The Miami Hurricanes have some of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Chicago Bears were in attendance to see those players perform at Miami's Pro Day.
The Miami Hurricanes have what the Chicago Bears need in the upcoming NFL draft.
Pass rushers and offensive tackles.
Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor are two dynamic edge rushers who will upgrade any NFL defense. Offensive tackles Francis Mauigoa and Markel Bell helped anchor the Hurricanes' offensive line last season.
Miami held its Pro Day on Monday, and Bears general manager Ryan Poles was in attendance, signaling that one of these Hurricanes could potentially become a member of the Bears organization in April.
Although Miami has some high-profile prospects, Mesidor and Bell standout as more realistic targets for the Bears. Bain and Mauigoa will likely be gone by the time the Bears are on the clock with the 25th overall pick.
Mesidor is a high-motor pass rusher who rarely takes plays off. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound edge rusher finished the 2025 season at Miami with 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 63 total tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Mesidor ended with 67 total quarterback pressures. ss
He can defeat opposing blockers in a variety of ways, utilizing Euro steps, swim moves and a bush rush to get to the quarterback.
Mesidor will be 25 on April 5 and did have a significant foot injury in 2023, limiting him to just two games. As a byproduct of being in college since 2020, he's matured and refined his pass rush technique. Poles also shared his thoughts about the impact older prospects like Mesidor can have on Todd McShay's podcast.
"A little bit on the older end ... and you see this really cool player and these guys have more refined plans going into the game," Poles said. "So, again, I think they're closer to the ceiling so the projection isn't as great but you kind of know what you're going to get a little bit more."
This Bears team should be looking for Day 1 contributors who can help elevate the team to continue making the playoffs. Mesidor fits an obvious need for the Bears.
Bell played 1,034 snaps at left tackle for the Hurricanes last season and allowed zero sacks and 15 quarterback pressures. The Miami prospect is also a large human being. He's listed at 6-foot-9, 346 pounds with 36 3/8 inch arms and a 87 1/8 wing span. He's the third-tallest player at the combine since 2003.
Despite being one of the biggest prospects at the combine, he still ran a 5.36 40-yard dash.
For the Bears to consider Bell as a potential draft pick, the massive offensive tackle would have to prove he can hold up against speed edge rushers and show enough agility combined with movement skills to get out in space. Those a critical traits in any NFL offense, but especially Ben Johnson's. So there is a possibility that Bell isn't the best scheme fit for Chicago.
Regardless, the Hurricanes have plenty of talent that will be available in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Poles made sure he was front and center to get a clear view on some intriguing prospects.