Draft guru's initial 2026 1st-round mock addresses critical Bears need

The Chicago Bears have rolled to a 9-3 record to reign supreme in the NFC amid their first season under head coach Ben Johnson. However, their roster still has several holes that require another strong draft class to fortify.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles has leaned into building the secondary via the draft with the likes of Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson. He's addressed the other two levels of the defense through prized free agent Tremaine Edmunds and a bold trade for Montez Sweat.

Although Poles drafted a promising edge rusher in Austin Booker a couple of years ago, a newly minted mock draft has him prioritizing defensive end far earlier than he ever has during his tenure in Chicago.

First 2026 mock draft from Dane Brugler gives Bears pass rush a big boost

Dane Brugler is one of the premier names in the NFL Draft coverage business. His debut 2026 mock of the first round just dropped on The Athletic, and he has the Bears choosing Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker with the 31st overall pick. Here's Brugler's rationale for the selection:

"After leaning offense early in last year’s draft, the Bears’ goal with the 2026 class should be building depth on the defensive side of the ball, including the pass rush off the edge. Parker is at his best with a runway, where he can use his strong hands and long levers to break down the balance of blockers."

Chicago has actually leaned into offense the last two drafts in a big way. Headlined by 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Poles has used six of his seven top-100 picks on that side of the ball.

Additionally, the entire interior offensive line that's driven the Bears' No. 2 rushing attack this season was built from veterans who weren't on the team last year. So yes, the front office has provided Williams with every conceivable resource to fulfill his destiny as the franchise's long-awaited superstar quarterback.

But it's clear the Bears need to lean more into defense. It helps to have an elite offensive play-caller as a head coach in Johnson. He should only continue to aid Williams' development.

What makes Parker such a compelling match in Chicago is the fact that, as BGO's Anthony Miller recently noted, Bears scouts were all over Clemson's Palmetto Bowl matchup with South Carolina. Parker was the obvious prized prospect in action who Chicago could conceivably target in the first round of this year's draft.

Let's just say Parker put on one heck of a show against the Gamecocks. He racked up three sacks in the Tigers' 28-14 victory. That brought Parker's season total to only five, but he had 11 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2024 as well. The young man is a menace!

Plus, there appears to be a plausible explanation for Parker's dip in production.

Tackling a humongous QB like South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers thrice in one game is no small feat in and of itself. Parker also boasts an excellent 83.8 true pass set pass rush PFF grade this season.

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Da Bears are tied for the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL with only 23 through Week 13. Sure feels like the 6'3", 265-pound Parker is the type of forceful presence the Bears could opposite Sweat — assuming he lasts long enough for the Bears to pick him.