Six 2026 NFL Draft prospects the Bears should watch to overhaul the defense during the Senior Bowl week
Draft preparation really starts to heat up this week for the Chicago Bears, and the rest of the NFL.
The NFL is heading down to Mobile, Alabama this week for the Senior Bowl and this is usually the time of year the majority of fans start getting juiced up for the NFL Draft.
This is a big week for the Chicago Bears, a team that has acquired 13 players that participated in the Senior Bowl since general manager Ryan Poles took over the team in 2022.
This year, the Bears should be laser-focused on one side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team’s defense under Dennis Allen needs some serious additions to bring more youth and speed out of the unit. Here are six defensive prospects the Bears need to be paying attention to this week.
Chicago Bears 2026 Draft targets to watch at the Senior Bowl
Romello Height, DE, Texas Tech
This is one of my favorite Day 2 targets for the Bears to watch over the next few months. While the Bears have two high-priced starters off the edge in Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo, along with two recently drafted players in Austin Booker and Shemar Turner, it’s no secret that the team can look to add another explosive player to the rotation.
Height is one of the most explosive edge rushers in the entire class. He may lack the size and strength to be an every-down edge rusher in the league, but the Bears simply are looking for this exact kind of player to be a situational pass rusher that can add some explosiveness on obvious passing downs.
Bud Clark, S, TCU
Poles made it clear during the end-of-season press conference that safety is a position the team needs to focus on this offseason. Chicago doesn’t have a single safety under contract for the 2026 season and could get priced out of some of the pending free agents at the position.
The ideal plan is re-signing All-Pro Kevin Byard and pairing him with a rookie to replace Jaquan Brisker. Clark is a name to watch as a do-it-all safety. He can matchup up with tight ends and is a ballhawk in coverage, totaling 15 interceptions and 21 pass deflections over the last four seasons. He’s also a natural fit closer to the line of scrimmage with a pass rush ability Allen could look to unlock.
Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois
Going with a home state prospect here as another situational pass rusher option for the Bears. Jacas lacks the explosiveness that Height has and struggled against the run at Illinois but made up for it with the production by totaling 19.0 sacks over his final two seasons.
Jacas was at his best in big-time games against top-ranked schools. That’s something Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks for to add to his team and the key trait that made Chicago draft Colston Loveland in last year’s first-round. Jacas is looking to be a Day 2 target worth watching.
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Poles has a history drafting SEC defensive linemen and could dip back into the Florida waters with another Gator interior defensive linemen. Caleb Banks is one of the usual prospects linked to Chicago in the first-round but easily could be off the board by the 25th overall pick.
Addressing the interior of the front should be the team’s top priority this offseason and Banks has the kind of disruptive power the Bears need inside. He’s still a little raw as a pass rusher but can learn behind Grady Jarrett during his rookie season before taking on a more featured role with a potential to become a player similar to Jordan Davis.
LT Overton, DE, Alabama
Can you notice the trend here with the amount of SEC pass rushers I’m paying attention to this week? LT Overton is another one to watch out for and offers more versatility compared to the other pass rushers mentioned above.
It’s clear the Bears value versatility on the defensive front by already having guys like Odeyingbo, Gervon Dexter Sr., and Turner on the roster. Overton is strong against the run and a productive pass rusher, while being able to line up all over the defensive line. If you’re looking for a player that can help confuse the offense when he rotates in, Overton is your guy.
Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
Another option to watch to potentially replace Brisker at the safety position and it’s fitting that Wheatley comes from the same school Brisker came out of when the Bears drafted him in the second-round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wheatley offers a lot of range after playing in a single-high coverage scheme and is a very instinctual player. He’s got that downhill trigger the Bears would need to replace a player like Brisker and has untapped potential as a blitzer after playing only 17 pass rush snaps in 2025.
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