With less than one week to go until the 2026 NFL Draft, general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson, and the Chicago Bears sit in an interesting position.
They own seven picks as of April 19, including the 25th overall selection. The Bears can go in any number of directions following free agency, with fairly defined needs in a draft that remains polarizing in terms of quality at the top versus in the later rounds.
If they end up staying put, the Bears should come away with a good player.
Bears Have History on Their Side as 2026 Draft Approaches
Bears’ 25th Pick Should Yield Quality Starter
The Bears have never held the 25th overall pick, per Stathead, marking a potentially historic moment for the NFL’s charter franchise, but one that comes with an encouraging track record of success stories.
Each of the past seven players selected in that slot is or has been a full-time starter.
The 20 most recent 25th picks are a list littered with First Team All-Pros, Pro Bowlers, and Super Bowl champions.
Like every other draft slot throughout the history of the event, there have been draft hits with the 25th overall pick, and that includes players at positions of need for the Bears. However, it is not just the players available, but the opportunity the slot presents.
It could also be a pivot point.
A quarterback-needy team could always explore moving back into the first round to secure one (and the fifth-year option on their contract), and the Bears could sit in a proverbial sweet spot.
The Houston Texans showed the value of that last season, dealing the pick to the Giants, who selected Jaxson Dart. In return, the Texans received a second-round pick (34th overall/Jayden Higgins) and a pair of third-rounders (99th overall/traded and another in 2026).
Getting a haul similar to that would be a boon for the Bears.
Going back further, the Denver Broncos traded picks Nos. 43 (Sergio Kindle), 70 (Ed Dickson), and 114 (Dennis Pitta) to the Baltimore Ravens to select Tim Tebow 25th overall in 2010.
This draft has one clear-cut first-rounder, and that is Fernando Mendoza, the presumed No. 1 overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Ty Simpson has gained momentum as a potential first-rounder, and Garrett Nussmeier could benefit from a team getting overzealous and reaching on him.
Draft Shaping Up in Interesting Ways
The Cincinnati Bengals’ blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence could prove to be the canary in the coal mine about the way this draft will unfold on defense, where the Bears need help along the defensive line and in the secondary.
However, it could push offensive linemen down, and the Bears also need a left tackle.
Even if the Bears do not believe they will land the OT they want at 25, they could see one slide to a more economically feasible position for a trade to move up.
