Chicago Bears snag two impact defenders in latest 2026 NFL mock draft

The 2025 holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the gift of end-of-year Chicago Bears mock drafts.

However, unlike most Bears’ seasons, 2025 still has a long way to go. Chicago clinched a playoff berth and is fighting for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed. ‘Tis the season!

Muscle memory has Bears Nation returning to Tankathon to track the 2026 first-round order, even though the Bears are nowhere near the top 10 picks. In fact, they’ll end the season closer to Pick 32 than No. 10.

Let that sink in.

Still, we’re Bears fans, after all. The NFL Draft is in our DNA. As a result, we have to check in on the latest round of NFL mock drafts for an idea of how the first couple of rounds could go for Chicago.

One of those mock drafts was recently published by Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling, who offered a two-round version. And in this 2026 mock draft, the Bears take the approach that most fans assume Ryan Poles will do: it’s all about Chicago’s defense.

Bears level up on defense in latest 2026 NFL mock draft

Easterling’s mock draft has the Bears selecting 29th, and they use the pick on Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald. He’s quickly becoming a popular name linked to Chicago.

“The Bears already look pretty dangerous in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach, but if they add a few key pieces on defense in the offseason, they could be truly scary,” Easterling wrote. “Their biggest need is along the interior, where they need a true difference-maker who can create big plays on all three downs. McDonald has done just that for the Buckeyes this season, and would be the perfect fit here.”

For Chicago Bears fans who’d rather see Poles select an edge rusher in Round 1, Easterling has you covered. He sends Dennis Allen’s unit a pass rusher with the team’s next pick at No. 61 overall: Missouri’s Zion Young.

“Zion Young looks like he was built in a lab to play defensive end in the NFL, possessing a good frame at 6’5″, 262 pounds with long arms and tools that a lot of teams will be willing to work with,” Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder wrote. “He also has solid strength to push the pocket as a pass-rusher and set the edge against the run.”

At this point, 2026 mock drafts are more about creating a template that the Chicago Bears are likely to fill. They’re not about accurately projecting which players Poles will, in fact, select.

Easterling’s mock draft has the Bears pointed in the right direction — the defensive front — as do most mock drafts being published right now.

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, the 2026 draft prospect most commonly linked to the Bears is Alabama edge rusher L.T. Overton, advancing the point that Chicago should be a pretty easy team to figure out once draft season rolls around.