Chicago Bears 2026 Mock Draft — Free Agency Has Pointed To What’s Coming
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 They have been replaced by younger names with more juice.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.