With over a week to go until the 2026 NFL Draft, experts are getting in their final predictions before it gets underway, with many still wondering what the Chicago Bears are going to do with their first three picks.
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft as he went through two rounds of the draft. Kiper likes the Bears to select Missouri edge rusher Zion Young with the 25th overall pick.
"The Bears' attempts to give Montez Sweat a running mate off the edge have fallen short, but Young could finally be the answer. He piled up 6.5 sacks, 46 pressures and 18 tackles for loss last season, showing a mix of power and quickness. The Bears are suddenly legit contenders in the NFC, but their 35 sacks last season tied for seventh fewest in the league. I mentioned this in my last mock draft-- in which I also had Young to Chicago -- but it's worth repeating: The Bears haven't used a top-50 pick on an edge rusher since Leonard Floyd went ninth in 2016. It's time to get a little more aggressive at the position during the draft."
Bears go edge rusher with first-round pick, but what about the second round?
Young makes a ton of sense for the Bears and is one that the fan would not argue with. Sweat is the top guy, but there are too many questions about whether Bears fans will see Austin Booker finally fire on all cylinders in his third year in the league. If anything, Young gives them depth at a position that needs it.
To start the second round with the 57th overall pick, Kiper has the Bears looking in the secondary to select Arizona defensive back, Treydan Stukes.
"This offseason has brought a full line change at safety in Chicago: Coby Bryant and Cam Lewis in, Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III out. But it's still a need, and Stukes could step in for Lewis. The Bears have an opportunistic defense, leading the NFL in takeaways (33) and interceptions (23) last season. Stukes fits right in; he had four interceptions last year."
Bryant gets his sidekick at safety with Stukes and wouldn't have to worry about throwing Lewis in the starting lineup. Stukes is a playmaker and fits perfectly with the Bears' opportunistic defense.
Just a few picks later at 60, Kiper looks at center with Iowa's Logan Jones.
"The Bears quickly found a new center in Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman retired, but Bradbury is a free agent after this season. Jones has started 51 games, all at center."
Jones is the fastest and most athletic center in the draft after running an NFL Combine offensive line-best 4.9 40-yard dash. There is some skepticism when it comes to Bradbury beyond the 2026 season, so why not get one of the nation's best centers in college last year?
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Whether this is the actual direction the Bears will go in the 2026 NFL Draft will be the real question, but if it is, Chicago fans will be thrilled by the selections.
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