2026 NFL Mock Draft Recap: Bears Focus On Top Defensive Tackle

The Chicago Bears are in the midst of a major offseason, fresh off an impressive 2025 season in which they went from worst to first, won the NFC North and won their first playoff game in nearly two decades. And that was just in Year 1 under head coach Ben Johnson.

Now, the Bears have big needs to address on the roster, especially 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 one top-10 pick the last three years, they will select closer to 20 after their 11-6 season. But there are still some top prospects who could be available at No. 25.

We’ve rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Bears will select a defensive lineman 25th overall, and there’s one name that’s starting to emerge as a favorite.

USA Today: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: “At 6-6 and 335 pounds with more than enough quickness to become a fixture in opposing backfields, Banks stands out quite a bit in a class full of pocket pushers mostly at defensive tackle. He doesn’t clear blockers as quickly as one would like to see from a player with his physical abilities, and finishing plays remains something of an adventure for him. Still, Banks has the potential to go considerably higher than this, so Chicago could have to jump to that goal. the opportunity to electrify your interior.”

ESPN: Kayden McDonald, coach, Ohio State

Mel Kiper Jr.: “It’s probably a little early for Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Clemson’s TJ Parker or Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas. The Bears obviously need more support on offense, but the board just isn’t lining up. But with Gervon Dexter Sr. signed for just one more season and Grady Jarrett turning 33 in April, it would make sense to fill out the defensive tackle group. McDonald is actually the DT1 on my Big Board, and he has Nose for the football. He had 17 rushing stops in 2025. Having him on the interior would be huge for a Bears team that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season (fourth worst).

NFL.com: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Bucky Brooks: “McDonald’s disruptive presence as a burly defensive tackle would quickly help the Bears shore up a mediocre run defense.”

The Athletic: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Scott Dochterman: “The up-and-coming Bears need multiple pieces along the defensive line, and McDonald would help right away. He’s not quite ready to ramp up the pass rush, but McDonald excels against the run and can free up his linemates by eating through blockers. He was the key cog in Ohio State’s elite defense.”

CBS Sports: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Garrett Podell: “The Bears are set to see safeties Kevin Byard, CJ Gardner-Johnson and Jaquan Brisker hit free agency. Thieneman can save Chicago some money at the position. He’s versatile and has the ability to line up in the slot, deep back and in the box. He’s an efficient move who can close out the ball well thanks to his quick planting and drive technique. Thieneman has good instincts in the run game, and he’ll use them to fly down the lane. opposing ball carriers. He does a lot of things well, making him an ideal NFL safety in 2026.”

Yahoo! Sports: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

Nate Tice: “The Bears’ defense had admirable performances late in the season, especially against the Rams in the divisional round, but that group needs to be stronger against the run. Fortunately, this is a good defensive tackle class, especially for run-first guys. Hunter is one of those talented interior defenders, and would give the Bears a beefy defender who can eat through blocks but can also get into the backfield. He even has potential as a pass rusher. Hunter has to work on consistency from bottom to bottom, but there aren’t many players this size who can move as easily as Hunter can.”

Pro Football Spotlight: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Dalton Wasserman: “No Bears defensive tackle earned a PFF run defense grade above 55.0 in 2025. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald led all FBS defensive tackles with a PFF run defense grade of 91.2 in his final college season. He won’t offer much as a pass rusher, but McDonald is the kind of guy who fills holes and makes his teammates better.”

FOX Sports: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Henry McKenna: “Who’s the best defensive player still available? Howell? So, it’s Howell. He’s an explosive, if undersized, pass rusher (6-foot-2, 248) whose production alleviates any concerns.”

NBC Sports: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Eric Froton: “Caleb Banks (6’6/330) showed disruptive upside inside Florida in 2023-24 before a foot injury cut short his 2025 campaign. He took a clear step forward in 2024, playing 422 snaps and improving his overall defensive rating to 73.0, while his pass rush rating rose to 73.2 with 29 total pressures, 4 sacks and 21 rushes, establishing him as one of the SEC’s most effective interior disruptors. Banks’ 2025 bid was derailed after just 96 snaps, but his two-year run beforehand painted the profile of a plus athlete with true interior penetration skills and a pass-rushing ceiling that Florida coaches believed was just beginning to unlock.

Sports News: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Vinnie Iyer: “The Bears should consider upgrading the tackles’ pass protection for Caleb Williams, with Braxton Jones a free agent. Freeling’s tremendous frame and athleticism should be intriguing to convert some athletic potential into dominance over time.”

Athlon Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Luke Easterling: “The Bears’ offense is in good hands with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, but the defense needs a lot of help everywhere, especially if they can’t retain some key free agents. One of the most glaring needs is a disruptive interior presence up front, and Woods would be the ideal option. His production fell in 2025 thanks to playing out of position at nose tackle much of the time, but he’s a rare athlete for his size and could be a dominant 3-technique.”

Net Draft: 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, it’s a different story. The Bears in 2025 definitely relied on turnovers, and their rush defense was in the bottom half of the NFL. To help solve that problem, the Bears drafted IDL Kayden McDonald.”

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Mock Draft Recap: Bears Focus on Top Defensive Tackle

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