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Sometimes, a heartbreak can signal arrival, not collapse. Maybe that’s the silver lining for the Chicago Bears. That comes after they walked off the field in January stunned, not shattered. Their Divisional Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams hurt precisely because it confirmed something Bears fans haven’t been able to say in years. Chicago belongs on the playoff stage again. Now comes the harder part, though. That means turning a magical season into a sustainable window. The Bears’ 2026 NFL Draft offers a revealing look at how general manager Ryan Poles can convert heartbreak into momentum.
The 2025 season will be remembered as the year the Bears rediscovered belief. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, Chicago surged to an 11-6 regular-season record. They also captured the NFC North for the first time since 2018. Sophomore quarterback Caleb Williams was the engine. He threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns while showcasing poise beyond his years.
Chicago earned the nickname “Cardiac Bears” for good reason. They set an NFL record with seven wins when trailing in the final two minutes. They repeatedly survived moments that would have sunk past iterations of the franchise. That resilience culminated in a dramatic 31-27 Wild Card comeback win over the Green Bay Packers. That snapped a 15-year playoff drought and exorcised a generation of demons.
The run ended painfully in the Divisional Round, though. Against the Rams, Williams delivered one of the season’s defining moments. He had a 51-air-yard touchdown strike to Cole Kmet with 18 seconds remaining to force overtime. However, the magic soon ran out. A miscommunication led to a costly interception in the extra period. That set up a walk-off field goal and a 20-17 loss. Chicago finished 12-7 overall, eliminated but undeniably ahead of schedule.
That overtime loss clarified Chicago’s priorities. The offense, led by Williams, is ahead of the curve. The defense, though, is not.
Edge rush sits atop the list. Outside of Montez Sweat, who posted double-digit sacks, Chicago struggled to generate consistent pressure. The Bears finished 30th in total sacks. That forced the secondary to hold up far too long. An explosive EDGE presence to complement Sweat is essential.
Interior defensive line play is just as urgent. Every Bears defensive tackle graded 60.0 or lower by PFF in 2025. That’s a damning indicator for a unit that struggled to stop the run in critical moments. A true anchor up front is needed to reset the line of scrimmage.
Linebacker depth and athleticism also remain concerns. Sure, the starters are under contract. However, the defense lacked a true sideline-to-sideline eraser. Safety is another looming issue. Both Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker will hit free agency. Reinforcements on the back end are unavoidable.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Bears’ 3-round mock draft based on the PFF 2026 NFL mock draft simulator.
Chicago’s first-round selection prioritizes one thing:...
