For the first time in a while, the Chicago Bears enter draft season without the usual desperation attached to the first round.
A surprise playoff run in 2025 pushed Chicago deep into January, and with it, all the way down to No. 25 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
According to USA Today’s latest mock draft, that’s exactly where general manager Ryan Poles finds a near perfect fit, and one that should have Bears fans nodding in approval.
Cause with the No. 25 overall pick, they projected the Bears to select Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks, addressing one of the most obvious remaining needs on an otherwise rapidly improving roster.
A clear message: build the front
GettyGators DT Caleb Banks
The Chicago Bears secondary finished the season playing some of its best football, even in the team’s playoff loss to the Rams where MVP favorite Matthew Stafford was held to no touchdowns.
But if there was one area that still felt incomplete, it was the interior defensive line… And that’s where Caleb Banks comes in.
At 6’6”, 330 pounds, Banks is impossible to miss. He’s a massive, versatile defensive lineman who can line up across the front from nose tackle to three tech and disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Banks’ college career has been an interesting one. After he transferred from Louisville to Florida, he quickly became a key piece of the Gators defensive… In 2024, he had seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
A foot injury derailed most of his 2025 season and held him to just 96 snaps, but the tools are still there (and that’s what keeps evaluators interested as the draft process moves forward). Banks fires off the ball with surprising explosiveness for a player his size, plays with heavy hands, and can anchor against double teams.
Risk, but the right kind of risk
GettyGators DT Caleb Banks
Sure the concerns are real. Caleb Banks is a fifth year senior with limited production and his medical history (particularly multiple foot injuries) will be heavily scrutinized during the pre-draft process. But at pick No. 25, this is the kind of calculated upside swing Poles has shown he’s willing to take.
For the Bears, the current defensive tackle room leaves a lot to be desired. Gervon Dexter Sr. is entering a contract year, Grady Jarrett will be turning 33 and most of the depth behind those two (mainly Andrew Billings and Chris Williams) are headed toward the open market.
If Banks checks out medically, teams will see a rare combination of size, movement skills, and positional flexibility. That’s why many evaluators project him somewhere in the late first to early second round, depending on how the Combine and Pro Day unfold.
With Chicago drafting later in Round 1, the Bears are in an ideal spot to let the board come to them. Defensive help is a priority, and landing a talent like Banks without having to reach feels like a win.
USA Today’s projection sends a clear message: the Chicago Bears aren’t rebuilding anymore, rather they’re reinforcing. And for a fanbase that watched this team take a massive step forward in 2025, adding a high upside interior force like Caleb Banks is about as close to a draft season dream scenario as it gets.
USA Today Makes Bears Fans’ Dreams Come True in New 2026 Mock Draft