The start of the 2026 NFL Draft is merely a few hours away. We’ve all waited long enough to see what the Bears will do in the first round, whether they stay put at No. 25 or trade out of it in either direction.
You’re here for a mock draft. There’s no use in drawing the intro out. Let’s get started.
Using the PFSN NFL Mock Draft Simulator to simulate the other picks around me, these are my picks in my final Bears mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Simply put, the Bears cannot afford to keep this current
defensive line rotation in place. T.J. Parker is a stout defensive end who can set the edge well in the run game with good pad leverage at the point of attack and a sturdy anchor through contact. He’s quick off the ball and can convert speed to power as a pass rusher. His flexibility isn’t out of this world, and his production dropped in 2025 compared to 2024. No prospect you take at No. 25 in this class is going to be flawless, though. Parker is a high-floor edge rusher with underrated speed and a relentless motor to string moves together working through blocks.
Round 2: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
Looking at this pick, I had to evaluate possible selections at both No. 57 and No. 60. Some of my favorite prospects like Treydan Stukes and Keionte Scott were both taken, and I didn’t love the value I saw on the board at either center or cornerback. In an ideal world, I’d trade back with one of these picks, but I told myself I wouldn’t trade back in this mock.
A.J. Haulcy is a versatile, experienced defensive back who can cover in the box at a high level, especially in the slot. He’s a thickly-built safety who hits hard as a downhill defender and shows impressive effort in pursuit as a tackler. He also has impressive playmaking abilities, showing off his ball-tracking skills and instincts to jump a route in coverage. The long speed is what would drop Haulcy to No. 57, but the floor with him is high.
Round 2: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
The 6’3”, 293-pound Gracen Halton is an athletic specimen whose elite level testing at the Combine is reflective of what you see from him on tape. He’s explosive in his first step off the line of scrimmage, he has impressive closing speed in pursuit for his position, and he’s agile enough to execute stunts and create pressure off the edge. He has a deep arsenal of pass-rushing moves he can string together, and he demonstrates ideal pad level in the trenches. Though Halton isn’t the biggest or strongest defender against the run, he’s a high-level pass-rushing threat as a 3-technique defensive tackle. That’s exactly what the Bears need.
Round 3: Brian Parker II, C, Duke
Unless the Bears get really good value at left tackle in the first round, no offensive lineman they draft is going to start in 2026. That said, positional versatility would be a huge plus in whichever blocker they select, assuming they take one early at some position. Brian Parker II was a top performer at tackle for Duke, but due to a lack of length, I project him at center in the pros, where he performed well at the Shrine Bowl. His ability to line up just about anywhere along the offensive line helps him out tremendously. On tape, he’s a solid athlete but really wins with accurate strike placement, good pad level, and a high football IQ.
Round 4: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
As of this writing, the Bears’ WR5 and WR6 are J.P. Richardson and Maurice Alexander, respectively. They’re going to need to improve the depth they have behind their current starting lineup. De’Zhaun Stribling is a player whose projection I’ve seen as high as late Round 2, but I’m in agreement with PFSN’s simulator that Round 4 is better value. He’s a bit raw as a route-running technician and doesn’t explode with super sharp cuts, but he’s a 6’2” receiver with 4.36 speed who has strong hands and is a tenacious run blocker. I like him to compete for the WR3 role with Kalif Raymond and Jahdae Walker in 2026, with the upside to serve in that role going forward.
Round 7: Latrell McCutchin, CB, Houston
A 6’2” cornerback with good length who’s been an impact starter for Houston the last two seasons, Latrell McCutchin has the aggression to thrive close to the line of scrimmage in coverage and excel on special teams. He most notably had six special teams tackles for USC in 2022. He’s scrappy through a receiver’s stems, and he’s a physical tackler at the point of contact. McCutchin also ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the Combine, and while his fluidity and form as a tackler are both works in progress, the tools are there to take a chance on. Don’t be surprised if the Bears draft a cornerback earlier than this if the value is right, however.
Round 7: Enrique Cruz Jr., OT, Kansas
Enrique Cruz Jr. has close to 34-inch arms and over 10-inch hands, and he puts those to good use. He’s physical at the point of attack, nasty working through blocks, and possesses high-level play strength when engaged with defenders. The power is what enticed me on tape, but he outperformed my expectations for him at the Combine. With a 35-inch vertical at 313 pounds and a 4.94 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split, his testing indicates there’s more athletic upside with him than I previously thought.
