The second day of workouts in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine takes place on Friday. This go-around, the defensive backs — the cornerbacks and safeties — and tight ends will be taking the field in Indianapolis.
Thursday saw a loaded group of defensive linemen and linebackers take part in drills. That leaves a high bar for Friday’s group, but Day 2 of the Combine should be an exciting one from start to finish.
With general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson among Chicago’s representatives at the
Combine, here’s a look at the state of each position on the Bears’ roster, as well as my top 10 prospects at each spot in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cornerbacks
The Bears have three starting-caliber options at cornerback under contract going into 2026. This comes in spite of the expected departure of Nahshon Wright, the Pro Bowl breakout defender who led the NFL in turnovers forced this season.
Jaylon Johnson will be interesting to monitor coming off an injury-plagued season which saw him play just seven games. The two-time Pro Bowler turns just 27 years old in April, so he should still ideally have plenty of strong football ahead of him.
Kyler Gordon has the slot locked down, though he dealt with availability issues in 2026, too. He only played in three games this past season, which ended up being the final year of his rookie deal before his contract extension kicks in. The hope is that he will be able to stay healthy, having also missed nine games over his first three seasons prior to missing 14 in 2025.
Assuming Wright signed a big deal elsewhere, Tyrique Stevenson will return to the Bears’ starting lineup. “Return” is maybe a stretch, as he started in 10 of the 13 games he played this season. However, his own inconsistency saw him benched in favor of Wright once Johnson returned from injury, and as an impending free agency in 2027, Stevenson still has a lot to prove before earning a contract extension.
The Bears could stand to add some depth to the cornerback position if the value is right. They have some intriguing options off the bench in the form of Terell Smith, Zah Frazier, and Josh Blackwell. The hope is that the first two will be reliable rotational options after both missing the entirety of the 2025 season.
Top 10 cornerbacks
- Mansoor Delane, LSU
- Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
- Avieon Terrell, Clemson
- Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
- Colton Hood, Tennessee
- Chris Johnson, San Diego State
- D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
- Keith Abney II, Arizona State
- Keionte Scott, Miami (FL)
- Devin Moore, Florida
Safeties
Heading into free agency, the Bears don’t have a single safety under an active roster contract. Needless to say, an addition at the position through the 2026 NFL Draft should be anticipated.
Kevin Byard was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 2025, leading the NFL in interceptions and serving as a key catalyst in several of Chicago’s close games this season. There’s no denying the impact he had on the Bears’ secondary, but as someone who turns 33 years old in August, it’s a risky move to sign him to a deal that guarantees much in the way of significant future salary.
Jaquan Brisker also hits free agency, and comments from Ryan Poles at the Combine indicate he’s likely heading elsewhere this offseason. He’s been a solid starter in Chicago’s secondary the last four seasons, but his steep price tag and extensive history of concussions also make him a risky player to extend to a long-term deal.
Beyond those two, the likes of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jonathan Owens, and Elijah Hicks are all slated to hit free agency, too. It could make sense to bring some of those players back as depth, but the Bears would still need at least one new starting safety in the secondary. This year’s safety class is at its deepest on Day 2 of the draft, as I have five safeties in between spots No. 60 through 100 on my big board.
Top 10 safeties
- Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
- A.J. Haulcy, LSU
- Kamari Ramsey, USC
- Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
- Genesis Smith, Arizona
- Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
- Treydan Stukes, Arizona
- Louis Moore, Indiana
Tight ends
If there’s one position the Bears don’t need significant investment in, tight end has to be near the top of the list.
Colston Loveland’s rookie season was everything Chicago could have hoped for, as he led the team in receiving yards and looked the part of an impact player as a rookie, which is historically a difficult thing for tight ends to do. He ranked sixth in PFSN’s TE Impact Scoring, having finished ninth among tight ends in receiving yards and provided significant blocking value.
Alongside him in the tight end room, Cole Kmet settled well into the TE2 role for the Bears. His receiving numbers were down as his target share naturally decreased, but he was still an efficient threat in the passing game who brought tenacity and strength as an in-line run blocker. His value as the NFL shifts towards a higher frequency of 12 personnel cannot be understated.
If the Bears make a move at tight end in this year’s draft, it likely won’t come until Day 3. 2026 is a pretty talented tight end class, and while it’s not as top-heavy as last year’s group, it still features plenty of prospects around Rounds 3 and 4 with starting upside. That could knock a good TE3 into Chicago’s lap in the later rounds if they don’t extend up re-signing Durham Smythe.
Top 10 tight ends
- Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
- Michael Trigg, Baylor
- Max Klare, Ohio State
- Justin Joly, NC State
- Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
- Marlin Klein, Michigan
- Eli Raridon, Notre Dame
- Jack Endries, Texas
- Joe Royer, Cincinnati
- Oscar Delp, Georgia
