For the first time in forever, Bears fans don’t have to be knee-deep in mock drafts late into November.
I’ve been writing for Windy City Gridiron since 2017, and I’ve been grateful enough to be the Lead Draft Analyst here since 2020. For every season I’ve been here except 2018, I’ve been pretty consistent releasing mock drafts throughout the course of the year, because that’s provided a bit of hope at the end of the tunnel. I’ve still been watching prospects throughout the year, but with the team
doing well this go around, there’s way more positive for us to talk about.
Still, I’m particularly interested in what the Bears’ draft strategy could look like after Sunday’s Week 12 win over the Steelers. That’s because rookie Ozzy Trapilo slid into the starting left tackle spot and put together an impressive outing in his first NFL regular season action at the position. The narrative since training camp has been that Trapilo is more comfortable at right tackle than left, and his playing two of his three preseason games solely at right tackle this year backed that up.
After how well he played at left tackle on Sunday, though, what if he’s able to solidify himself as the Bears’ starting left tackle in 2026? If that were to be the case, here’s how I would play out their 2026 NFL Draft haul with the current projected slots they’re in.
Round 1: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
With a first-round pick currently projected to fall near the end of the round, the Bears miss out on top edge rushers like Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami, Keldric Faulk from Auburn, and T.J. Parker from Clemson. If you consider Ohio State’s Arvell Reese to be an EDGE convert, he’ll be long gone by the time Chicago picks, too. That said, there are still plenty of talented edge rushers to be had in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Matayo Uiagalelei is one of my favorites.
Listed at 6’5” and 270 pounds, Uiagalelei is a sturdy, well-built edge rusher with good length and a frame that carries his weight very well. He’s a physical defender who can push the pocket with power, utilizing long-arms and bull rushes to convert speed to power at the point of attack. He has a deep arsenal of moves he can use to win in the trenches that go beyond just power, too. In addition, his spatial awareness and understanding of how to stack and shed blocks when setting the edge is also strong. Uiagalelei falls into the late first round because he doesn’t have as much athletic upside as other edge rushers in this class, but he’s a safe bet I feel comfortable in saying should be a good starter in the NFL.
Round 2: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Some might scoff at the thought of drafting a small-school safety this high, but Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is worth it. The Bears have a clear need at the position, too, seeing as though both Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are slated to hit the open market this offseason. I expect one of them to return, but bringing back both could be difficult.
McNeil-Warren brings an enticing blend of elite size and track speed to the table. He’s a versatile defender who’s lined up as a deep safety, in the box, and in the slot for Toledo, all showing a high success rate. He’s a physical defensive back who takes good angles in pursuit as a tackler and shows a willingness to compete at the wrap-up point. On top of that, he shows good processing abilities in coverage in both two-high and single-high shells. I have McNeil-Warren as the second-best Group of 5 player on my board this year, and I think he’ll be picked in the first two rounds of the 2026 draft.
Round 3: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
I’m not sold the Bears don’t attack defensive tackle as one of their biggest weaknesses going into the 2026 offseason. Andrew Billings is slated to hit free agency this offseason, Grady Jarrett hasn’t lived up to his contract thus far, and Shemar Turner got converted into more of an edge rusher role before going down for the year with injury. It could be beneficial for Chicago to draft a defensive tackle in what appears to be a solid group full of Day 2 talent.
Darrell Jackson Jr. is a player I was intrigued by last season who’s really come into his own in 2025. He’s a freak athlete who showcases serious burst and speed for a player who’s listed at 6’5” and 330 pounds. Even if the sack production isn’t there, the pressure production is, and his athleticism indicates he has untapped pass-rushing potential to work with. But where he is polished, though, is as a run defender. He takes advantage of his massive frame, using his long arms and powerful grip to lock out blockers from the inside of his chest, and using his strong anchor to stand his ground. I like Jackson a lot as an immediate run defender with potential to become a three-down starter if he develops more on passing downs.
Round 4: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
I’ll admit that I have Emmett Johnson much higher than a late fourth-round pick; I just have him this low because there’s isn’t enough buzz around him nationally right now. I think he’s shown shades of TreVeyon Henderson in his 2025 tape, and while he doesn’t have the longevity of sustained great play that Henderson had out of Ohio State, I think a lot of the same qualities are there. He’s only a junior, but if he declares, I think he’ll rise into prominence as one of the top backs in the 2026 NFL Draft.
