Bears land missing piece in ESPN’s latest 2026 NFL mock draft

The Chicago Bears are just days away from squaring off against the Green Bay Packers in Saturday night’s Wild Card matchup. And as I noted in the latest episode of the BearsTalk Podcast, the game will come down to how well the Bears pressure Packers QB Jordan Love.

Unfortunately, the Bears’ pass rush is one of the team’s weakest areas right now. Even Pro Football Focus thinks so.

That’s why the latest 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN’s Jordan Reid should have Bears Nation excited. Reid sends Chicago a quick fix to their pass-rush woes in the first round.

In ESPN’s mock draft, the Chicago Bears pick 20th overall and land Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell.

“The Bears’ pass rush was inconsistent this season, as they were 31st in pass rush win rate (28.8%) and tied for 22nd in sacks (35 sacks),” wrote Reid. “Howell would give Chicago a tenacious, energetic edge rusher, as his 11.5 sacks this season were the fourth most in the FBS. Howell’s size (6-foot-2, 248 pounds) and arm length might scare off some teams, but the Bears need a disruptive pass rusher to complement veteran Montez Sweat. Howell would be just that.”

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Indeed, Montez Sweat hasn’t been terrible. He finished the 2025 regular season with 10 sacks and is playing with a bit more energy and effectiveness in recent weeks. It’s true that Austin Booker has flashed upside, too. But unless Booker goes on a tear in the postseason, it’s a pretty safe bet to predict the Bears will be in the edge rusher market in the first round.

Chicago Bears mock drafts are on hold until this fantastic 2025 season comes to an end. Hopefully, that’s five weeks from now. For now, ESPN hit the nail on the head.

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