Plenty of fans aren’t ready to buy the idea that the Chicago Bears are seriously considering a left tackle with their 25th overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. Their biggest needs are obviously on the defensive side. They still don’t have a legitimate edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat. Their search for a serious interior pass rusher is also ongoing. You could also argue they should take advantage of a strong group of safeties to find a running mate with Coby Bryant. Left tackle shouldn’t be in the conversation.
After all, Ozzy Trapilo was playing well before his knee injury. He’ll be back at some point. They re-signed Braxton Jones and added former 1st round pick, Jedrick Wills. It should be fine. Here’s the problem. Trapilo’s injury is notoriously difficult to recover from. Jones and Wills are both returning from season-ending injuries and are on one-year deals. Nothing about this setup says the team is stable at left tackle. Why shouldn’t they consider solving the position outright with their 1st round pick if the opportunity is there?
Brandon Thorn, one of the NFL media’s best offensive line experts, thinks the situation is perfect for it to happen.
The Chicago Bears have hinted for weeks that it’s trending this way.
After seemingly focusing on various defensive options for their 25th pick, it felt like there was a significant shift in their approach once April arrived. General manager Ryan Poles popped up at Alabama’s pro day to watch Kadyn Proctor. Then he did the same at Arizona State to see Max Iheanachor, whom the Bears later brought in for a private visit. Not long after that, they also brought in Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu. The majority of offensive linemen they’ve met with have either been a potential mid-round center or a 1st round tackle. Sports Mockery’s own insider, Jeff Hughes, added further credence to this shift on Saturday.
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The problem is that many of the top defensive line options who could be available at #25 all have significant question marks.
- Akheem Mesidor – turns 25 this year
- Keldric Faulk – Had only 2 sacks last season and a low pass rush win rate
- T.J. Parker – regressed considerably in 2025 once he got more attention
- Zion Young – One-year wonder with some off-the-field baggage
- Malachi Lawrence – Liability in run defense
- Caleb Banks – two foot injuries suffered since 2024
- Peter Woods – Underwhelming final season followed by underwhelming pre-draft
Teams don’t typically like having so many questions surrounding their 1st round pick. This group of offensive tackles has some of its own, but none nearly as concerning. Lomu is slightly underpowered. Iheanachor is inexperienced. Proctor has weight concerns. Such things can be more easily addressed.
| Year | Round (Pick) | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1st (29) | Bryan Bresee | DT | Clemson |
| 2023 | 2nd (40) | Isaiah Foskey | DE | Notre Dame |
| 2021 | 1st (28) | Payton Turner | DE | Houston |
| 2018 | 1st (14) | Marcus Davenport | DE | UTSA |
| 2016 | 1st (12) | Sheldon Rankins | DT | Louisville |
You start to understand the reason for the Bears’ shift.
While Poles and head coach Ben Johnson aren’t above taking risks, they must be calculated in their approach. It is always about the type of risk involved. If you have a choice between a defensive end with limited pass rush production but lots of talent vs. a left tackle with limited experience but lots of good tape, who do you choose? Both are seemingly equal in risk. This is where coaching becomes a factor. Based on track record, the Chicago Bears would be better off trusting Johnson and Dan Roushar with the tackle than Dennis Allen and Jeremy Garrett with the pass rusher.
The latter’s ability to develop unpolished defensive linemen is far less proven than the former’s. Allen had some rough whiffs during his time in New Orleans. Conversely, Roushar consistently helped produce quality starters during his time there. Johnson did the same in Detroit. Rest assured, if the defensive line options had fewer red flags, that is where the Bears would be focused. Sadly, that isn’t the case. They have a responsibility to do what is right for the organization. That could mean going left tackle at #25.
