The Cincinnati Bengals have long held a reputation as a conservative team when it comes to their draft capital. They almost never traded it away, preferring to keep what they have and use it. That took a drastic shift on Saturday when they flipped the 10th pick in the 2026 draft to the New York Giants for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. It was the epitome of a bombshell. Not only was the trade a surprise, but for New York to get such a high pick out of it was stunning. Trading a top 10 pick for a 28-year-old player who is demanding a massive contract extension rarely happens unless it’s a quarterback.

That move says a couple of things. For one, the Bengals are very much in win-now mode. Joe Burrow is in his prime, as are the other star players on offense. Cincinnati had to get better on defense fast. A rookie wasn’t going to help with that. Dexter does. The other part is this signal of how low the Bengals’ opinion of this draft class was, at least at the top. Experts have said there isn’t much star power this year. Flipping the 10th pick away so easily like that was an obvious sign.

If the Bengals were willing to do that, it would all but confirm the whispers about how the Chicago Bears view their spot at #25.

The Dexter Lawrence trade proves the Bears want out.

There have been rumblings from people close to the organization that the team’s top brass isn’t overly impressed with the likely options at #25. Most of the top pass rushers will be plucked by that point, which is why they’ve pivoted recently to scouting top offensive tackles. The top two safeties will likely be gone. All of the top cornerbacks have lingering question marks. It isn’t a comfortable place to be. When situations like that pop up, the smart thing to do is work the phones and see if you can move down.

This allows you to accumulate a couple of extra picks and mitigate some of the risk when taking one of these players. We saw them do that on a grander scale in 2023. Rather than take a swing on two quarterbacks they didn’t have much conviction on, general manager Ryan Poles flipped the #1 pick to Carolina for a ton of assets. Then he took somebody he really liked that he knew would be available: Darnell Wright. That move worked out beautifully as the assets helped build a playoff team, and Wright became an All-Pro.

This is where the problem comes up.

Wanting to move down and being able to move down are two different things. For the Bears to accomplish this goal, they will need another team willing to come up. If the low opinion of this draft class is shared across much of the league, then that becomes a major challenge. It is a safe bet Poles has been working the phones for some time, gauging where other teams sit in their evaluations and whether they may have interest in #25. As always, it likely will depend on who is available when the Bears are on the clock.

One thing is certain. Poles will know who to call once that happens. If there is a deal out there to be made, the Bears GM should find it. He has a history of making deals nobody thought were possible. See Chase Claypool and Robert Quinn. The Dexter Lawrence trade was the warning sign everybody had been waiting for. It is the final confirmation that this draft probably won’t have the fix-all solutions many had hoped for. The smart play for a team is to stockpile assets if possible and try to land a few quality starters.

The Chicago Bears have been active on the offensive line circuit ahead of the draft. This isn’t a major surprise. In the space of just three months, they were hit with two devastating pieces of news. Promising left tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a brutal knee injury that could knock him out for all of 2026. Then, center Drew Dalman retired. Just like that, the two most important positions on the line were vacated. Bears brass suddenly feel pressured to find solutions. Several names have met with them in recent weeks. Perhaps the most out of place was Keylan Rutledge.

Though a standout player for Georgia Tech, he has spent his college career at guard. Chicago doesn’t need guard help with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson already in place. Yes, Thuney is approaching the end of his career in his mid-30s, but it doesn’t feel like a good time to spend high draft capital on a guard who will probably have to sit at least one season. However, if what Louis Riddick revealed on ESPN this week is true, there might be a hidden method to the Bears’ madness.

Keylan Rutledge, G/C, Georgia Tech

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 316

Georgia Tech coach Brent Key has said that Rutledge has the potential to be the best offensive lineman he has coached, which is saying something. Rutledge is a block of granite, playing with leverage and leg drive. He has the athleticism to play in zone or man run-game blocking schemes, and you can sense his competitiveness and desire to put defenders on their backs.

Rutledge will need to refine his pass pro technique, but he has a strong punch and excellent anchor. Some believe he could be an All-Pro center at the NFL level. I don’t care what position he ends up playing; I’d want him on my team.

The Bears have already tested Keylan Rutledge on this.

