It was a fabulous year for the Chicago Bears in the first season of the Ben Johnson era. Sure, it was far from perfect, but Johnson could win the Coach of the Year award and absolutely put this franchise back on track for long-term success. We saw growth on offense and the defense turn into the best in the NFL at forcing turnovers.
But in the offseason, we could see this front office shakeup the WR room a bit and perhaps overhaul the defensive line. The DL might be the weakest spot on this team, and one year after investing big-time in the offensive line, the brain trust of GM Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson figure to do the same on the flip side. If that is done successfully, the Bears will win the NFC North for a second season in a row.
Let's get into this Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Mock Draft where an early emphasis on the defensive line highlights this draft class.
Chicago Bears invest into the trenches in updated 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
25. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald had nine tackles for loss and three sacks in 2025 for the Buckeyes and is a first-round player at a hugely important position. The Bears simply need more juice up front.
Standing at 6-3 and weighing nearly 330 pounds, McDonald also has the size to go blow-for-blow with guards and centers. Games in the NFL are won in the trenches, so expect the Bears to go in this direction.
57. Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
Chicago then uses pick 57 on Deontae Lawson, a linebacker from Alabama. Still putting an emphasis on the trenches, Lawson has been in college for five years and brings 52 games of experience into the NFL. He had a career-high 89 tackles in 2025.
89. Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
With Ozzy Trapilo out for the long-term, the Bears could dip into the 2026 NFL Draft to try and bring in another left tackle. With how good the interior is, the Bears could be on the cusp of fielding the best offensive line in the NFL by far.
129. Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
The secondary is another position that needs a bit of a boost. While teams can typically build up a strong safety room in free agency, it's wise to go into the NFL Draft to find and develop cornerback help.
163. Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Adam Randall from Clemson is a big-bodied running back who could fit the tough, rugged, cold-weather NFC North and perhaps be someone the Bears count on in short-yardage situations.
239. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M
Yet another pick in the trenches, the Bears target Tyler Onyedim from Texas A&M at pick 239. It's not a surprise that the four teams left in the NFL right now all have strong defensive lines. This is the path to victory in the NFL.
241. Patrick Payton, EDGE, LSU
The Bears grab some pass rush help at pick 241 and take Patrick Payton from LSU, finishing up what could be a marvelous class of rookies.
The one thing you have to watch out with some of these breakout teams is the possibility of a regression the following year. We did kind of see that with the Houston Texans, who didn't really improve at all after a shockingly good 2023 season. The Detroit Lions also regressed big-time after a 15-win season in 2024.
With Ben Johnson at the helm, though, there is probably a very good chance the Bears don't regress at all and even get better. Johnson appears to hold his entire team to an incredibly high standard that they probably haven't come close to meeting. The Chicago Bears are in great hands.