Windy City Gridiron
For the first time in forever, Bears fans don’t have to be knee-deep in mock drafts late into November.
I’ve been writing for Windy City Gridiron since 2017, and I’ve been grateful enough to be the Lead Draft Analyst here since 2020. For every season I’ve been here except 2018, I’ve been pretty consistent releasing mock drafts throughout the course of the year, because that’s provided a bit of hope at the end of the tunnel. I’ve still been watching prospects throughout the year, but with the team doing well this go around, there’s way more positive for us to talk about.
Still, I’m particularly interested in what the Bears’ draft strategy could look like after Sunday’s Week 12 win over the Steelers. That’s because rookie Ozzy Trapilo slid into the starting left tackle spot and put together an impressive outing in his first NFL regular season action at the position. The narrative since training camp has been that Trapilo is more comfortable at right tackle than left, and his playing two of his three preseason games solely at right tackle this year backed that up.
After how well he played at left tackle on Sunday, though, what if he’s able to solidify himself as the Bears’ starting left tackle in 2026? If that were to be the case, here’s how I would play out their 2026 NFL Draft haul with the current projected slots they’re in.
With a first-round pick currently projected to fall near the end of the round, the Bears miss out on top edge rushers like Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami, Keldric Faulk from Auburn, and T.J. Parker from Clemson. If you consider Ohio State’s Arvell Reese to be an EDGE convert, he’ll be long gone by the time Chicago picks, too. That said, there are still plenty of talented edge rushers to be had in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Matayo Uiagalelei is one of my favorites.
Listed at 6’5” and 270 pounds, Uiagalelei is a sturdy, well-built edge rusher with good length and a frame that carries his weight very well. He’s a physical defender who can push the pocket with power, utilizing long-arms and bull rushes to convert speed to power at the point of attack. He has a deep arsenal of moves he can use to win in the trenches that go beyond just power, too. In addition, his spatial awareness and understanding of how to stack and shed blocks when setting the edge is also strong. Uiagalelei falls into the late first round because he doesn’t have as much athletic upside as other edge rushers in this class, but he’s a safe bet I feel comfortable in saying should be a good starter in the NFL.
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