After months of waiting, the 2026 NFL Draft has finally arrived and for the Chicago Bears, it's going to look a bit different than the last few years.
Since 2023, the Bears were selecting inside the top 10 in the first round. This year, however, they're near the end of the first round at No. 25 overall thanks to finishing the season with an 11-6 record and a playoff victory. Seeing as the Bears have a later pick, the talent pool won't be as deep this time around. But the Bears will still have a prime opportunity to find an impactful starter on either offense or defense, depending on which direction they go.
Here are 10 players the Bears could potentially select on Thursday night in the first round of the draft:
The Bears would strike big here if Akheem Mesidor fell to them with the No. 25 pick, one of the top pass rushers in this year's class. One benefit to Mesidor is that he is one of the older prospects in this year's draft, so he'll have plenty of experience that can help him start upon arrival as a rookie. He'd work well as an outside linebacker who can get to quarterbacks standing up, or with his hand down.
Kadyn Proctor is a very intriguing prospect on the offensive line due to his massive build and strength, but there are questions about his arm length. Working with an offensive line coach such as Chicago's Dan Roushar should give the team an opportunity to maximize his potential as a possible left tackle, with the possibility he could move inside to guard.
Colton Hood is young and a project in development coming into the draft, but his raw and potential and talent are more than enough to justify his selection at this pick. With what defensive backs coach Al Harris proved he could do with other talent last year, Hood is coming off a season at Tennessee that has elevated him in conversations as a first-round pick, allowing just one touchdown in over 450 coverage snaps.
He's not the best pure pass rusher in this class, but Kendric Faulk has versatility as an edge defender and uses his power to assert himself on the defensive line. Faulk's style of play will also allow the coaching staff to use him in multiple roles and situations, especially in his run defense. While he had only 2 sacks this past year, he did have 9 in his 2024 collegiate season.
Another player that can help establish the defensive edge for Chicago, T.J. Parker also saw a dip in his production from the 2024 season to last year, where he finished with six sacks compared to the 12 he had in 2024. In his three seasons at Clemson, Parker totaled 24 sacks, so he has a knack of getting after the quarterback, but will have to grow his game in order to become a full-time starter.
The Bears have proven they're not afraid to take the best player available, regardless of position, and they may show their brashness by going offensive tackle early. Caleb Lomu projects as a reliable starter in the NFL, given his great athleticism at the position and his success in pass-protection, which is everything that Chicago needs with Ozzy Trapilo out for most of the upcoming season.
Zion Young's name has climbed into the first round in several rumors and given his high-motor and relentlessness at the position, he's an intriguing fit for the Bears. He had the best sack total of his collegiate career last season, totaling eight for the Missouri Tigers while also putting together 32 hurries and 17 quarterback hits. Young also plays with emotion, which could build a chip on his shoulder that drives him to want to become great at the next level.
Chris Johnson had four interceptions last season for San Diego State, and he graded out as the second-best cornerback in college football last year on the PFF scale. He excels in zone coverage more than man, and if put in the right situation behind Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, Chris Johnson would be a surprise selection at this spot, but his playmaking abilities warrant taking a shot on him.
Chicago has to rebuild their entire defensive line, and when it comes to defensive tackle, Kayden McDonald should be the first name on every team's draft board. His superior play as a run stopper would help significantly improve the Bears defense from last season, while also opening up lanes for his teammates out on the edge.
If the Bears want to go with a safety, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a name that has continued to be thrown out as a fit for them and he fills a void immediately. An ability to make plays as a ballhawk safety in the secondary, McNeil-Warren is also very violent and fun to watch when he plays downhill, and graded out as the second-best safety in college on PFF's grading scale last year. McNeil-Warren has great size, length, and athleticism, while his violent nature of play should make him an immediate fan favorite in Chicago.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: 10 players the Bears could select in the first round