier this week. Lawrence fits the size and length to fit Allen’s type and is one of the most explosive players off the edge in the entire class. The production is also there to be a top pass rusher, the only downside is that he’s not perfect against the run.
The upside is there for Lawrence to invest a first-round pick. The problem is that other teams feel the same way, including the Dallas Cowboys, who could easily snipe Lawrence off the board before Chicago is on the clock.
2. Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
If general manager Ryan Poles had his ideal pick, I see Akheem Mesidor being his guy. Poles went down to the Miami Pro Day to get an in-person look at Mesidor and even brought him up unprompted when asked about drafting an older prospect.
Age is the only reason concern with Mesidor. He’s already 25-years-old and some experts viewed him as a better pass rusher than his teammate Rueben Bain Jr. He’s disruptive, aggressive, and has a massive motor. Similar to Lawrence, I don’t see Mesidor making it to pick No. 25 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being the likely competition targeting him.
1. Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
The closer we get to the draft, the louder the noise surrounding Keldric Faulk and the Bears. Fans aren’t going to like it if Faulk ends up being the pick, but I absolutely see what the staff sees in this guy. Faulk checks every single box for Dennis Allen outside of production and someone Allen could see as his next Cam Jordan.
The production conversation is entirely overblown. Numerous top pass rushers in this league didn’t have great college production, but they had the traits to become a force off the edge. Faulk shares those kind of traits. It also helps that defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett coached Faulk in 2023 and knows what kind of player he has the potential to be. If Mesidor and Lawrence are off the board, don’t be shocked or mad when Faulk is the pick.