As Bears training camp approaches, it’s natural to wonder how their roster fares compared to the rest of the league going into the 2026-27 NFL season. On paper, there are certain positions on Chicago’s roster that look stronger than others.
That’s obviously going to be the case for every team, but it remains to be seen if the Bears can maximize their strengths and negate their weaknesses to win the NFC North again this season. If they do so, it would be the first time Chicago has finished as division
champions in back-to-back seasons since the 2005 and 2006 campaigns.
Much will change between now and the start of the 2027 NFL Draft. However, knowing what we know about the Bears’ roster and given my early preparations for next year’s class, I decided to whip up a new mock draft to both highlight a few areas of weakness on the roster, but most importantly, a few intriguing draft prospects I like so far in my evaluation process.
Using the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator, I simulated the picks for the remaining 31 NFL teams and made my own selections for the Bears. The draft order is based on Super Bowl odds and has Chicago picking at No. 16, which I think is higher than where they’ll end up selecting, but it helps the value I can get in this mock draft.
Round 1: Justin Scott, DT, Miami (FL)
I’ve voiced my concerns about Chicago’s interior defensive line heading into 2026. It’s probably too late for them to do anything about that weakness now, but I anticipate defensive tackle to be an area of focus going into next offseason. Gervon Dexter hits free agency next offseason, and Grady Jarrett is a likely cap casualty based on his performance last year.
A Chicago native who was a five-star recruit out of St. Ignatius, Justin Scott is cited as having a 1.56 10-yard split coming out of high school, which would be in the 99th-percentile for defensive tackles. I like him best as a 3-technique, where his impressive get-off speed can see up shoot up the B-gap and ruin an offense’s gameplay. He rushes with good pad level, has ideal play strength taking blocks head-on, and his agility is much better than most 303-pound men. Scott’s gap awareness as a run defender needs work, and he only has two collegiate sacks in 27 games. He needs more development in terms of his counter arsenal and the aforementioned spatial awareness, but he has elite physical attributes and first-round potential if he takes the leap in 2026.
Round 2: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
With D’Andre Swift slated to hit free agency next offseason, it’s tough to tell what the future has in store for the Bears’ current starting running back. He’s coming off a strong 2025 campaign, but he’ll be 28 years old in January, so a massive extension beyond another year or two feels unlikely.
Ahmad Hardy’s status for the 2026 season is up in the air after getting shot in the leg at a concert in April. That said, his collegiate tape has been first-round worthy. He’s been dominant to begin his collegiate career with exactly 3,000 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns between his freshman year at UL-Monroe and his sophomore year at Mizzou last season. He’s a stout runner with tremendous pad level and elite contact balance, and he has the agility to make defenders miss in space. He’s patient out of the backfield and has the aggression to hit the hole hard when he discovers an opening. Hardy is unproven as a pass-catching back, but I think he has bellcow potential in between the tackles.
Round 3: Teitum Tuioti, EDGE, Oregon
I think the Bears have two solid pieces off the edge in Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. However, Shemar Turner is unproven as a contributor, and Dayo Odeyingbo is a likely cap casualty if he repeats his 2025 performance. There’s no such thing as too much depth along the defensive line, as the Eagles and Seahawks have shown as the last two Super Bowl winners.
Teitum Tuioti has combined for 72 pressures, 15 sacks, and 23.5 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons. He’s a powerful edge rusher who wins with proper leverage, physicality at the point of attack, and a high motor deconstructing blocks. He’s a reliable tackler who can break down with a wide base and secure tackles with very good play strength. Though Tuioti isn’t the most flexible or lengthy edge rusher in the world, he has the tone-setting ability off the edge to contribute against the run and win with power as a pass rusher.
Round 4: Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
I might have more faith in Ozzy Trapilo’s long-term recovery than some, but the Bears will still need offensive line depth next offseason. Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills are both only on one-year deals, so bringing in another offensive tackle would be beneficial.
Trevor Lauck doesn’t seem to have elite length based on what I’ve seen on tape, but he makes up for it with his refined hand usage. He consistently lands his strikes on time with proper placement, helping him win the leverage battle at the point of attack. He shows solid burst going into pass protection, and he demonstrates impressive churn in his lower body that’s paired with a nasty demeanor.
Round 6: Jyaire Hill, CB, Michigan
At 6’2”, Jyaire Hill has prototypical height for the perimeter cornerback position. He’s a little skinny, but his long arms give him a large catch radius and a physical advantage at the catch point. For a taller cornerback, he’s a good athlete with nice explosiveness coming out of his breaks. He’s also a scrappy tackler who wraps up with good form downhill, and his career allowed completion rate of 54.5% shows how well he’s performed against Big Ten competition.
Round 7: Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina
Listed at 6’5” and 235 pounds, Nyck Harbor is a physical specimen. Anybody who plays the NCAA Football video game series likely knows just how much of a cheat code he is in those games. That doesn’t always translate to the field in real life, as he’s high-hipped as a route runner and doesn’t have a diverse route tree to get open. However, his elite size and All-American sprinter speed give him elite physical attributes and can make him a serious threat as a vertical target. Plus, imagine what Ben Johnson can do with him as a gadget weapon.
