Latest Chicago Bears 2026 mock draft throws curveball in Round 1

The 2025 NFL season is just around the corner. For Chicago Bears fans who’ve waited a very long time for a season as exciting as this year, it feels like it’s taking an eternity to get around that corner.

So, to pass time, it’s worth taking a spin through the latest 2026 NFL mock draft updates to see what some of the top NFL Draft experts have the Bears doing in Round 1 next April.

Indeed, it’s early. Like, really early to be thinking about the NFL Draft. But don’t get it twisted. NFL teams are knee-deep in their 2026 scouting cycle with area scouts planning their road school visits for the upcoming college football season.

NFL Draft experts are no different. Mock drafts at this time of year help build early draft boards, player rankings, and an overall narrative for the 2026 draft cycle. Sure, a lot will change between now and the end of the 2025 NFL season. But you can’t wait until then to start familiarizing yourself with the upcoming draft class.

Still, some mock drafts — even the early ones — can already be called a big miss.

Take the latest first-round projection from Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling, who, for my money, is one of the best draft scouts in the industry right now.

Easterling sends the Chicago Bears a head-scratching first-round pick: Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.

Bears unlikely to select OT in 2026 NFL Draft

“Ryan Poles might still be sold on Braxton Jones as a sufficient left tackle, but I’m not,” Easterling wrote. “Barring a breakout performance from Jones in 2025, the Bears should be in the market to improve that spot if they want Caleb Williams to reach his lofty potential, and Lomu’s film screams high-quality starter.”

What Easterling overlooks here is the selection of Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of the 2025 draft. While Trapilo was a right tackle during his tenure at Boston College, he’s been kicked to the left side as a rookie. He’s trending toward unseating Jones for the starting job, too.

Granted, Trapilo could fall flat on his face and fail as a starting NFL left tackle. If he does, then a stud like Lomu would definitely rank near the top of Poles’ 2026 draft board. But I have a sneaky feeling that that won’t be the case. Instead, Poles will be able to flip his attention to the defensive side of the ball in next year’s first round.

Expect Chicago Bears mock drafts to predominantly feature first-round edge rushers as the months unfold.

Subscribe to BearsTalk Premium to unlock our exclusive NFL Draft content, a limited ad experience, and a more expansive social and commenting platform for just $3 per month.