With the primary waves of free agency done, it isn’t hard to connect the dots on where this Chicago Bears 2026 mock draft will go. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have set a team-wide objective of getting younger and faster. Older players like Kevin Byard and Andrew Billings were allowed to leave. They have been replaced by younger names with more juice. Don’t expect that objective to change. The Bears have four picks in the first three rounds of this draft.

It represents a great opportunity to infuse this roster with more young talent. What remains unknown is what their priority will be. Well, if you’ve followed the trail of breadcrumbs in free agency up until now, it isn’t difficult to see what they have planned. Let’s see how it can unfold.

This Chicago Bears 2026 mock draft is all about defensive line.

1st Round – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

Dennis Allen likes his defensive ends big, strong, and violent. Young checks all of those boxes. He’s also more athletic than he gets credit for. He was playing his best football in 2025 with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss. That carried over into the Senior Bowl, where he dominated practices all week. If you’re looking for the Cam Jordan type that Allen used to devastating effect in New Orleans, Young seems like the closest archetype.

2nd Round – Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Georgia has been a factory for good defensive tackles for years. Miller is no exception. He’s strong, aggressive, plays with a high motor, and can do everything well. He’s a solid run defender and can get up the field as a pass rusher, though his usage rarely gave him chances to showcase it. The Bears need a building block in the middle. Landing Miller late in the 2nd round is a considerable stroke of good fortune.

Trade: 60th pick to Arizona for 65th pick and 143rd pick

3rd Round (via ARI) – Jake Golday, LB, Texas Tech

If you look at Allen’s history as a defensive coordinator, you’ll see he’s often liked big, explosive linebackers. That makes them highly effective as blitzers in the NFL. Golday is the perfect fit for that. Not only does he do the usual stuff of stopping the run and tackling well, but he was also a constant presence as an extra attacker against the quarterback. Allen can move him inside or outside.

3rd Round – Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina

Not bringing back Kevin Byard sent a clear message. Allen prefers safeties who are more interchangeable. They can play in coverage or around the line of scrimmage. That is what Coby Bryant does well, and it’s what Kilgore does well. He has the size and athleticism to hang with tight ends in coverage and the instincts to force turnovers in coverage. He’ll also fly downhill to lay some thunderous hits.

4th Round – Logan Jones, C, Iowa

People dog Jones about his size, but history says that won’t matter. Iowa offensive linemen always transition well to the pro level. That is because he is a good athlete and highly polished in his technique. He also has a reputation for playing with a victory-or-death mentality on every snap.

Trade: 143rd pick to Minnesota for 163rd pick, 196th pick, 234th pick, and 244th pick

5th Round (via MIN) – Zane Durant, DT, Penn State

Durant has the ideal size, quickness, and explosiveness to become a three-technique interior pass rusher. The problem is that his production never showed in college. People aren’t sure whether he just doesn’t have it or wasn’t coached right. This Bears 2026 mock draft shows they’re willing to take a chance.

6th Round (via MIN) – Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama

We know Al Harris has a type when it comes to cornerback. They must be tall, athletic, and fast. Jackson is all of those things. Unfortunately, he was dogged by inconsistency in college. He has great flashes. It depends on whether someone can instill more discipline in him.

7th Round (via MIN) – Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy

The Bears sent a large contingent to Navy’s pro day to watch, and with good reason. Heidenreich is a unique specimen, as he seems equally effective as a runner and receiver. He’s not elite in any category, but he’s one of those players who can do anything asked of him. Such versatility often works in this offense.

7th Round – Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU

More speed. That is the Bears’ clear focus this offseason. Thomas brings plenty of that. Not only is he a strong vertical threat with 4.28 speed, but he also had three touchdowns as a return man in college. Getting him onto the roster feels like a worthwhile gamble despite his limited production.

7th Round (via CLE) – Nolan Rucci, OT, Penn State

Johnson loves big athletes at tackle. We saw that with Ozzy Trapilo. Rucci is in that same mold, showing great mobility for someone 6’8″ and 305 lbs. The big issue with him is a lack of power. He’s clearly underdeveloped in that area. That is why he will need a year or two to remedy it.

