The Chicago Bears own the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and one NFL insider has linked the Bears to potentially wanting to use that draft capital on an offensive lineman.
The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here.
By the end of tonight, NFL organizations with first-round picks will have selected a player that each team believes can make a significant impact on their respective rosters.
This will be general manager Ryan Poles' fifth draft with the Chicago Bears, and for the second time since becoming the GM in 2022, the Bears will not select in the top 10. It's somewhat unfamiliar territory, but a good indication the team is heading in the right direction.
After an 11-win season and playoff victory in 2025, the Bears own the 25th overall pick in the first round. It's late enough in the draft that it will prohibit the Bears from selecting some blue-chip prospects at premium positions, but it still allows the organization to prioritize best player available, a philosophy Poles strongly follows.
Depending on which prospects are still available when the Bears are on the clock, Chicago could go in a variety of directions.
According to a recent article written by ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Bears could have interest in upgrading the offensive line.
"I'm predicting at least seven and as many as 10 offensive linemen get picked in the first round," Graziano wrote. "There's a late-round zone loaded with teams that would love to come out of Thursday night with a new offensive lineman, including the Lions, Panthers, Steelers, Chargers, Eagles, Browns, Bears, 49ers, Chiefs and Patriots. Kansas City could even use its No. 9 pick on an offensive tackle and no one would be surprised. Baltimore could take Ioane at No. 14, if he's there."
When Graziano mentioned the Bears as one of the team that "would love to come out of Thursday night with a new offensive lineman," that's noteworthy.
The Bears have done their homework on some of the top offensive tackles in the NFL Draft, including Arizona State's Max Iheanachor and Utah's Caleb Lomu, who both had confirmed 30 visits. Poles also attended Alabama's Pro Day and got a close look at left tackle Kadyn Proctor.
Coach Ben Johnson made it known during the NFL's annual league meeting that the Bears will have an open competition at the left tackle position. Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills and Theo Benedet are the contenders right now, and 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo still far a long recovery ahead of him after he tore his patellar tendon against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.
With how important the left tackle position is to any team's roster and how it would directly impact quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears should be assessing all options, including using a first-round pick on a potential offensive lineman.
By the end of tonight, the Bears will have made their first-round pick -- unless they trade back -- and by then there could be another player added to the left tackle room to compete for the starting job this season.