The Chicago Bears are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, but that does not mean they can afford to make lateral moves this offseason. Addressing some major needs in the 2026 NFL draft is going to be critical. There are some intriguing players who could still be available when the Bears are officially on the clock, but one publication believes they should be targeting this defensive lineman when the time comes. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what he could provide Chicago.
The Chicago Bears draft Kayden McDonald in PFF’s latest mock draft
Pro Football Focus’s Max Chadwick has created a mock draft following the conclusion of Super Bowl LX. In the mock draft, he has the Bears selecting defensive linemen Kayden McDonald, which he writes the following as his reasoning for the selection:
“No Bears defensive tackle earned a 60.0 PFF overall grade this season. The front office addresses those woes by picking up McDonald, who led all FBS interior defenders with a 91.2 PFF run-defense grade in 2025. His 86.5 PFF overall grade was the best mark in the Power Four.”
McDonald has played three years with Ohio State, but not really seeing much action in his freshman season. Overall, he has 85 total tackles (38 solo, 47 assisted) with three pass deflections, three sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles. The Bears have a few defensive linemen who are under contract for the 2026 season, but getting improvements there would certainly help. Getting to beef up the defensive line with McDonald and second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Shemar Turner, would certainly make it difficult for interior offensive linemen to stop them. It will be intriguing to see what general manager Ryan Poles believes he needs to do with his draft picks this coming April.
Chicago Bears 2026 schedule news just got even more interesting
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