7th Round (via MIN) – David Gusta, DT, Kentucky

His explosive combine proved that Kentucky never used Gusta properly. They deployed him as more of a nose tackle despite his obvious capability to become an interior pass rusher. The Bears wisely bring him aboard as a late flier to see if switching that role unlocks his obvious potential.

Maxx Crosby is somehow back on the market after his trade to the Baltimore Ravens was voided for a failed physical. The Chicago Bears were involved in some capacity throughout the process, making an offer that didn’t quite get it done. Now they have a second chance, with far fewer suitors to battle against. Baltimore signed Trey Hendrickson. Buffalo signed Bradley Chubb. Dallas traded for Rashan Gary. Only the Philadelphia Eagles remain as a possible contender, and they might have eyes for Jonathan Greenard instead. Even so, it sounds like the Raiders are stubbornly sticking to their price of two 1st round picks. If the Bears aren’t willing to go that high, they may have an alternative in the form of Josh Sweat.

The former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion from Philadelphia signed with the Arizona Cardinals last spring. He responded with a career-best 12 sacks, becoming one of the few bright spots on a bad team. One would think Arizona is eager to hang onto him. That may not be possible. It seems the firing of head coach Jonathan Gannon did not sit well with Sweat. According to Jonathan Venerable of the PHNX Cardinals podcast, the edge rusher has asked for a trade.

“I think that Josh Sweat will get traded,” Venerable said. “I’ll break some news right now. When (former Cardinals head coach) Jonathan Gannon got fired, Josh Sweat asked to be traded. … Maybe he’s cool with (Cardinals defensive coordinator) Nick Rallis, so it’s fine now. I don’t know. But he has to get traded.”

Josh Sweat is exactly the alternative the Bears want.

The defensive end turns 29 years old at the end of this month. So he is around the same age as Crosby. He obviously has big-game experience from his time in Philadelphia. Most importantly, his contract is far more palatable. Sweat counts $16 million against the cap this season and $23.6 million in 2027 and 2028. That is far better than the $35 million per year Crosby would bring with him from Las Vegas. It isn’t a secret that the Cardinals are entering a rebuilding phase. They just fired their head coach and have no clear quarterback options. Most believe they will sell 2026 in hopes of getting a high pick next year.

This isn’t a team expecting to compete this season, so why would they hold any veteran player hostage? If Josh Sweat wants out, it isn’t hard to imagine the team grants his wish. Chicago would be the perfect landing spot for him. He has the size and length Dennis Allen covets, and is just the dynamic threat the Bears need opposite Montez Sweat. As for compensation, it would likely take a 3rd or 4th round pick to facilitate a deal. That feels like something right in the sweet spot for Ryan Poles.

Sweat would ease the pressure on the Bears’ draft plans.

Right now, the team seems duty-bound to focus on the defensive line come the start of the 2026 draft. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. By all accounts, it is a strong draft class on that side of the ball, particularly on the edge. Preferably, you wouldn’t want to rely on rookies to help elevate the team back to the playoffs. Adding a proven commodity like Josh Sweat is an ideal move. He brings proven experience and production. His contract is easily affordable. It comes down to whether he’d be open to joining the Bears.

There is no reason to think he wouldn’t. They have a respected coaching staff in place, highlighted by defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He would know how to use Sweat. There is also the fact that he’d get to rush opposite Montez Sweat, an advantage he didn’t have in Arizona. Everything depends on the Arizona brass. If they take his trade request seriously, this deal should come together with relative ease. If they’re reluctant, it may take some shenanigans on Sweat’s part to change their minds.

Drew Dalman retiring was not the outcome the Chicago Bears wanted. They signed him to a three-year deal, hoping he could be a fixture at center for the next few years at least. He even responded with a Pro Bowl nod in 2025, the first seen by a Bears center in seven years. Then, with the offseason just days away, the 27-year-old called it a career. That left head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles in a tough spot. How could they fill that sudden void in the middle of their line on such short notice? After exploring the potential free agent options and discovering most wouldn’t be available, they pivoted to a trade for longtime veteran Garrett Bradbury.

