For the past three months, Chicago Bears fans have operated under the assumption that the team was leaning toward one direction for its 1st-round pick in the upcoming draft. They need help on defense after its 29th overall finish in 2025. That was before multiple starters left the team in free agency. Tremaine Edmunds, Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are all gone. That isn’t even counting the loss of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Chris Williams, and Dominique Robinson as depth options. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has a ton of work to do on that side of the ball.
However, given his recent actions, you might wonder whether the defense is truly his priority heading into the draft. Earlier this week, he was at Alabama’s pro day. The top-rated Crimson Tide prospect this year? That would be left tackle Kadyn Proctor. Then on Friday, Poles surfaced again, this time at Arizona State. Their second-highest-rated draft prospect this year, behind wide receiver Jordyn Tyson? That would be right tackle Max Iheanachor. Neither program offers a defensive prospect who is considered a 1st-round talent this year.
While Poles may have been there to watch multiple guys, the tackles were the biggest draws.
One must remember Ryan Poles is acting on behalf of Ben Johnson.
While the Bears’ general manager still runs the front office and scouting department, the new head coach has significant say on personnel decisions. Put simply, no 1st round pick is made without a green light from him. In other words, if he wants to go after a left tackle, that is what the Bears will do. The position remains unsettled. Ozzy Trapilo looked well on his way to filling it last season before tearing his patellar tendon in the wild card win over Green Bay.
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Chicago did bring back Braxton Jones and signed Jedrick Wills in free agency, but nobody would consider them mortal locks for the job. Jones ended last season on Injured Reserve and was never really healthy. Wills missed all of last season recovering from major surgery to realign his knee. Neither can be called trustworthy, especially given Johnson’s high standards. If Ryan Poles feels there will be an opportunity to land a legitimate left tackle option with the 25th pick, he must be prepared to take it.
The Bears might be playing the board.
It isn’t so much that they’re fixated on a left tackle in this draft. It is more they might already see the writing on the wall. Ryan Poles and Johnson likely get the sense that their defensive line options won’t be the best when the Bears go on the clock. David Bailey, Rueben Bain, and Peter Woods are all expected to be picked long before #25. There is a strong possibility that the same will be true for Akheem Mesidor, Keldric Faulk, and Zion Young. If that happens, it feels inadvisable for the Bears to reach for a defensive lineman.
Conversely, there is a reasonable chance that one of Proctor or Iheanachor will still be on the board when they pick. Johnson loves big and athletic tackles. Both fit the profile, along with a nasty disposition. While left tackle might not be the top need in many people’s minds, it is still a premium position. If the Bears feel one of those players can be a fixture on the offensive line for a decade, they have every right to take them. Securing Caleb Williams’ future will always be the priority.
