The Chicago Bears are clearly building something special, and after a breakout, 11-6 season in 2025, Chicago is truly right on the cusp of being a contender. Much of the team's success hinges on Caleb Williams.
He's been a good-not-great quarterback thus far, and it's obvious that a year three leap needs to happen if Chicago hopes to take that next step, but other factors need to come together as well. Fortunately, General Manager Ryan Poles does appear to have a firm grip on his roster.
It's quite a solid group, and with a top-tier head coach in Ben Johnson tying it all together, Chicago is trending in the right direction for the first time in quite a while, but did the Bears slip up in the 2026 NFL Draft by not selecting these three players?
Chicago Bears may come to regret not picking these three players in the NFL Draft
Caleb Lomu, OT
Going just a few picks after Chicago took Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, Caleb Lomu would have been a slam-dunk left tackle for the Bears, as Ozzy Trapilo's patellar tendon injury suffered in the playoffs was a major blow to the entire unit.
Trapilo was quite good as a rookie in 2025, but that type of injury can be a pain to come back from. Obviously, Poles and the front office know better than I do, but we can't pretend he hasn't made mistakes before.
Not only is it not guaranteed that Trapilo will be ready to roll, but the Bears don't exactly have another unquestioned, viable option at left tackle if Trapilo isn't. Adding Caleb Lomu to the mix would have given Chicago a final piece of the puzzle on offense, and the worst thing that could have come from that is a surplus at one of the most important positions of all of sports.
Skyler Bell, WR
Zavion Thomas was a third-round pick by the Bears, but Lance Zierlein projected him to be a sixth-round player. Thomas went well before Skyler Bell, a much better prospect. Thomas definitely fits into that 'gadget' player role on offense, as he's insanely fast and has the ability as a returner as well.
However, is that enough of a skillset for a third-round billing? That's debatable. Bell, however, not only has a better size, but he's also got a much wider receiver skill set and can play in the slot or outside.
Given that DJ Moore isn't in the picture anymore, Chicago should have addressed this position more deliberately. Bell, furthermore, was also insanely productive in college, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with banking on that production translating into the NFL. Chicago may have missed the mark by not taking Bell.
Tacario Davis, CB
Chicago added to the cornerback room with Malik Muhammad in the fourth round, but Tacario Davis could have been a better option for the Bears. Davis is nearly 6-foot-4 and does boast the size and length to be a physical force on the outside for Dennis Allen's defense.
You can't teach size, obviously, and Davis' ceiling is a bit higher, as he's got a wide tackle range and also has plus ball skills. Muhammad was a solid pick, as he profiles as an average starter, but the Bears could have bet on a higher ceiling player here.
Read more: Bears send unmistakable message to these 4 players with NFL Draft choices
It's clear that the secondary was a sore spot in 2025, as it's honestly been rather overhauled by Poles. Adding a cornerback in the NFL Draft was a great move, but Davis brings more to the table at the position and has a nice blend of size, athleticism, and overall skill set.
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