Bears GM Ryan Poles might have identified his next hidden gem in the 2026 NFL Draft that can help improve the Chicago’s pass rush
The Chicago Bears might have just had a Top-30 visit get leaked.
The Chicago Bears are onto the 2026 NFL Draft after adding eight external players to the roster and making multiple key re-signings during the first week of free agency.
One position that wasn’t addressed was at defensive end and it remains a critical position for the team to bolster in April’s draft. During the NFL Scouting Combine, Bears general manager Ryan Poles revealed that he believes the EDGE position is deep in this incoming class, a sign the Bears could look to acquire multiple prospects at the position.
The majority of the top names in the first two rounds have been connected to Chicago throughout the pre-draft process, but what about some later round options? Well, Poles might have just had his interest leak about a potential hidden gem in the draft.
Indiana defensive end Mikail Kamara was in Chicago over the weekend ahead of 2026 Draft
We are fully into Top-30 season when prospects are meeting with various teams at their facilities ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. On Sunday, Indiana Hoosiers defensive end Mikail Kamara posted a picture on his Instagram story that he was in Chicago, perhaps on a visit with the Bears, although we can’t say that officially without knowing.
Kamara played two seasons at Indiana, including a double-digit sack season in 2024. He was named the Defensive MVP for the Hoosiers after the National Championship Game for his performance that included four tackles and a blocked punt.
Kamara was not invited to the NFL Combine, but that hasn’t stopped the Bears before. Last year, the Bears drafted linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II in the fourth-round after not receiving an invite to the NFL Combine after watching him work out at the Maryland Pro Day. Perhaps this is another hidden gem for Chicago with a chip on his shoulder that more people should be aware of. Here’s what our Indiana Hoosiers expert at A to Z Sports, Destin Adams, had to say about Kamara.
“Mikail Kamara doesn’t get nearly the love he deserves for what he accomplished at Indiana during his two years with the program. His sack numbers dipped in his final year, which leads some to think he regressed, but that wasn’t the case.
He was still one of the most consistent pass rushers on the team, and his pressure totals back that up. He was the heartbeat of the Hoosiers ‘ dominant defensive line, and that was on full display in the national championship game.
He has the potential to be a productive pro and is impactful in both the run and pass game. Him getting snubbed from the scouting combine only adds to his next-level determination to overcome the odds and prove people wrong.”
Saying the Bears are in fact interested in Kamara, it’ll be interesting to see where he actually gets selected. Chicago currently had three Day 3 selections (129, 239, 241) with Kamara projected as a mid-late round prospect.
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