Ryan Poles will have no shortage of defensive tackle prospects that fit the qualities he’s looking to bring to the Bears

The defensive line class in the 2026 NFL Draft continues to impress going into the NFL Scouting Combine.

Kole Noble — Chicago Bears News Writer
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Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald speaks with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald speaks with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. via Travis May on X.

On Tuesday, we got to hear from Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine to learn more about the upcoming roster decisions this team will have to make this offseason.

Part of that includes why everyone is at the NFL Combine in the first place, and that’s to get a first-hand look at some of the top prospects going into the 2026 NFL Draft.

Poles gave us a few different nuggets for how the team views the incoming class and potential plans with the 25th overall pick in the first-round. It’s clear the Bears intend to let the board shake out and take the best player on the board, similar to last season when the team drafted tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III.

It’s also no secret that the Bears are looking to improve the defensive line in the draft with Poles stating that the EDGE position is deeper than the interior, a sign that if you want a great interior player, you gotta get him early compared to a solid EDGE. And here’s some of the traits Poles is looking for out of the defensive line class.

“Motor, relentlessness, violence, explosive,” Poles explained. “I just want to continue to improve our defensive speed… Those are some of the factors that are in place.”

Ryan Poles will love some of the top defensive tackle prospects and how they can improve this team

On Wednesday, the defensive linemen and linebackers met with the media for the first time at the NFL Combine and shared some of their top traits as players and revealed some of the teams they’ve met with already this week. It shouldn’t be a surprise to hear the Bears met with with a few different top defensive tackle prospects.

One of the players the Bears met with was Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who’s become a real favorite to be selected by Chicago in the first-round.

“They really wanted to know, really just trust me,” McDonald said of his meeting with Chicago. “They’ve seen my development and just trying to critique me, just making sure that I’m ready when my number’s called.”

McDonald views himself as the top defensive tackle in the class and a “war daddy” in the middle that plays with violent hands to be disruptive on all downs.

Another ideal first-round defensive tackle target said he expects to meet with the Bears later today in Georgia’s Christen Miller. Poles has never drafted a Georgia defender despite the program producing elite talent in the draft such as Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Mykel Williams.

“I just bring violence to the game,” Miller explained. “I see contact, I want contact. I play hard and physical, and that’s my type of game.”

While those are just two of the top examples, prospects such as Caleb Banks, Peter Woods, and Lee Hunter stand out as obvious fits as well for Chicago.

It’s clear if the Bears want one of these top defensive tackles, they’ll be there and fit all of the traits Poles laid out that the team is looking for to add to this roster.

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