The 2025 NFL Draft has closed, and the Chicago Bears did what they could to try to build up their roster to make themselves better. From the first round to the last, the Bears were very active trading and making picks to try to get themselves to the next level by winning more games and making the playoffs.
While the dust hasn’t fully settled on the 2025 NFL Draft, some are looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. The pro and college football seasons haven’t even started yet, but the 2026 NFL Draft is already on people’s minds.
Based upon what the Bears did in this year’s draft and the players they already have on the roster right now, there will be positions that Chicago needs to fill next year that they didn’t fill this year. Some are glaringly obvious, while a couple of others might be head-scratchers.
A Post-Draft Look at the Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft Needs
What They Didn’t Get
The Bears failed to pick up a solid edge rusher in this year’s draft. Yes, they have Montez Sweat signed through the 2027 season, but he’s not getting any younger. They brought in Dayo Odeyingbo, too, and he is signed through 2027 also. The Bears didn’t go after an edge rusher in a draft that was flush with them. That’s a little odd.
Another oddity is that the Bears didn’t go after a solid offensive left tackle. Now, granted, they may have been focusing on one in the first round. But, before they could get someone that they were coveting, they saw the player or players get picked. Some feel that they then pivoted and went for their first-round pick, Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
He might not have been their first choice in the first round.
There are two positions that the Bears will want to fill when they pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Those two are, as previously discussed, the offensive tackle and the defensive end/edge rusher position.
Who They Could Get
The 2026 Draft will have a few players at the top who could suit the Bears’ needs.
Right now, some of the highly ranked offensive tackle prospects for next year’s draft include Alabama’s Kaydn Proctor as well as Utah’s duo Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu. Depending on how high the Bears pick, they might be in the market for one of these guys in 2026.
At edge, the Bears missed out. They only spent three picks on the defensive side of the ball and only one on the defensive line. They will have to pay more attention to that side of the ball in the 2026 Draft.
Some of the top talent that will be found in next year’s draft includes Miami (FL) edge rusher Rueben Bain, Jr., Notre Dame’s Boubacar Traoré, and Alabama’s LT Overton. Any one of these edge rushers would be great for the Bears. They would help improve a pass rush that may struggle in 2025.
It’s hard to predict where the Bears will be picking in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Hopefully, for the Bears and their fans, they win more games this year than they did last year. This, even if it means that they pick at a lower spot. If they don’t win a lot of games, they will get a great shot at one of the players mentioned above.
The 2026 NFL Draft could get the Bears the final pieces of the puzzle that they need to get over the top and get to the Super Bowl.
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