With college football season on the horizon, some of us are keeping an eye on prospects we might be interested in heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. For simplicity, we’ve narrowed the categories down to players we are obviously keeping an eye on for Chicago, players we’ve mostly ruled out as prospects for Chicago, and then finally players we are just still undecided about.
Players we are obviously interested in…
Jacob: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Given the Bears’ lack of a proven high-end starter at running back, the most popular 2026 draft
prospect being tied to the organization is Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. He’s the consensus top running back in the class, and when you turn on the tape, it’s not hard to see why.
Love is a shifty runner who makes smart cuts in space and has the foot speed to make defenders miss. Additionally, he’s a tough, powerful back who fights hard for every yard he gets and keeps his legs churning through contact with tackles. He has the breakaway speed to be a home-run hitter in the NFL, and he’s a good receiving back with soft hands out of the backfield.
It’s not a matter of whether or not Love’s a good fit for the Bears. Judging by his 2024 season, he certainly is. Rather, it’s a matter of whether he’ll be available for whenever they pick in the first round. Ashton Jeanty went in the top ten in the 2025 NFL Draft, and I don’t think Love is too far behind as a prospect.
Josh: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
Uigalelei had 10.5 sacks in the Big Ten in 2024, behind only JT Tuimoloau and Abdul Carter. The converted tight end is 6’5” and 270lbs with an explosive first step and a true desire to be involved in every play. He’s got power and motor as well as adequate bend and agility. He currently relies on physical traits and attitude to rush the passer, but part of that is because to date those have been sufficient.
I’ll be watching to see if he layers technique on top of potential this season. He also needs work on his field awareness, because while he has an instinct for the ball, he does need refinement in assessing plays. These notes aren’t intended as criticisms, because he is on track to be an easy Top 50 pick. However, if he can add even a small amount of additional development in 2025, he will be on track to be a terror in the NFL.
Players we’ve mostly ruled out…
Jacob: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
As an individual prospect, regardless of scheme, I quite like David Bailey. He was a pass-rushing artist during his time at Stanford, and I expect more of the same for him at Texas Tech. He’s explosive off the snap, fluid moving around in space and demonstrates a high power with active hands rushing the passer. If you want pass-rushing lightning in a bottle, he’s your guy.
However, I don’t see him as a great fit for the Bears, particularly in Dennis Allen’s defensive system. He has predominantly preferred edge rushers with good length and power who can rush with their hand in the dirt. Bailey’s better in a stand-up rushing role and lacks the anchor strength to consistently set the edge as a run defender. Listed at 6’3” and 240 pounds, he’s on the smaller side for his position. He’s gifted enough that he could likely make any role work, but Chicago would likely be able to identify better fits for their defense than Bailey in the 2026 draft.
Josh: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Proctor is an outstanding athlete from Des Moines, Iowa who played basketball and threw shot put in addition to playing football. These days, he anchors the Alabama offensive line at left tackle. He’s massive–6’7” and 370lbs–but he moves with the explosiveness and ease of a smaller man. His bend and lateral agility truly do not make sense for a man this powerfully built, and he absolutely has power to spare.
Given that the Bears have at least four different people competing at left tackle as of this writing, it seems unlikely that they would burn a high draft pick on Proctor–and he will likely be taken as soon as possible. Still, it’s nice to imagine him protecting the blindside of Chicago’s quarterbacks.
Players we’re trying to talk ourselves into/out of…
Josh: Into. Anthony Hill, Jr. (LB-Texas) He’s an instinctive player with impressive athleticism. Even when I was watching games to track other players last year, I found myself noticing how he seemed to find the ball. He reads what offenses are trying to do and then attacks, trying to cause maximum disruption. He even has some ability to rush the passer, although it’s not the primary tool in his toolkit. Given concerns about Chicago’s depth at linebacker, and how impact linebackers seem to be worth the draft capital, I’m keeping an eye on him to see if he’s worth the high pick he’s likely to command.
That, of course, is going to be the trick. One or two off-the-ball linebackers each year prove to be worth a Top-50 pick, and while Ryan Poles has yet to show any sign that he plans on going defense with a first-round selection.
Jacob: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
I chose Caleb Banks as a player I’m trying to talk myself out of, simply because I’m not sure defensive tackle is a big enough need to use a first-round pick on one in 2026 with Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, and Shemar Turner in the fold now for the next couple years. That said, Jarrett is 32 years old and is hardly a long-term answer. A lot of the best defenses utilize a heavy defensive line rotation, keeping their guys fresh to maximize the play they get up front.
Banks isn’t my top-rated defensive tackle in the 2026 draft; that honor currently goes to Clemson’s Peter Woods. But Banks is a player I identify as a more likely option for the Bears in the middle of Round 1. His upside as a 3-technique defensive tackle is impressive. He’s a 6’5”, 325-pound defensive lineman who moves incredibly well for his size. He has quick, active hands as a pass rusher and offers a well-built frame with great length. If he can improve his pad level, he has the potential to be an impact defensive tackle at the next level. That’s the type of player who’s tough to pass up on.
What about you? Who are you interested in from the college ranks? Let us know below.
