The Chicago Bears might be in the middle of a very tight race for a playoff spot in the crowded NFC North, but Ryan Poles and the front office are still likely keeping a close eye on the 2026 NFL Draft and trying to analyze what position would be the best possible fit for this team.
Marcus Mosher and Ryan Fowler of FanSided think the Bears need to improve their defense above all else. However, one mock draft has them doing that on the defensive line, while the other thinks the linebacker room needs an instant shot in the arm.
Mosher believes the Bears will use their first-round pick on Alabama pass rusher LT Overton, who should fit in well on a Dennis Allen defense that likes to select bigger defensive linemen and move them all around the unit.
Fowler went in a different direction. Even with all of the capital Chicago has invested into the linebacker position, Fowler believes that pairing Tremaine Edmunds with Georgia standout CJ Allen could give the Bears a locked-down starting tandem for the foreseeable future.
Bears select EDGE LT Overton, LB CJ Allen in 2026 NFL Mock Drafts
Even with Edmunds healthy and TJ Edwards recently getting an extension, a GM like Poles, who always leans toward picking the best player available, may settle on Allen. The Georgia Bulldog flies all over the field, hits hard when he gets there, and covers well in zone coverage.
Overton will be an acquired taste for many executives. Some view him as a tweener who is too big to be an EDGE and too small to be a defensive tackle, while others view him as an elite run-stuffer on the edge with enough burst and pass rush moves to get to the quarterback.
While many Bears fans want to add a running back to their below-average room, the combination of Kyle Monangai's emergence and the lack of great prospects after Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love could push this down the priority list. Chicago would be better off adding someone on Day 2.
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Allen could start in Dennis Allen's defense for most of the next decade, and Overton should have no trouble making some noise in a thin Bears edge room. Poles has some obvious holes he needs to fill, and it may behoove him to explore what is considered a perfect draft for defensive players.