Bears Final 7-Round Mock Draft: Chicago loads up on defense in an effort to achieve similar immediate success from the rookie class
Final 2026 NFL mock draft for the Chicago Bears starting with the 25th overall pick in the first-round, including a Day 2 trade down and high priority undrafted free agent targets to watch.
The Chicago Bears found stellar success in the 2025 NFL Draft on the offensive side of the ball getting immediate starting-level players in Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kyle Monangai.
It’s no secret the Bears need to have that kind of impact once again, this time on the defensive side of the ball, from the 2026 NFL Draft starting this Thursday.
With draft week now upon us, let’s accomplish just that in our final seven-round mock draft.
Round 1, pick 25: Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
When it comes to the 25th overall pick, I’m in the belief right now that the Bears will miss out on the top 5-6 offensive tackles. At which point, it’d be best to pivot to a top defensive player (either an EDGE rusher or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren).
My top edge rusher for the Bears is going to be Malachi Lawrence, slightly ahead of Akheem Mesidor and Keldric Faulk. Lawrence has the rare blend of height, length, and athleticism that will make him a Top-32 pick. I’m perfectly fine linking him here with my final mock once you pair those traits with his speed off the edge. He can be the impact pass rusher the Bears have been waiting on.
Round 2, pick 57: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
I am not particularly thrilled with either DT in consideration with the 25th overall pick looking at Kayden McDonald and Peter Woods. At the same time, this is arguably a bigger need than EDGE for this defense so the Bears need to find a way to acquire one early.
Which leads me to drafting Gracen Halton earlier than expected with the 57th overall pick. His size and explosiveness is exactly what Dennis Allen is looking for out of the position and he has the potential to earn a high percentage of snaps immediately.
TRADE
The 60th overall pick just seems like the logical trade down spot for general manager Ryan Poles, who’s always good for one trade down every year. For this mock, I traded pick No. 60 for picks No. 65 and 143 (fifth-round) with the Arizona Cardinals.
Round 3, pick 65 (via ARI): De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
De’Zhaun Stribling was going to be my selection with the 60th overall pick anyways so being able to slide back five spots, add a fifth-round pick and still select him is pretty solid in my book. Stribling is one of the few wide receivers in this class that fit what head coach Ben Johnson is looking for out of the position.
Stribling got a ton of late interest around the league, including a 30 visit in Chicago. That kind of interest could vault him into the second-round. So, I really like this value here.
Round 3, pick 89: Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
In previous mocks, the third-round is usually the range where I’d select the developmental center (Sam Hecht or Logan Jones). With Keionte Scott on the board in this particular mock it was a no-brainer to add him to the secondary.
Scott is best suited as a nickel and would make Chicago’s dime package really lethal lining up alongside Kyler Gordon and Coby Bryant. I really like the player/scheme fit here and he’s another player the Bears brought in on a pre-draft visit.
Round 4, pick 129: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
Tacario Davis has been one of my top draft crushes for Chicago for quite some time and there’s no way I’m going to leave him off my final mock. Davis is the perfect replacement for Nahshon Wright to compete against Tyrique Stevenson and Zah Frazier the starting outside CB spot for years to come.
Al Harris will love this guy’s traits and ball skills, just like how he pounded on the table for Frazier during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Round 5, pick 143 (via ARI): Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
After picking up that additional fifth-round, the Bears avoid having a 100+ pick gap on Day 3. This selection would also put Chicago in range to draft a TE3 to replace Durham Smythe. Two players in this range on my radar are Will Kacmarek and Nate Boerkircher.
Kacmarek is one of the top blocking tight ends in the class, if not THE best. He’s a tireless worker, an aggressive blocker, and a dependable pass catcher. The ideal fit for what the Bears need to add to the room.
Round 7, pick 239: James Brockermeyer, C, Miami
The seventh-round is going to get interesting with the Bears having two selections so close to each other, so these last two picks are interchangeable. After not getting a center earlier, I came back around to land one of the late-round options the Bears met with.
Brockermeyer’s dad used to play for the Bears and he would be a nice seventh-round story. He also has the traits needed to eventually take over the starting job in 2027 after Garrett Bradbury’s contract expires.
Round 7, pick 241: Anterio Thompson, DT, Washington
With the last pick, we’re going with another draft crush of mine. Anterio Thompson also met with the Bears and is a very athletic interior defensive lineman. With Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett’s future uncertain after 2027, it’d be wise to double-dip at DT after already drafting Halton, even if it’s a weak class.
Thompson fits the DA mold as well and if the Bears don’t get him with one of the two seventh-round picks, I believe he will be a high priority undrafted free agent.
Three high priority UDFAs
- Mac Uihlein, LB, Northwestern: Local talent that is a very well-rounded linebacker to add to the room to compete during the summer on the 90-man roster.
- Shadwel Nkuba II, CB, Illinois State: Big, physical, cornerback that can be a nice scheme-fit in press-man with solid ball production (five INTs in 2025).
- Noah Whittington, RB, Oregon: High effort pass protector and downhill runner that always falls forward. Offers kick return experience to the table as well.