Tony Pauline reported last month that the Bears’ offensive line coaches were at Georgia Tech’s pro day, where they worked privately with Rutledge. One drill they focused on? Snapping as a center. Clearly, they see the same things Riddick and others see. Rutledge has the temperament, toughness, anchor, and intelligence to become an excellent center. All he needs is somebody to guide the way. Having Dan Roushar and Ben Johnson as the two primary coaches for that is an easy sell.

There is one problem. Many believe there is a growing possibility that Rutledge sneaks into the 1st round. That means if the Bears don’t take him at #25, there is almost no chance he falls to them at #57 in the 2nd. This could mean one of two things. Either the Bears are actually considering taking Rutledge at #25, or they view him as a premium option where they would trade down from their current spot. The latter feels more plausible, but predicting a draft like this is impossible.

Would the Bears actually take a center in the 1st round?

Most will think that is crazy. No center in this draft is considered 1st round-worthy. However, let’s remember something. Based on opinion about this draft, there are probably 10-12 actual 1st round talents in this draft, which is lower than normal. That means the entire bottom half of the 1st round will be 2nd round players in all but designation. That means teams will be drafting less for talent level and more for personal preference. If the Bears really like Keylan Rutledge, then they have no reason not to take him.

Coach Johnson said his primary goal is to take good football players. Positional value means nothing to him. Remember, this is somebody who came from Detroit, where they took a running back and a linebacker in the same 1st round one year. Both became excellent players. If Johnson is convinced of the same facts as Riddick and others that Rutledge has Pro Bowls in his future as a center, then absolutely take him. At the very least, the Bears probably end up with the eventual heir apparent to Thuney at left guard.

Everybody has begun to hone in on who they believe the Chicago Bears will target with their 25th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2026 draft. Most agree now that it will either be an edge rusher or a left tackle, depending on how the board falls. That is what the pre-draft visits and various rumors have been pointing toward. However, what people can’t quite pin down is the precise players they want. They’ve met with some prominent names in recent weeks, bringing them to Halas Hall for private visits.

This is where it gets crafty. Evidence suggests the Bears are very deliberate about which player names get leaked to the media. We saw it last year. They met with multiple tight ends leading up to the draft, including Tyler Warren, the heavy favorite to be the first at his position off the board. Unsurprisingly, this led many prominent experts to mock Warren to the Bears at the #10 pick in the upcoming draft. Instead, they pulled the old switcheroo and took Colston Loveland instead.

The Chicago Bears might be up to their old tricks.

If we assume they’re using the same strategy this year, then it becomes much easier to pinpoint who they’re targeting next Thursday night. Over the past couple of weeks, the Bears have held private meetings with two projected 1st round tackles:

• Max Iheanachor of Arizona State
• Caleb Lomu of Utah

General manager Ryan Poles was also spotted at the Alabama pro day watching Kadyn Proctor work out. If we apply the lesson learned from last year, who is the one player often clustered with those three that hasn’t been mentioned once in connection to the Bears? That is Blake Miller. The Clemson right tackle is among the most athletic and experienced in this class. He’s 6’6″ with 34-inch arms and is renowned for his team-first mindset. That sounds like an obvious Ben Johnson-type player. Is it a coincidence that there have been crickets regarding him and the Bears?

Then you have the defensive ends. Everybody talks about Zion Young from Missouri. The Bears met with him privately, which tells you their interest might not be as high as some think. They met formally with T.J. Parker (Clemson) and Akheem Mesidor (Miami) at the scouting combine. Poles was at Miami’s pro day, too. So again, who is the name curiously absent? That would be Keldric Faulk of Auburn. Experts have sworn up and down that nobody is a better fit for Dennis Allen’s defense: 6’6″, 276 lbs, 34-inch arms, and elite run-stopping ability. He’s also only 20 years old. Yet not a peep about him.

Never underestimate a team’s ability to misdirect.

If the Chicago Bears want to keep something a secret, they can. That includes swearing players to secrecy and threatening people inside the building with serious penalties if they let any information slip. Considering how well it worked last year, we can assume the team carefully controls which visits go public and which don’t. This way, other teams get a sense of who the Bears want without pinpointing the actual targets. It improves the odds of getting those players, if just a little bit. Every margin helps.

