Let’s be brutally honest for a second. Watching the Chicago Bears’ interior run defense in 2025 wasn’t just frustrating; it was spiritually damaging.

We watched opposing running backs treat our A-gaps like an open tollway. We gave up 5.0 yards per carry. Let that sink in. First down, hand off, five yards. Second down, do it again, move the chains. It was death by a thousand cuts, and it turned Dennis Allen’s scheme — which is supposed to be about suffocating the line of scrimmage — into a glorified sieve.

Ryan Poles fixed the offense. Caleb Williams has weapons. Ben Johnson has the playbook humming. But the defensive interior? It’s a ghost town. Andrew Billings is a free agent. Grady Jarrett is pushing 33 and running on fumes. Gervon Dexter showed flashes, but asking him to carry the entire load is like asking a toddler to help you move a piano — it’s just not gonna end well.

We are sitting at Pick 25. The mandate is clear: Get big, get nasty, and get someone who can anchor this front seven so the LB’s don’t have to fight off 320-pound guards on every single snap.

I’ve combed through the tape, the advanced metrics, and the scouting reports to bring you the five names you need to know. Some are perfect fits. Some are pipe dreams. And one is a walking red flag that Poles needs to avoid like a lukewarm shot.

Here is the no-BS breakdown of the top defensive tackle prospects the Bears need to target in the 2026 NFL Draft.

1. Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) – The “Set It and Forget It” Savior

The Vitals: 6’3″ | 326 lbs | Junior

The Vibe: A vending machine with legs that hates quarterbacks.

If you want the guy who walks into Halas Hall on Day 1 and immediately plugs the leak in the boat, this is him. Kayden McDonald isn’t just a prospect; he’s a distinct tactical problem for offenses.

Why He Fits: Dennis Allen’s defense requires a nose tackle who can eat a double team and ask for seconds. McDonald is built like a fire hydrant — low to the ground, 326 pounds of “no,” and impossible to move. He was a unanimous All-American at Ohio State, which is harder to do than finding decent deep dish in New York.

The stats back up the tape. He posted a 91.2 PFF run-defense grade last year. He had a 13.2% run-stop rate. Those are elite numbers. He doesn’t just hold his ground; he throws linemen off their spots.

The “But…”: He’s not Aaron Donald. He’s never going to be a 10-sack guy. He plays a bit upright sometimes, which lets elite centers get into his chest (Penn State’s center gave him fits in Week 11). But his pass rush is getting better — he’s got a decent bull rush and is learning to use his hands better under Larry Johnson’s coaching.

The Verdict: This is the pick. It makes too much sense. He’s projected right around the late first round. He fills the biggest need on the roster with the safest floor in the class. If McDonald is there at 25, you turn in the card before the clock hits 9:00.

2. Peter Woods (Clemson) – The Pipe Dream Ferrari

The Vitals: 6’3″ | 315 lbs | Junior

The Vibe: A create-a-player glitch that somehow exists in real life.

Peter Woods is what happens when you put a linebacker’s twitchy athleticism into a defensive tackle’s body. The dude will probably run a sub 4.7 40-yard dash at 315 pounds. That shouldn’t be physically possible. It’s terrifying.

Why He Fits: He’s the “first defender moving” on every snap. His get-off is instant. He can play 0-technique, 3-technique, or even kick out to the edge. He’s scheme-proof. In Allen’s defense, you could move him around like a chess piece to terrorize whichever offensive lineman is having the worst day.

He plays with a motor that runs “white-hot.” He chases plays 20 yards downfield. He absorbs double teams but has the lateral explosion to pursue outside the tackle box. He is, frankly, a freak of nature.

The “But…”: He’s not going to be there at 25. Let’s be real. Teams like the Saints or Chargers are going to snatch him up in the top 15. Also, his production dipped a bit in 2025 (only 3.5 TFLs), mostly because teams were terrified of him and schemed their entire protection to stop him.

The Verdict: This is the “Trade Up” candidate. If he starts sliding into the teens because teams are thirsty for QBs or Edge rushers, Ryan Poles needs to pick up the phone. A duo of Sweat and Woods? That’s illegal in 14 states.

3. Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) – The “Meat and Potatoes” Bargain

The Vitals: 6’4″ | 330 lbs | Senior

The Vibe: A brick wall that occasionally punches people.

Maybe the Bears decide to go Offensive Tackle or Edge at 25. I get it. If that happens, Lee Hunter is the name to circle for Day 2. He’s not sexy. He’s not going to win a footrace. But he is a massive human being who ruins run plays for a living.

Why He Fits: Hunter is the classic “Value Over Replacement” pick. He gives you about 80% of what Kayden McDonald does against the run, but you can get him in the second round. He led all FBS interior defenders in run-defense stops over the last two years. He manhandled Oregon’s center — an All-American — and made him look like a traffic cone.

He’s got violent hands and plays with that “old man strength.” He’s a plug-and-play replacement for Billings.

The “But…”: He’s stiff. He’s not going to bend the edge or give you fancy pass-rush moves. He’s a two-down player who comes off the field on 3rd-and-long. His technique is a little raw — he relies on being bigger and stronger than everyone else, which works in the Big 12 but might get tricky against pro caliber guards.

The Verdict: If we miss out on McDonald, Hunter is the safety net. He’s a solid double for a team that just needs to stop the bleeding in the run game.

4. Christen Miller (Georgia) – The “Trust the Pedigree” Pick

The Vitals: 6’4″ | 310 lbs | Junior

The Vibe: Another Georgia bulldog bred in a lab to play defensive line.

At this point, drafting a Georgia defensive lineman is basically an NFL cheat code. Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt. Kirby Smart runs a factory down there, and Christen Miller is the latest model off the assembly line.

Why He Fits: He had a 90.2 PFF run-defense grade in 2025. He’s an anchor. You can’t move him. He plays with great gap discipline, which is music to Dennis Allen’s ears. He fits that Kenny Clark mold — start as a run stuffer, develop the pass rush later.

The “But…”: Where are the sacks? He has 4.0 sacks in four years. That’s… not great. He reacts late to the snap sometimes and doesn’t really have a plan when he rushes the passer. If you draft him at 25, you’re reaching. He’s a great run defender, but you want more juice in the first round.

The Verdict: He’s a trade-down target or a second-round option. If the Bears trade back from 25 to pick up extra capital, Miller becomes a very interesting conversation.

5. Caleb Banks (Florida) – The “Don’t Do It, Ryan” Trap

The Vitals: 6’6″ | 325 lbs | Senior

The Vibe: A mythical creature made of glass.

Caleb Banks is the guy who will blow up the Combine. He’s 6’6″, 325 pounds, and moves like a linebacker. Scouts call him a “Unicorn.” When he’s on, he’s unblockable (see: his 7-pressure game against Ole Miss).

Why He Fits (Ideally): In a perfect world, he’s a 3-technique monster who destroys guards with length and quickness. He has the highest ceiling of anyone on this list not named Peter Woods.

The “But…” (And it’s a huge one): THE FOOT. He missed the start of the 2025 season with a foot injury. Came back for one game. Re-injured the foot. Surgery. Out for the year. For a 325-pound man who relies on movement? A chronic foot injury is a death sentence. It’s a ticking time bomb. He also plays with bad pad level and misses tackles.

The Verdict: HARD PASS. Do not draft him at 25. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. This reeks of a “high upside” pick that spends three years on IR. Unless the medical staff has X-ray vision and guarantees he’s bionic, let someone else take the risk.

Final Verdict

Look, we can overthink this all day. We can dream about Peter Woods falling or convince ourselves that Caleb Banks’ foot is magically healed.

But the Bears are in a window right now. Caleb Williams is on his rookie deal. The offense is ready to win. We cannot afford to have a soft middle for another season.

The move is Kayden McDonald.

He’s safe. He’s violent. He fixes the specific problem (5.0 YPC) that made us want to throw our TVs out the window last year. He allows Edmunds and Edwards to roam free. He’s the foundation you build a top-10 defense on.

Ryan Poles has done a hell of a job rebuilding this roster. Now, he just needs to finish the job in the trenches.

Don’t get cute. Draft the big man. Bear Down.