The Chicago Bears feel they approached the 2026 NFL draft the right way. While they weren’t able to address all of their needs as many had hoped, they still believe they landed some really good football players. The heart of the debate centers on the edge rusher position. Despite widespread belief that it was one of their biggest issues, the Bears made zero notable additions in free agency or the draft. Some wonder if they should’ve been more aggressive. Brian Baldinger is one of them.
The former NFL offensive lineman and longtime analyst was asked about the decision during an appearance on 104.3 The Score. He admitted that he was surprised the Bears weren’t more aggressive in pursuing Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who he felt was a great fit for them.
Jacas ended up going 55th overall in the 2nd round, two spots before the Bears. New England traded up from the bottom of the round to get him. He was highly productive for Illinois the past two seasons, collecting 19.5 sacks and 26.5 tackles for a loss. His 6’3″, 260 lbs frame seemed to fit Dennis Allen’s preferred measurables as well.
Brian Baldinger isn’t wrong, but neither were the Bears.
There is no question that Jacas would’ve been an obvious choice for them had he fallen to #57. He would’ve made for the perfect third option alongside Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. That would’ve enabled the Bears to no longer rely on Dayo Odeyingbo or Shemar Turner, both of whom are coming off season-ending injuries. Still, the decision not to trade up isn’t surprising. For one, general manager Ryan Poles just didn’t have the ammunition. Chicago only had seven picks going into this draft. He’d flipped a future 5th round pick to the Patriots for veteran center Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman abruptly retired.
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Unless they were certain Jacas would be a difference-maker, moving up even a few spots could’ve proven costly to the team’s long-term outlook. That is before even mentioning how they handled the situation after he went off the board. They pivoted to take Iowa offensive lineman Logan Jones, who most experts believed was the best center in the draft. So while the Bears hadn’t been able to land pass-rush help, they did lock down the middle of their offensive line, ensuring their quarterback’s safety.
Missing out on Jacas was just typical draft luck.
Poles stated that sitting towards the bottom of every round makes it difficult for teams to land players at preferred positions. It means he either has to get aggressive trading up or play the board as it falls. Given the lack of resources available, the Bears chose the latter. Brian Baldinger made a valid point. Jacas would’ve been a strong addition to the team. Circumstances just didn’t allow it. The Bears still feel they did enough to help the defense get better this offseason, and they aren’t wrong.
Coby Bryant and 1st round pick Dillon Thieneman give them tons of versatility on the back end. Devin Bush adds more speed at linebacker. Neville Gallimore and 6th round pick Jordan Van Den Berg add badly needed explosiveness to their interior pass rush. Malik Muhammad, their 4th round pick, adds quality competition at cornerback. If those players step up and others can stay healthy, this defense may surprise some people next season. Ideal? No, but at least a logical approach.
