Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and his staff were watching closely this weekend as many of the top prospects in the upcoming draft competed in the NFL Scouting Combine.
A few prospects may have caught Poles' eye at the Combine. The Bears have plenty of roster needs with multiple starters hitting free agency, so they'll have to nail this draft from start to finish to continue their run of success from 2025.
In this 7-round mock draft, Chicago gets creative to fill out the roster.
Bears 7-round mock draft after the NFL Combine
Round 1, Pick 25: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Chicago needs to improve its run defense in 2026, and drafting Ohio State's Kayden McDonald may be the most direct route to doing so. He didn't test at the Combine, but his 6'2", 326-pound frame is built for closing running lanes in the middle of the field.
Round 2, Pick 57: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Before the Combine, scouts weren't sure linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had the athleticism to match his elite instinct. He put those concerns to rest this weekend, putting up impressive numbers in the 40-yard dash and the vertical jump.
Round 3, Pick 89: S Genesis Smith, Arizona
Safety Genesis Smith may not be the most consistent tackler, but he has the athleticism and ball skills to fill in as a starter in case the Bears choose to let Kevin Byard or Jaquan Brisker leave in free agency.
Round 4, Pick 129: Traded to the Steelers for pick 135 and pick 216
The Bears take an opportunity to pick up some extra draft capital, moving back a few spots and gaining an extra seventh-round pick.
Round 4, Pick 135: ED George Gumbs Jr., Florida
Florida's George Gumbs Jr. stole the show at the Combine. The edge rusher's vertical jump and ten-yard split numbers showed off his explosiveness. He's another developmental pass rusher, but he's worth a mid-round pick for the Bears.
Round 5, Pick 163: Traded to the Jets for pick 175 and pick 218
Once again, Chicago drops down the board to add an extra pick in the final round of the draft. If the Bears have worse injury luck in 2026, these extra picks could help give them some much-needed depth.
Round 5, pick 175: WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
He may not come from a premier program, but Ted Hurst was one of the most physically impressive receivers on the field in Indianapolis. He's dominant in contested catch situations and could be a solid pass-catcher outside the numbers.
Round 6, Pick 213: S Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU
One safety may not be enough for the Bears in this draft. Here, they pick up Isaiah Nwokobia, an instinctive defensive back who could contribute immediately on special teams.
Round 7, Pick 218: RB Roman Hemby, Indiana
Roschon Johnson may be on the way out of Chicago. If he is, the Bears could look to fill out their running back room with recent national champion Roman Hemby.
Round 7, Pick 239: QB Luke Altmeyer, Syracuse
If the trade rumors surrounding Tyson Bagent are true, the Bears may be looking for a new backup quarterback soon. Luke Altmeyer's ability to operate efficiently makes him an intriguing pick in the seventh round.
Read more: Bears' future hangs in the balance as clock ticks toward must-know offseason date
Round 7, Pick 241: DT Zane Durant, Penn State
Zane Durant may not be the most productive player in this draft class, but he showed at the Combine that he's athletic enough to hold up in the NFL. He could develop into a solid rotational piece for the Bears.