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    Andrew Erickson | Tue, Mar 24th 2026, 8:13am EDT

2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Bears

This is the sharp end of Round 1.

Picks 25 through 28 belong to teams that won double-digit games and fully expect to be playing deep into January again. The Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans aren’t looking for identity — they have one. They’re looking for reinforcement.

At this stage of the draft, the conversation shifts.

It’s no longer about fixing glaring weaknesses. It’s about strengthening pressure points before they become problems. Depth in the trenches. Secondary insurance. A rotational pass rusher. A long-term successor at a premium position.

For teams this good, the margins are razor-thin.

A missed tackle in the Divisional Round. A protection breakdown in the fourth quarter. A lack of depth when injuries inevitably strike. That’s often the difference between hosting a conference championship and watching it from home.

Late-first selections can also be strategic:

  • Planning ahead for looming contract extensions
  • Replacing aging veterans a year early
  • Adding cost-controlled impact talent to balance a top-heavy cap sheet

In this batch, we break down:

  • The biggest roster holes for each franchise
  • Contract situations and future cap implications
  • Which positions should be prioritized for veterans and rookies
  • Potential fantasy football implications

These are the teams that are already good.

The goal now? Stay that way — and get better.

Up next: Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans.

Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.

Pick 25: Chicago Bears

Team Needs: EDGE, S, DT, CB, WR

2026 Free Agent Key Losses: WR DJ Moore, CB Nahshon Wright, LB Tremaine Edmunds, DL Andrew Billings, S Kevin Byard, S Jaquan Brisker, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Jonathan Owens

2026 Free Agents:

2027 Free Agents:

The Bears have done an excellent job surrounding their young QB, Caleb Williams, with a top-shelf offensive line and play-making receivers. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland both showed out in the second halves of their rookie seasons, and that growth is expected to continue into Year 2 under HC Ben Johnson.

Burden finished the season (combined regular and postseason) 7th in yards per route run (2.34).

Loveland finished the regular season top-5 among TEs in PFF receiving grade and yards per route run (1.97). From Week 7 onward…the Bears TE ranked top-5 in targets, catches and yards (26% target rate and TE4 in PPG at 11.1). Only Trey McBride had more receiving yards per game (61/game) compared to the Bears’ TE.

The former Michigan product also went NUCLEAR in the first round of the playoffs: Loveland recorded 8 receptions for 137 yards on 15 targets against the Packers, with the majority of his production coming when he created separation. Loveland generated 111 yards on 6 receptions (10 targets) when wide open (3+ yards of separation), while adding 94 yards on 4 receptions (6 targets) on vertical routes. The rookie tight end particularly excelled against zone coverage, where he hauled in all 8 of his receptions for 137 yards on 13 targets via Next Gen Stats.

Cole Kmet also has an out in his contract, so the team could move on from him to shift MORE focus toward Loveland. The Bears’ offense did so over the team’s last four games when Loveland commanded a whopping 28.5% target share (nearly 12 targets per game).

However, the Bears love to use two-TE sets… so I don’t think they’ll dump Kmet given the value he adds to the offense.

The Bears’ offense used 12 personnel on 32.5% of their offensive snaps this season, the 7th-highest rate in the league, including a season-high 57.7% in Week 18 against the Lions.

In 12 personnel this season, they averaged 5.6 yards per play (8th-most in NFL) and a 45.5% success rate (8th-highest).

Now, WR becomes more of a need as the team traded DJ Moore. Veteran Olamide Zaccheaus is also a free agent. But given the new issues on the offensive line…it seems likely that is the direction the Bears will go with their newly acquired draft capital.

Moore had several trade suitors because of how long he has been in the NFL (2018). Could reunite with Joe Brady in Buffalo (overlapped in Carolina). Per the Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, Bills GM Brandon Beane has a history of making trades with Bears general manager Ryan Poles.

This turned out to be exactly what happened…with Moore being dealt to the Buffalo Bills for a mid-round pick compensation.

As noted by RapSheet, Brady called plays in Carolina with Moore from 2020-2021 (WR22 and WR19 half-PPR fantasy finishes). But nearly 1,200 receiving yards and 4 TDs in both seasons (11.5 PPG in half-PPR WR17 in 2025). Career-high 163 targets in 2021.

Moore is coming off a disappointing WR32 finish last season- his lowest since his rookie year. But he was being phased out by the new coaching staff in favor of Ben Johnson’s players, whom he drafted. A WR32 (WR43 in PPG) finish is actually pretty impressive given the optics of the situation (scored 8 TDs, including twice in the postseason). He also scored 21.9 PPR fantasy points in his lone start without Rome Odunze or DJ Moore in the lineup (22.5 PPR PPG in two games without Burden).

Moore will turn just 29 years old in April. Stefon Diggs was 29 years old in his last elite season with the Bills (before Brady took over the following season as the offensive play caller).

Worth noting that Bears backup QB, Tyson Bagent, could be on the move to a QB-desperate team this offseason. Could he be a potential backup to Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons? A move to Atlanta would reunite him with GM Ian Cunningham.

On the offensive line, the starters from last year will all return. And looking ahead to 2027, OT Darnell Wright is the only one who needs a new deal, but the Bears have the fifth-year option. Offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo is also expected to miss most of next season, so there is a need for tackle depth. Theo Benedet is an ERFA under contract till at least 2027. Braxton Jones will return on a one-year deal. They also signed OT Jedrick Wills for additional depth at tackle.

And unfortunately, the Bears’ IOL suffered another blow in the form of center Drew Dalman, announcing his retirement at age 27. Chicago wasted little time replacing him…trading for former Patriot/Viking center: Garrett Bradbury.

But again, it’s a one-year deal (same theme with many of the tackle signings).

D’Andre Swift has been rumored to be a trade/cut candidate entering the last year of his deal. The Bears found something in 7th-rounder, Kyle Monangai, but he is best deployed as part of a tandem. Monangai finished sixth overall in rushing success rate (also had zero fumbles) in his first season. Finished RB29 overall and as the RB30 in PPG.

The Bears definitely need to address their defense more than their offense if they want to repeat as NFC North Champions. Odds are they won’t have the same defensive turnover luck two years in a row. They finished 29th in yards allowed (29th in yards per carry allowed) and 31st in pass-rush win rate (ESPN).

Three of their starting safeties are FAs. The need was addressed with the addition of safety Coby Bryant (three-year deal). But they lost so much more in sheer snaps. A combined 3000-plus snaps from their top 3 safeties last year. Big shoes to fill. They did re-sign Jaylon Jones and Cam Lewis from Buffalo (nickel CB/S).

More linebacker depth is advised after they were defeated by injuries in 2025. Tremaine Edmunds was also released.

D’Marco Jackson inked a new two-year deal. They also signed LB Devin Bush to a three-year deal worth $30 million.

I think they would benefit from another run-stuffer and edge rusher. DL Gervon Dexter is entering the last year of his contract. Daniel Hardy will return on a two-year contract. DT Neville Gallimore was signed during free agency.

Note that the Bears will get back edge defender Dayo Odeyingbo (torn Achilles) and second-year defensive interior Shemar Turner (torn ACL) back from season-ending injuries.

Perimeter CB Nashon Wright also left in free agency. CB Tyrique Stevenson will be in the last year of his contract.

Poles wants to go BPA with the 25th overall pick. Also mentioned wanting to enhance the defense’s speed. Ben Johnson emphasized a need for more pass rush, according to Eli Ong.

EDGE rusher is the biggest need for the Bears.  Listed at -155 odds to draft a DL/EDGE player (pretty juicy on several sportsbooks).

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