Bears have plenty of options in NFL
draft in trying to improve team
[April 17, 2026]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears come into the draft with needs on
the offensive line as well as defensive end and safety.
When it comes to choosing a direction, general manager Ryan Poles
has choices, starting with the No. 25 overall pick on April 23. The
Bears also have two second-rounders, a third-rounder, a
fourth-rounder and two seventh-rounders.
The Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North for the first time since
2018 in coach Ben Johnson's first season after finishing last in
2024. Quarterback Caleb Williams made big strides in his second
year.
The Bears pulled out one comeback win after another and advanced in
the playoffs for the first time in 15 years by rallying to beat
Green Bay in a wild-card game before losing an overtime thriller to
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.
Poles has been busy since then, most notably trading receiver DJ
Moore to Buffalo and trying to plug holes elsewhere on the roster.
They need
The Bears could use some more help protecting Caleb Williams and
taking down the other team's quarterback. They also need safeties
after losing their top four in free agency, including three-time
All-Pro Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker.
They don’t need
The Bears obviously aren’t in the market for a starting quarterback
after Williams threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards with 27
touchdowns and seven interceptions. He does need to improve his
accuracy after completing just 58.1% of his passes.
Line 'em up
The Bears looked as if they were largely set on the offensive line
until they absorbed two big losses. First, left tackle Ozzy Trapilo
tore the patellar tendon in his left knee in the wild-card win over
Green Bay, an injury that is expected to keep him out for most of
next season. Then, Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman retired last month
after five NFL seasons in a surprise announcement.
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Chicago acquired veteran center Garrett Bradbury
from the AFC champion New England Patriots to replace Dalman. At
left tackle, the Bears could opt to add a high pick such as
Alabama's Kadyn Proctor to a mix that includes Braxton Jones,
Jedrick Wills Jr., Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie. They have in
the past considered moving right tackle Darnell Wright to the left
side.
Getting defensive
If the Bears go for defensive help, they still need a pass rusher
after focusing on the interior of the line in free agency. With 35
sacks, they finished in a five-way tie for 22nd place. Montez Sweat
led the team with 10, and no one else had more than six, and someone
such as Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk could be a
possibility.
The Bears mitigated some of the losses at safety by signing Coby
Bryant, who helped Seattle win its second Super Bowl, to three-year,
$40 million contract. They still have an opening, and Oregon's
Dillon Thieneman and Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could be
possibilities at No. 25.
Looking back
Recent history says Chicago won’t draft a defensive player in the
first round. This could be the year that changes.
The most recent time the Bears took a defensive player in the first
round was in 2018, when they drafted linebacker Roquan Smith with
the No. 8 pick. They haven’t taken a pass rusher in the opening
round since they went with Leonard Floyd at No. 9 in 2016.
Chicago did use its first pick in the 2022 draft on cornerback Kyler
Gordon. But he was a second-rounder.
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