For now, though, the Bears take advantage and pick him in my mock. In 11 games in 2025, Johnson has 1,234 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns with a 5.6 yards per carry average. He’s also an experienced receiving back with 90 career catches and a collegiate drop rate of only 2.4%. When I turn on the film, I’m impressed by just how athletic he is. He’s a shifty runner with enough explosiveness and flexibility needed to cut on a dime and make defenders miss in space. Once he gets out into the open field, his breakaway speed is some of the best in this class. He won’t wow you as a power back, and his vision in between the tackles is still developing, but I think there’s serious upside in Johnson’s game.
Round 5: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
From a production perspective, Jacob Rodriguez might be the best linebacker in college football this season, which is saying a lot. He leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles, he has 100 tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss through 11 games, and he leads the Big 12 with four interceptions. The Bears find themselves in the market for linebacker depth after seeing how the last few weeks have played out in T.J. Edwards’ and, eventually, Tremaine Edmunds’ absence.
Rodriguez is an aggressive WILL linebacker who uses his former experience as a quarterback well, as he can read play concepts well and has a good understanding of where the ball is going to go on a given play. He’s like a heat-seeking missile in pursuit, and he’s an athletic linebacker with very good closing speed. His quick reactions in coverage allow him to fare well in zone across the middle of the field and make plays on the ball. I have Rodriguez higher than Round 5, but I do think he’s a better college player than pro. That’s mostly because of his lack of elite size, length, and tendency to dive at the ankles too much as a tackler. That said, I still think he can be tremendous depth in the NFL.
Round 7: Chris Adams, OG, Memphis
If you’re an NFL team, and you have the ability to do so, I’m a fan of the philosophy of drafting at least one new offensive lineman every year. You can never have too much depth up front, and though the Bears have been lucky with injuries to their offensive line so far (knock on wood), you want to be well prepared if one of your starters goes down.
Chris Adams plays left tackle at Memphis and did so at Old Dominion in 2023, but at 290 pounds with okay length, I think he kicks inside at the next level. He keeps a wide base with tempered movements in pass protection, and he takes precise angles with accurate hand placement blocking on the move. His athleticism shines when he’s climbing to the second level or serving as a down or reach blocker, and his hands are powerful. If anything sees Adams fall to Round 7, it’s his lack of elite anchor strength and top-heavy weight distribution. That said, I think he’ll be a good backup in the NFL with value at guard and the ability to kick outside to tackle in a pinch.
Round 7 (from Eagles via Browns): John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming
The Bears don’t have a need at tight end, but I always like to use these late-round selections as a showcase for prospects I enjoy watching, and that’s the criterion that John Michael Gyllenborg falls under.
Injuries have limited Gyllenborg’s production this season, but he caught 30 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns in nine games for Wyoming in 2024. He’s a versatile tight end who can win as a route runner in-line or in the slot. He has a good frame at 6’5” and 251 pounds, and he complements that size with impressive ball skills and natural pass-catching abilities away from his frame. I’m not saying Gyllenborg is as good of a prospect as Colston Loveland, but there are some similarities in terms of how Gyllenborg’s speed and coordination help him out as a threat across the middle of the field. He’ll probably be a late-round pick if he does get drafted, but I think there’s much more upside with him than most late-round tight ends you’ll find out there.
Round 7 (projected compensatory pick): Dominic Zvada, K, Michigan
As of this writing, the Bears are projected to have the final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as a compensatory selection. The stakes for the Mr. Irrelevant slot are very low, so I feel like it’s a good idea to swing for upside and see what happens. With the chatter surrounding Jake Moody as a replacement for Cairo Santos before Santos returned and Moody got sniped off Chicago’s practice squad, adding some more competition couldn’t hurt.
I’ll emphasize that you’re drafting Dominic Zvada off of his 2024 tape, not so much his 2025. I watched every kick he attempted in 2024 and thought he was one of the most impressive kicker prospects I’ve watched. This season, it’s been a different story. Zvada is just 12-for-19 (63.2%) on field goal attempts, including going just 3-for-6 from 30 to 39 yards out. A lot of it comes down to his struggles on wide hashmarks. That said, his 2024 was special. He went 21-for-22 (95.5%) on field goal tries and nailed all seven of his attempts from 50+ yards out. Zvada has a powerful leg with a repeatable approach; I’m no special teams coach, but I think a lot of it is a mental thing with him. Much like with Moody, the tools are there with Zvada, and he’s been super efficient before. The hope with using the Mr. Irrelevant pick on him is that he can tap into that upside.
