After focusing on the offense in the 2025 draft, the focus of the 2026 NFL Draft for the Chicago Bears is lined up to be defense, with some level of need on all three levels of Dennis Allen's unit. Of course, things could go a surprising direction too.
A lot of mock drafts have the Bears going defense at No. 25 overall, and defensive line more specifically. The need for more pass rush juice this side of Montez Sweat and the potential of Austin Booker is obvious.
In a broader sense, with the many players he inherited from Matt Eberflus last season, the Bears should be shaping their defense to fit Allen's scheme, tendencies, and preferences. His general success as a defensive mind proves that what he wants works.
Daniel Jeremiah's final 2026 mock gives Dennis Alen a dream fit
In his final mock draft for 2026, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah has the Bears taking Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 25.
"I’ve had a couple people around the league tell me Faulk is a good scheme fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. He can play on the edge but also has the ability to rush from inside if needed."
During a recent appearance on ESPN 1000's "Kap and J.Hood", Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer also tied Faulk to the Bears at No. 25.
"One name that kind of keeps coming up is a fit for Dennis Allen: Keldric Faulk from Auburn", Breer said.
A red flag, or so, with Faulk is that he had just two sacks in his final year at Auburn. But he earned a top-20 run defense grade among edge rushers from Pro Football Focus last season (85.5), after an 83.4 mark in that area in 2024, and he had seven sacks with 45 pressures in 2024.
Faulk, at nearly 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds with 34 and 3/8-inch arms, is among the more traits-filled edge rushers in this draft class. His ability to line up inside and outside is a mark in his corner as he heads to the next level, and that lack of sack production last season has not stopped him from being a projected first-round pick.
Faulk will also not turn 21 until September and he has not reached his ceiling. This part of NFL.com's Lance Zierlein's evaluation stands out.
"Won’t turn 21 until September but has the skill level of an older player."
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If Allen is going to pound the table for a defensive player at No. 25 on Thursday night, Faulk is as strong a candidate as anyone and Ryan Poles could very well grant him that wish.
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