The Chicago Bears have seemingly painted themselves into a corner. Their offseason decisions, including trades and free agency, appear to have left them with two clear needs heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.
Obviously, the Bears could see things very differently. Still, the strengths of this class align with the Bears’ needs.
Now, the Bears need the draft to play out in their favor.
Bears Draft Needs Clear Amid Fitting 2026 Class
Bears Due to Address Pass Rush Early in Draft
The Athletic’s Mike Sando spoke with league executives to discuss every team’s offseason, and the job Bears general manager Ryan Poles has done remains incomplete by some estimations.
“The pass rush has been their biggest question on defense the last few years,” an anonymous executive said, per Sando on April 3. “They need to improve the D-line, but they couldn’t really do it because they are locked into guys with guaranteed money. They didn’t really address their biggest defensive need.”
The Bears’ pass rush has been an issue for Poles’ entire tenure.
The Bears have ranked no better than 16th in sacks since 2022 and have the second-fewest sacks of any team in that span, per Stathead, ahead of only the Carolina Panthers. Poles has not drafted a pass rusher earlier than 144th overall (Austin Booker) as Bears GM.
They tried 62nd overall pick Shemar Turner at EDGE last season, but that was more about shoring up the run defense, and he ended the season on injured reserve.
Poles acquired Montez Sweat at the 2023 trade deadline. He logged double-digit last season.
But 2025 free agent pickup and intended bookend Dayo Odeyingbo struggled to generate pressure before landing on IR. Booker has thrived as a pass rusher, but could stand to bulk up to better defend against the run.
The path seems clear for the Bears to add an edge early, given what should be a strong class, but they could opt against using their first pick.
Another need looms even larger, despite garnering less attention.
Bears Still Need Help on Back End
While predicting a trade back with the Buffalo Bills that would also yield the fifth-round pick they packaged with DJ Moore, NFL.com’s Chad Rueter projected the Bears to select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman 26th overall.
“General manager Ryan Poles should be happy to regain his fifth-round pick from Buffalo while moving down just one spot,” Reuter wrote on April 3. “The move ensures he can land the athletic Thieneman, who’ll join Coby Bryant in replacing departed starting safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard.”
The position Reuter chose is more telling than the prospect. The Bears got a coveted player in Bryant, who started 15 games last season for the Seattle Seahawks.
However, their other safety addition, Cam Lewis, has never started more than six games.
He also profiles as more of a sub-package option than a starter. Incumbent reserve Elijah Hicks has more career starts (15 to 14). The Bears also signed Gervarrius Owens back this offseason, but he has never started an NFL regular-season game.
Like EDGE, multiple safeties who could appeal to the Bears when they finally go and stay on the clock. Poles’ draft history has also been to double down, often in clear areas of need.
It seems like a good bet that their first two picks will address the voids at EDGE and safety.
