The Chicago Bears exceeded the expectations of so many Bears fans that it feels weird to see the team having the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At first, people could think that Chicago would have a “best player available” strategy, but that’s not the case. The Bears, despite winning the NFC North and making it to the divisional round of the playoffs, have a major hole to address.
According to ESPN statistics, the Bears’ pass rush finished last in the NFL in pass-rush win rate (29%) and 29th in run-stop win rate (29%). Despite leading the league in comeback wins last season, it was obvious the Bears’ defensive line struggled to create any momentum for the team.
And looking at both last year’s and this year’s Super Bowl, it should be clear which direction the Bears should go in the first round: defensive tackle.
A Super Bowl Trend Makes the Bears’ Draft Pick an Obvious One
Let’s look at Super Bowl LIX. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
Both teams have premier defensive tackles, with the Chiefs having Chris Jones and the Eagles having Jalen Carter, Milton Williams, and Jordan Davis. Both teams also had good, but not great, pass rushers.
In Super Bowl LIX, Williams had a standout performance with two sacks and four pressures, and was a major reason why the Eagles won 40-22.
🏆 92.6 pass rush grade (best by any DI in a SB) 🏆 2 sacks 🏆 forced fumble 🏆 fumble recovery
Chance to go B2B with the Patriots 🇺🇸
Now take this year’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Both teams have premier defensive tackles, with the Seahawks having Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, while the Patriots have Milton Williams (coincidence?) and Christian Barmore. Once again, both teams have good, but not premier, edge rushers.
It’s become increasingly important in today’s NFL to have defensive tackles who can carry the team on their back vs. elite pass rushers.
Why the Bears Should Draft a Defensive Tackle in Round One
GettyGervon Dexter Sr. #99 of the Chicago Bears sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Soldier Field on January 04, 2026.
The Bears should focus on adding talent at defensive tackle rather than at defensive end.
Montez Sweat put up double-digit sacks last season, Austin Booker looks like he’s heading in the right direction, and the Bears still have Dayo Odeyingbo, who was out most of the season with a torn Achilles.
At defensive tackle, Gervon Dexter Sr. was the only one who made a significant contribution with six sacks and 44 total tackles. Grady Jarrett is 32 years old and only put up 39 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Andrew Billings is a free agent this offseason.
The Bears also drafted Shemar Turner in the second round last season, but he was out most of the season with a torn ACL and is more of a hybrid DE/DT.
If the Bears want to become serious Super Bowl contenders, they should look to upgrade at defensive tackle. Here are some of the top DT prospects in this year’s draft, according to some of ESPN’s top draft analysts:
- Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
- Peter Woods, Clemson
- Caleb Banks, Florida
- Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
- Christen Miller, Georgia
- Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Some notable mock drafts also have the Bears taking a defensive tackle with the 25th overall pick:
- ESPN, January 21st: Kayden McDonald
- The Athletic, January 29th: Caleb Banks
- NFL.com, February 2nd: Caleb Banks
- PFF, February 2nd: Lee Hunter
Is this to say the Bears can’t draft another position in the first round? Absolutely not. However, having premier defensive tackles is helping teams reach the Super Bowl more than ever.
A Super Bowl Trend Makes the Bears’ Draft Pick an Obvious One