The Chicago Bears are in the midst of a big offseason, coming off an impressive 2025 campaign that saw them go from worst to first, win the NFC North and win their first playoff game in nearly two decades. That was just the first year under head coach Ben Johnson.
Now, the Bears have some major needs to address on the roster, particularly at defensive line, safety and left tackle, and general manager Ryan Poles has free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft to shore up those positions. While Chicago has had top-10 picks the past three years, they will be drafting in the mid-20s after an 11-6 season. But there are still some top prospects who could move into the 25th pick.
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We’ve put together the latest 2026 NFL mock draft, and experts believe the Bears will select a defensive lineman with the 25th overall pick, and there’s one name that’s starting to emerge as the favorite.
USA TODAY: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: “At 6-foot-6, 335 pounds and quick enough to carve out a spot in opposing backfields, Banks stands out in a class of defensive tackles that are mostly pocket pushers. He doesn’t get out blockers as quickly as one would like to see from a player of his physical ability, and finishing is still a risk for him. Still, Banks has the potential to be higher than that, so Chicago may have to take the opportunity to electrify its interior.”
ESPN: Kayden McDonald, defensive tackle, Ohio State
Mel Kiper Jr.: “It’s probably too early for Texas A&M’s Cassius Howell, Clemson’s T.J. Parker or Oklahoma’s R. Mason Thomas. The Bears clearly need more edge-rushing support, but the board isn’t ready yet. But Gervin Dexter Sr. is only signed for one more season and Grady Jarrett turns 33 in April, so it makes sense to supplement the defensive tackle group. McDonald is actually DT1 DT1 on. “My big deal, he has a great nose for football. In 2025, he had 17 run stops. Having him inside would be huge for a Bears team that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season (fourth worst). “
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NFL.com: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Bucky Brooks: “McDonald’s disruptive performance as a strong defensive tackle will quickly help the Bears solidify a lackluster run defense.”
Athlete: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Scott Dochterman: “The up-and-coming Bears need multiple players on the defensive line, and McDonald will help right away. He’s not quite ready to step up the pass rush, but McDonald excels against the run and can free up his teammates by eating up blockers. He’s a key cog in Ohio State’s elite defense.”
CBS Sports: Dillon Thienemann, S, Oregon State
Garrett Podell: “The Bears will see safeties Kevin Byrd, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and JaQuan Brisk become free agents. Thienemann could save Chicago some money at the position. He’s versatile and can play in the slot, outfield and in the tight end.” Line up in the zone. He’s an efficient mover who can get to the ball well due to his quick positioning and breakaway skills. Thienemann has great instincts in the run game and will use them to fly into the zone. “He does a lot of things well, which makes him a 2026 pick. The NFL’s ideal safety of the year. “
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Yahoo! Athletic: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Nate Theis: “The Bears’ defense performed admirably late in the season, especially against the Rams in the divisional round, but this team needs to become more solid against the run. Fortunately, this is a good class at defensive tackle, especially for a run-first guy. Hunter is that One of several talented interior defenders, he’ll give the Bears a big-bodied defender who can both take blocks and get into the backfield. He even has upside as a pass rusher, but there aren’t many players of Hunter’s size who can move as easily.”
Pro Football Focus: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Dalton Wasserman: “No Bears defensive tackle has a PFF run defense grade above 55.0 in 2025. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald led all FBS defensive tackles with a 91.2 PFF run defense grade in his final college season. He won’t offer much as a pass rusher, but McDonald is the kind of guy who can fill in the gaps and make his teammates better.”
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Fox Sports: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Henry McKenna: “Who is the best defensive player right now? Howell? That’s Howell. He’s an explosive player whose pass rush should alleviate any concerns despite his small size (6-foot-2, 248).”
NBC Sports: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida State
Eric Froton: “Caleb Banks (6’6/330) showed a game-changing upward trajectory at Florida Inland in 2023-24 before a foot injury shortened his 2025 season. He took a clear step forward in 2024, hitting 4.22 2 snaps, raising his overall defensive grade to 73.0, while his pass-rushing grade climbed to 73.2 with 29 pressures, four sacks and 21. Banks has become one of the SEC’s most effective interior disruptors, but after just 96 snaps, his two-year trajectory is charting as a quality athlete with true interior-breaking ability and a passing ceiling, and Florida coaches believe his eye-opening Senior Bowl performance will help quell any injury concerns.
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Sports News: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Vinnie Ayer: “The Bears should consider upgrading pass protection at tackle with Caleb Williams, and Braxton Jones is a free agent. Freeling’s tremendous size and athleticism should be interesting to turn some athletic potential into dominance in time.”
Athlon Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Luke Easterlin: “The Bears offense is in good hands with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, but the defense needs a lot of help across the board, especially if they can’t retain some key free agents. One of the most obvious needs is a disruptive interior presence up front, and Woods would be the ideal fit. His production in 2025 will be limited due to being out of position most of the time at tackle. Has dropped off a bit over the years, but he’s a rare athlete for his size and could be a great 3-skill player. “
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Draft Network: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Keith Sanchez: “The Chicago Bears appear to be hitting their stride offensively and have a lot of momentum heading into the 2026 season. Defensively, the same can’t be said. The 2025 Bears are absolutely turnover-reliant and their rushing defense ranks in the bottom half of the NFL. To help fix that, the Bears drafted IDL Kayden McDonald.”
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Bears Have Zero on Top Defensive Tackle
