10 players the Bears could pick in first round of 2026 NFL Draft

After months of waiting, the 2026 NFL Draft has finally arrived and for the Chicago Bears , it's going to look a bit different than the last few years. Since 2023, the Bears were selecting inside the top 10 in the first round. This year, however, they're near the end of the first round at No.

25 overall thanks to finishing the season with an 11-6 record and a playoff victory. Seeing as the Bears have a later pick, the talent pool won't be as deep this time around. But the Bears will still have a prime opportunity to find an impactful starter on either offense or defense, depending on which direction they go.

Here are 10 players the Bears could potentially select on Thursday night in the first round of the draft: 1. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami The Bears would strike big here if Akheem Mesidor fell to them with the No. 25 pick, one of the top pass rushers in this year's class.

One benefit to Mesidor is that he is one of the older prospects in this year's draft, so he'll have plenty of experience that can help him start upon arrival as a rookie. He'd work well as an outside linebacker who can get to quarterbacks standing up, or with his hand down. 2.