While the former 1st-round pick isn’t a dominant presence, his experience, intelligence, athleticism, and calm should make for a solid stopgap. It gives the team time to explore their long-term possibilities. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, they may already have one in mind.

Experts view Sam Hecht as the second or third-best center in the entire 2026 draft. He’s started 25 games for Kansas State over the past two years. While not the biggest or strongest player at his position, many believe Hecht is the most technically proficient center in the class. He never makes fundamental mistakes, and he couples it with the athleticism to pull or get to the second level.

Ben Johnson clearly has a type.

If you’re wondering if Hecht sounds a lot like Dalman in terms of style and ability, you would be correct. It is fairly evident that Johnson has a certain preference for centers of this type. He’s willing to sacrifice size and power for technique, intelligence, and mobility. Considering the type of offense the Bears deploy, centered around an outside-zone running scheme, it makes sense.

The best offenses that ran this system had centers built much the same way. Tom Nalen was a pioneer with the Denver Broncos in the 1990s. He was 6’3″, 286 lbs. Chris Myers (6’4″, 286 lbs) saw similar results in Houston with Gary Kubiak. Alex Mack (6’4″, 311 lbs) was brilliant under Kyle Shanahan in both Cleveland and Atlanta. Hecht has many of the same tools. It’s not about overwhelming defenders with sheer physical ability. He is a smart player who is always in the right places.

The Bears haven’t been big investors at center.

They have never spent a 1st round pick on the position in the Super Bowl era. They’ve spent a day two pick on it only three times in the past 35 years. Olin Kreutz was obviously a grand slam in 1998. Unfortunately, Hroniss Grasu and James Daniels were disappointments. Cody Whitehair was a 2nd round pick, but he was drafted as a guard. The only reason he moved to center in the first place was that Grasu tore his ACL. Finding stability at that position has been a saga spanning over a decade.

Hecht is the type of player who can hold down that position for a long time. He’s tough, athletic, and smart. Guys like that tend to last a long time in the NFL. The fact that Ben Johnson is clearly interested in him says a lot. He knows what the good centers look like. This is one of the situations where you should trust the guy who is one of the best offensive minds in the sport.

The Chicago Bears will make more moves in the coming days. However, it appears their biggest free agency swings are complete. Among their big additions are safety Coby Bryant, linebacker Devin Bush, defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, and wide receiver Kalif Raymond. They also brought back linebacker D’Marco Jackson and left tackle Braxton Jones on modest deals. When looking at the full picture of what they’ve done, the plan Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have going into the 2026 draft is obvious.

Going into the offseason, these were the position groups most felt were their biggest needs.

• Defensive tackle
• Edge rusher
• Safety
• Linebacker
• Left tackle

In the past 48 hours, as the league year is about to begin, they have addressed four of those five positions with notable signings. Only one is unaccounted for.

The curious absence of any moves at edge rusher, combined with knowledge that the 2026 draft class is loaded with them, makes it pretty obvious which direction the Bears plan to go early. They have four picks in the first three rounds. It wouldn’t be shocking if they choose to double down at the position.

Ryan Poles has ducked edge rushers for long enough.

By far the strangest fact about his tenure as GM is that he has never spent a draft pick on an edge rusher higher than the 5th round since he arrived in 2022. Shemar Turner was a 2nd-round pick, but it’s unclear whether he’s a defensive tackle or a defensive end at this point. No Bears general manager has ever gone five straight drafts without taking a pass rusher in the 1st round.

• Jim Finks – Year 5
• Jerry Vainisi – Year 2
• Bill Tobin – Year 3
• Rod Graves – Year 2
• Mark Hatley – Fired before Year 5
• Jerry Angelo – Year 2
• Phil Emery – Year 1
• Ryan Pace – Year 2
• Ryan Poles – ???

Every pick to this point has been on the offensive side. This year feels like the one to finally cross the line of scrimmage and grab that pass rusher. The data certainly backs it up.

Now, there is always the possibility that somebody of note at another position falls to the Bears that they can’t pass on. It happens every year. However, the odds clearly favor an edge rusher they like being on the board at #25 overall. Plenty of notable names have been drafted in that range, from Clay Matthews to Cameron Jordan, Chandler Jones, T.J. Watt, and George Karlaftis.

