With the offseason full steam ahead, Chicago Bears fans are ready to dive into what's next. We can't sulk forever, especially not after witnessing a magical season that no one saw coming.
Following their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, the Bears' 2026 NFL Draft position is officially set.
Chicago will be picking later in the first round for the first time in a while
The Chicago Bears will pick 25th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft
Knowing the Bears have a later first-round pick, Poles will very likely take a "best player available" approach, as they should. However, if another team wanted to move up for, let's say, a wide receiver or tight end, then the Bears should absolutely listen and move back.
At the moment, it's obvious that this team needs a lot of help on defense, and that's probably where the first-round pick is going to be used. If you look around, some of the players projected to be available at this pick could really help Chicago defensively.
Let's look at just a select few.
Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
Likely one of the top four or five pass rushers in this class, Cashius Howell is a well-rounded player. He can win in both the pass rush and as a run defender. As an NFL starter, though, he'd have to put on a little bit more weight. Howell totaled 25.0 sacks over his last three seasons with Texas A&M.
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
A 6-foot-6, 330-pound defensive tackle who can move well is certainly going to catch some eyes. Caleb Banks might end up a first-rounder, or he could drop to Day 2, depending on how his Combine and Pro Day go. But the big man has a quickness to him that's going to help him win in the NFL.
Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Another defensive lineman who could see himself selected in Round 1, Georgia's Christen Miller, has positional versatility. He's played multiple spots up front and would offer Dennis Allen the ability to get a little more creative. At 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, he's a little smaller than Banks.
CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
There's always the possibility that the Bears move on from Tremaine Edmunds to save some money, and if they do, CJ Allen is a strong option to replace him. The Bulldog linebacker has incredible instincts and is strong in coverage. Another Georgia defender in the first round? Not surprising.
Read more: Ryan Poles may have cracked the door open on a DJ Moore trade
Just for the sake of those who can't get enough early Bears offseason content, let's check in on all of the picks at Ryan Poles' disposal at the moment:
1st Round
2nd Round
3rd Round
4th Round (from LAR)
5th Round
7th Round
7th Round (PHI via CLE)