The Chicago Bears are in a position where they need to make some impactful improvements in the 2026 NFL Draft. They were able to win the NFC North and clinch the second seed in the conference before being eliminated in the NFC Divisional Round last season. There are a lot of different decisions the Bears could go, but what is the ideal situation for the front office?
The Chicago Bears could land two impactful defenders in the 2026 NFL Draft
Pro Football Focus’s Bradley Locker wrote an article discussing the ideal haul for every team in the opening rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. For the Bears, he had the team take defensive lineman Peter Woods and safety A.J. Haulcy. Below is what he wrote about why those players fit:
“While the team’s offense blossomed under Ben Johnson, the Bears’ defense is still looking for upgrades at several positions. Chicago must add starters along its interior defensive line, and Woods would fit the bill tremendously with a 74.0 PFF pass-rush grade in 2024 and a 74.2 PFF run-defense mark last year. Further, with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker pending free agents, Haulcy (88.6 PFF coverage grade) could be a replacement at safety.”
The Bears certainly need to address the defensive side of the field, as the offense was the team’s strength last year with a young core returning. With the ability to improve with their picks in this draft, they can really make a mark to improve the roster in the draft. The defense led the league in takeaways, but finished 23rd in points allowed per game (24.4).
If the team can improve on defense, that may put Chicago in a legitimate position to win the NFC next season. It will be intriguing to see how the team decides to move in the first few rounds of the draft.
Chicago Bears: trade news disputed on young defensive star
Read MoreFor More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
