Bears Rebuild Defense In ESPN’s Latest Two-Round 2026 Mock Draft

ESPN draft analyst Field Yates just dropped his latest two-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft, and his vision for the Chicago Bears is unmistakable: rebuild the defense with size, speed, and playmaking.

After a 2025 season in which Chicago tied for the worst pass-rush win rate in the league (28.8%) and then lost key defensive pieces in free agency, Yates leans heavily into that side of the ball.

Here’s how each selection fits and what it says about the Bears’ direction in 2026.

Bears address pass rush early with Zion Young

Yates sends Missouri edge rusher Zion Young to Chicago at No. 25, and it’s hard to argue with the logic.

The Bears’ inability to generate consistent pressure last season forced the defense to rely heavily on coverage and turnovers. That’s not sustainable, especially in an NFC North with Jared Goff, Jordan Love, and Kyler Murray. If Chicago is going to take a step forward, it has to win more often up front.

Young brings the kind of physical profile the Bears currently lack.

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"Young would be a good fit here because of his play style," Yates wrote. "He uses heavy, power hands and his 6-6 frame to engage and run through offensive tackles."

His 2025 production — 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles — doesn’t scream elite, but the traits are there. He also offers inside-outside flexibility, giving the Bears options on passing downs.

This feels like a classic projection pick. Chicago would be betting on development, but the need at edge rusher is too glaring to ignore.

Jacob Rodriguez brings speed and takeaways to linebacker position

With Tremaine Edmunds no longer part of the roster, the Bears have made it clear they want to get faster at linebacker. Yates answers that need with Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez at pick No. 57.

Rodriguez is one of the most productive defensive players in this class at creating turnovers. Seven forced fumbles and four interceptions in 2025 isn’t just impressive; it’s exactly the kind of impact that aligns with what Chicago did well last season.

The Bears led the NFL with 33 takeaways in 2025, and that identity doesn’t work unless you have defenders who actively hunt the football. Rodriguez fits that mold.

He also brings range and coverage ability, which are essential traits in today’s game. He sn’t a downhill thumper. Instead, Rodridugez is a modern linebacker who can play in space and still disrupt plays at the catch point.

From a roster-building standpoint, this pick makes a lot of sense and would give the Bears an impressive trio of linebackers with Rodriguez, Devin Bush, and TJ Edwards.

Treydan Stukes adds versatility to Bears' reshaped secondary

The Bears’ secondary took a hit this offseason with the departures of Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker, creating a clear need for reinforcements.

Yates addresses that with Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes at pick No. 60.

"Stukes is a hybrid player who can effectively impact the running game (28 tackles on designed rushes in 2025) and produce in coverage (four INTs)," Yates wrote. "He's an older prospect at age 26, but he'd be a useful addition to a Chicago safety room."

Stukes is the kind of hybrid defender that defensive coordinators covet. He can align at safety, drop into the slot, and even contribute as a run defender near the line of scrimmage.

The age (26) will be a talking point, but it also suggests he could contribute right away. For a Bears team that may not be in full rebuild mode, that matters.

This isn’t about finding a long-term project. It’s about adding a player who can stabilize a position group that suddenly has more questions than answers.

What this 2026 mock draft says about the Bears’ plan

This isn’t a flashy haul, but it’s a focused one.

Yates builds a defensive class that targets three clear issues:

• A pass rush that struggled to win consistently
• A linebacker group in transition
• A secondary that lost veteran leadership

Each pick reinforces a specific need while also aligning with a broader philosophical shift toward speed, versatility, and disruption.

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The bigger takeaway is this: the Bears aren’t just trying to add talent, they’re trying to rebuild how their defense functions.

Final takeaways on ESPN’s Bears mock draft

Field Yates didn’t overthink this. If the Bears follow a similar blueprint in April, it will be because the roster demands it. There’s still work to be done up front, at linebacker, and in the secondary, and this mock draft hits all three areas without reaching.

It may not produce immediate stars, but it would give Chicago a more balanced, functional defense, and right now, that’s a necessary step forward.