The Bears could have some tempting options.

There is no predicting how the board will fall next month. There are 24 picks ahead of Chicago. At any point, there could be a significant run on pass rushers, which would limit the options Ryan Poles might be comfortable with. Still, there is a handful of names who could be there and fit the physical profile Dennis Allen prefers. We’re talking at least 6’3″, 260 lbs with 33-inch arms. When looking at the cluster of 1st round prospects, the names that fit that profile include:

• Keldric Faulk (Auburn)
• Zion Young (Missouri)
• Malachi Lawrence (UCF)
• Gabe Jacas (Illinois)
• T.J. Parker (Clemson)

It isn’t crazy to think at least two of those names will be on the board at #25. From there, it comes down to who else is available at other positions. If things unfold as many project, the Bears will leave night one of the draft with a new edge rusher to team with Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. It is a good plan that has high odds of working out in their favor. Give Poles credit. He’s been playing talent pool well this offseason. Let’s see if he can deliver the knockout blow.

The Chicago Bears have executed what has to be, at least on paper, one of their better free agency periods in the past several years. Despite not having a wealth of cap space to work with compared to other teams, they’ve managed to address several needs without overextending themselves. Safety Coby Bryant comes over from the world champion Seahawks, bringing seven interceptions in the past two seasons and plenty of leadership credentials. Speedy and battle-tested linebacker Devin Bush fills a glaring hole at outside linebacker. Braxton Jones returns to stabilize the left tackle spot while Neville Gallimore brings them some pass rush juice in the middle.

While it’s been a period light on splashes, the Bears look like a younger, faster team than they did a couple of days ago. With cap space dwindling, it’s unlikely they will take a big swing. However, there are still some notable names on the market who could be great bargain additions, capping what has been a good start to March. It would beautifully set up their plans for the draft in April.

The Chicago Bears have some intriguing names left out there.

DT D.J. Reader

Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street are the latest arrivals at defensive tackle for the Bears. Both of them bring a much-needed element of interior pass rush to the mix. Neither is prime Aaron Donald, obviously, but that at least gives Dennis Allen some added juice up the middle. What he still doesn’t have at the moment is a reliable nose tackle. Run defense was just as big a problem for the Bears last season, ranking 27th in the NFL. Reader has been one of the more dependable nose tackles in the league for the past decade. If anybody can help clog up the middle a bit better, it will be him. He’s also good for 20-30 interior pressures as well.

EDGE Cameron Jordan

Few NFL players age like fine wine. Jordan seems to be one of those exceptions. Despite being 36 years old in 2025, he still posted 10.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints, proving his pass rush prowess hasn’t left him yet. It looks like his old team is ready to move on, so now he’s looking for a new home. Allen coached him for almost a decade in New Orleans. The Chicago Bears have an obvious need at edge rusher. Bringing in Jordan on a one-year deal allows the veteran to join a playoff contender while the team gets some help at one of the positions they’ve needed the most.

CB Kaiir Elam

Al Harris proved last year that he can be a maestro at orchestrating career revivals. Nahshon Wright looked like a lost cause after getting cut by Minnesota. He came to Chicago, had five interceptions last season, and now gets a nice payday from the Jets. Elam was a 1st round pick in 2022, boasting the ideal mix of size, length, and athleticism. Unfortunately, things never clicked for him in Buffalo, and he was traded to Dallas. There, he played sparingly and was eventually cut, finishing the season in Tennessee. He is still just 24 years old. His talent hasn’t left him. What he needs is somebody who can fix his technique and boost his confidence. Harris is just the man for the job.

RB Rachaad White

Running back isn’t as pressing an issue for the Bears as other positions, but it could still use some depth. D’Andre Swift stayed healthy last season. Betting on that to continue is a bit dangerous. Kyle Monangai is good, but they could use another body for Ben Johnson’s run-heavy attack. White isn’t a premier athlete or great tackle-breaker, but he’s a good pass-catcher and has the vision and patience to find the holes when they appear. He’s been good for at least 40 catches and 770 total yards every season of his career. Having somebody like that as the third option on the depth chart would be ideal.