Look where they aren’t pointing. That is the basic lesson here. Any player who fits this Bears team but hasn’t been mentioned once during the pre-draft process should be immediately circled. Miller and Faulk top the list. Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, wide receiver Denzel Boston, and Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy all fit this criteria as well. Keep a close eye on all of those names. If the Bears stay put at #25, there is a reasonable chance one of them will be selected.

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.

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.

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.

The NFL draft is less than a week away. It feels like the appropriate time for one more Chicago Bears 2026 mock draft. This time, there won’t be any exploring of ideas and scenarios. I plan to take all the breadcrumbs from the past couple of weeks regarding the team and piece together a draft that projects what they’re hoping for. None of my personal opinion is in this. We are basing it entirely on what the Bears have signaled and what their preferences are regarding types of players.

As we all know, the draft is unpredictable. There will likely be some selections ahead of the Bears at #25 that nobody sees coming. The lack of quarterbacks should create some serious chaos. Will general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson use it to their advantage? Let’s find out.

This Chicago Bears 2026 mock draft reflects how they want it to go.

Trade: Bears trade 25th pick to Patriots for 31st pick and 95th pick

1st Round (via NE) – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

A lot of people aren’t wild about the idea of taking a tackle this early. Here are the facts. Ozzy Trapilo suffered a very bad knee injury that isn’t easy to recover from. His long-term status is unknown. Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills are both coming off season-ending injuries and were struggling before that. They’re also on one-year deals. This team needs an alternative. Iheanachor is big, athletic, tough, violent, and learning remarkably fast for somebody so inexperienced. He has the body and movement similar to Darnell Wright. There is no question that he can be a legitimate left tackle.

2nd Round – Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois

Another reason the Bears feel comfortable waiting to address the defensive line is that they will have good options in the 2nd round. Jacas is a perfect example. He doesn’t possess any one special quality, but he has solid size, great power, and is an above-average athlete. His background as a wrestler also shows in his ability to shed blockers on his way to the quarterback. He is a good fit for Dennis Allen’s system and brings them some desperately needed juice on the edge.

2nd Round (via BUF) – Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

Did I say we were done? One could argue that the interior pass rush has been the bigger problem for the Bears in recent years. While the 2026 draft doesn’t have any can’t-miss types in that category, Halton is one who has all the skills for it. He has great snap anticipation, a good first step, and lower-body explosiveness. He’s shown he knows how to shoot gaps and fight through blocks to make the quarterback uncomfortable.

3rd Round – Logan Jones, C, Iowa

The exit of Drew Dalman hurt. There is no getting around it. Chicago was forced to surrender a valuable draft pick to bring in a temporary stopgap. Garrett Bradbury is fine, but he isn’t the future. Jones is another classic Iowa guy: tough as nails, strong, mobile, and technically proficient. His blue-collar mentality should immediately appeal to Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar.

3rd Round (via NE) – De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

This Bears 2026 mock draft isn’t concluding without a receiver. The team has made it clear they plan to take one at some point, and they’ve been paying extra attention to Stribling. It isn’t hard to see why. He’s big, strong, runs hard after the catch, runs solid routes, and is a violent blocker when he has the mind to. He was a big part of the Rebels’ playoff run last year. There is no doubt that Coach Johnson would love him.

4th Round – Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

Maybe the team would’ve preferred to address safety sooner, but the board didn’t fall their way. Still, it worked out pretty well. Allen likes his safeties to be interchangeable, moving from free to strong and even to nickelback. Ramsey showed he could do that at USC. He plays the run well, improved his tackling considerably, and is athletic enough to handle his duties in coverage.

7th Round (via CLE) – Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke

There is no law that says you can’t double-dip at a key position. Anthony has the dimensions needed for a 4-3 end. He’s 6’5″, 258 lbs, and boasts 34-inch arms. His burst is solid, and he shows the agility to bend the edge without losing momentum. The big concern is power. He’s been pushed around in the run game and doesn’t have any bull-rush moves. He’s a worthwhile flier with some building blocks to work with.

7th Round – Khalil Dinkins, TE, Penn State

Losing Durham Smythe to free agency was unfortunate. The Bears haven’t really replaced him behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. So they decided to bring in Dinkins. His numbers aren’t anything special, but that is because Penn State never really took the time to develop him. He’s a good athlete with reliable hands and the necessary tenacity to block. He must get stronger and start refining his game.