We’re a few weeks into the 2026 NFL free agency period, and most of the top free agents are off the market. There remain several starting-caliber talents available, but as far as long-term solutions go, you’re unlikely to find any this late in the process.
With that said, the next big event in the Bears’ offseason remains the 2026 NFL Draft at the end of April. After their trade of DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Bills for a second-round selection, Chicago now has four top-90 selections in this
upcoming draft class.
Admittedly, the Bears might be heading into the draft with a lot of the same needs they had at the start of free agency. They still have an opening at safety alongside free-agent signing Coby Bryant, and they didn’t make any major moves along the defensive line. The linebacker position seems to be in solid shape in the short term, but that’s the only position that came out truly better than it was before.
Not to fear: the Bears have the chance to add plenty of talented players to their roster and plug up the few remaining holes they have to work with.
Using PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator to simulate the picks of the other 31 teams around me, here are my latest selections for the Bears in my latest 2026 seven-round mock draft.
Round 1: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The way this defensive tackle class is shaping out, it feels like there will be better fits for the Bears’ defense elsewhere in Round 1. Peter Woods and Christen Miller stand out as the best fits for Dennis Allen’s system, as Kayden McDonald, Caleb Banks, and Lee Hunter don’t necessarily fit the phenotype he typically looks for at defensive tackle. On the other hand, there are plenty of edge rusher who fit what Chicago will likely want.
T.J. Parker is one of those defenders. He’s a physical edge-setter who packs a mean punch at the point of attack and convert speed to power well as a pass rusher. He approaches his reps with a sound plan of how to beat the offensive tackle in front of him, and he has the short-area quickness to be an immediate threat off the snap. I project him strictly as a 4-3 base defensive end, so a landing spot like the Bears could help maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses in space.
Round 2: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
While Allen has historically preferred bigger, longer edge rushers, he tends to go more for disruptive defensive tackles who win with speed more so than plugging up gaps. The Bears don’t really have a proven player with that archetype on their roster. Gervon Dexter is fast but inconsistent in his get-off and high in his pads, Grady Jarrett seems to have lost a step, and Shemar Turner has a very small sample size in the NFL. Neville Gallimore fits more of what Chicago needs at defensive tackle, though he’s purely a rotational player at this stage in his career.
A smaller defensive tackle, Gracen Halton won’t wow you with his ability to lock blockers out at the point of attack or stand his ground through double-teams as a run defender. Rather, it’s his stellar quickness and finesse that makes him a worthy Day 2 selection. He’s quick off the snap and agile in chase-down pursuit of the ball, and his lower center of gravity gives him natural leverage through contact. His ability to string moves together and battle to penetrating opposing backfields should see him make his fair share of plays in the league.
Round 2 (from Bills): A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
The Bears opted for a splash at safety in free agency, signing Coby Bryant away from the defending champion Seahawks. At 26 years old, he’s a safer long-term option for Chicago than Kevin Byard, and he’s been a more impactful starter to this point than Jaquan Brisker has. However, with both Byard and Brisker gone, there’s still an opening at safety in the Bears’ starting lineup, which figures to be filled through the draft.
Enter A.J. Haulcy. After stints at New Mexico and Houston, the physical safety spent 2025 with LSU and was recognized as a first-team All-American. He’s a stout, hard-hitting defensive back who carries his weight incredibly well. His physicality at the wrap-up point as a tackler is admirable, and he’s a high-motored downhill defender who tackles with good form and nice pop in his pads. In coverage, he has very good coverage instincts and the ball-tracking skills to make big plays. Evaluators looking for single-high, centerfielder-type safeties in this class should look elsewhere, but what the Bears need at safety plays into Haulcy’s strengths.
Round 3: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
Garrett Bradbury projects as a solid stopgap option for the Bears at center in the wake of Drew Dalman’s sudden retirement. However, he’s never ranked in the top 15 in PFSN’s OL Impact Scoring among NFL centers, which generally indicates he’s an average to below-average starter. He also hits free agency next offseason, which could leave Chicago in the market for a replacement eventually. With the depth of this center class, this could be a good year to take advantage of that.
The Rimington Trophy winner as the best center in college football, Logan Jones is a tremendous athlete along the offensive line. He finished the Combine with a 9.62 RAS, overcoming below-average size measurements with a stellar 1.73 10-yard split and a 98th-percentile 4.90 40-yard dash. That speed translates on tape, as he’s quick out of his stance, agile as a pull blocker, and coordinated blocking on the move. He has impressive raw power as a run blocker, maximizing the momentum generated from his quickness and churning to drive defenders off the snap. Jones projects as a future NFL starter who could benefit from a year to bulk up a little more.
Round 4 (from Rams): Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
In the short term, cornerback might not seem like a massive need for the Bears. However, Tyrique Stevenson is slated to hit free agency next offseason, and he arguably hasn’t proven that he’s worth a long-term investment as a starting option along their perimeter. If the value’s right, don’t be surprised if they add competition for him in the form of a draft pick.
It feels like Tacario Davis has been the victim of the classic prospect fatigue scenario. He’s been solid for so long, and though he certainly has his weaknesses, he’s a gifted athlete who’s 6’4” and has 95th-percentile arm length for the cornerback position. He’s a little tight-hipped in sudden movement scenarios, but he has impressive deep speed, good longitudinal agility to shoot downhill, and he has great ball skills that help him adjust to passes and disrupt plays on a consistent basis.
Round 7 (from Eagles via Jaguars and Browns): Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
Outside of their top three receivers — Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Kalif Raymond — the Bears’ group of wide receivers have a combined eight catches at the NFL level. You meet a similar problem with Kaden Wetjen in that Iowa didn’t use him much as a receiver, but he’s the best return specialist I’ve watched in this draft. His agility and full-field vision as a ball-carrier are both tremendous, and he looked like a reliable separator in drills at the Shrine Bowl, as well.
Round 7: Dan Villari, TE, Syracuse
With Durham Smythe no longer on the roster, the Bears need a third tight end to trot out there in 13 personnel packages and on special teams. Dan Villari had a career drop rate of just 1.5% in college. He’s a little undersized, but the willingness as an in-line blocker is there. I’m bummed he didn’t get a Combine invitation, because you see really good deep speed and fluidity on the seam with him on tape. He’s a much more polished route runner than you’d expect for someone who started off as a quarterback in college, too.
53-man roster preview
QB (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum
RB (4): D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Brittain Brown
WR (5): Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Jahdae Walker, Kaden Wetjen
TE (3): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Dan Villari
OL (9): Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills, Theo Benedet, Jordan McFadden, Logan Jones (with Ozzy Trapilo on PUP)
DT (5): Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, Gracen Halton, Shemar Turner, Neville Gallimore
DE (5): Montez Sweat, T.J. Parker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy
LB (5): T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D’Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II
CB (7): Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Tacario Davis, Josh Blackwell, Terell Smith, Zah Frazier
S (4): Coby Bryant, A.J. Haulcy, Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks
ST (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Scott Daly
