ESPN Identifies Bears’ Biggest NFL Draft Needs and a Key Day 2 Target
ESPN breaks down the Bears’ biggest draft needs and points to a Day 2 prospect who could help fill a key hole.
The Chicago Bears don’t have to guess where their roster still needs work. Their 2026 NFL Draft blueprint is pretty clear.
In its latest draft outlook, ESPN identified three priorities for Chicago heading into April: edge rusher, safety and center. None of those should come as a surprise, and if anything, they confirm what this offseason has already shown.
The Bears Still Need Help Off the Edge
Start with the most obvious one.
The Bears didn’t land a marquee pass rusher in free agency, which leaves Montez Sweat carrying the load heading into 2026. That’s not sustainable if this defense is going to take a step forward.
ESPN’s point about draft depth in the 2026 NFL draft class matters here.
This edge class isn’t built around one dominant, top-of-the-board name. It’s built on volume; players who can come off the board throughout the first three rounds and contribute early.
Chicago hasn’t used a first-round pick on an edge rusher since Leonard Floyd in 2016. That drought feels like it could be coming to an end.
Safety and Center Still Loom as Key Needs for Bears
With Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker both departing in free agency, the Bears have a real gap at safety, even after adding Coby Bryant.
There’s still room—and arguably a need—for another long-term piece. It's why players like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren continue to be mocked to Chicago at No. 25.
At center, the situation is more about the future.
Chicago addressed the position in the short term with Garrett Bradbury, but with only one year left on his deal, the Bears need a developmental option behind him. It won't be a first-round target, but expect another center added to the roster before the end of Day 2.
A Name to Watch: Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton
If the Bears don’t land an edge rusher in Round 1, ESPN highlighted a name that could make a lot of sense later: Dani Dennis-Sutton.
He checks a lot of boxes.
Dennis-Sutton has the build and play strength teams look for on the edge, and his ability to hold up against the run stands out on tape. That’s important for a defense that needs more consistency on early downs.
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There’s also developmental upside as a pass rusher.
He’s not a finished product yet, but the traits are there: length, power, and the ability to collapse the pocket. In a class that’s deep at the position, he fits right into the range where Chicago could double down and come away with multiple contributors.
Why This All Lines Up With the Bears’ 2026 Draft Plan
Nothing about ESPN’s assessment feels off.
The Bears used free agency to fill voids with youth and upside. They added instant starters at linebacker and safety, as well as depth along the offensive line, and kept their 2026 draft capital intact.
That sets them up to attack the draft with an open mind.
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If they go edge early, it won’t be a reach; it will be aligning with both need and class strength. If they come back to the position again on Day 2, that’s just smart roster building.
And if they add a safety or center somewhere in the middle rounds, it rounds out a class that addresses both present and future needs.
The Bottom Line for the Chicago Bears
The Bears don’t need to force anything in this draft. They just need to be right.
Edge rusher, safety, and center are positions where the 2026 draft class can actually help. In some ways, Chicago is lucky that its needs align well with this year's crop of prospects.
And if the Chicago Bears walk away with a player like Dani Dennis-Sutton in addition to an early-round edge, this draft could be the kind of haul that puts the defense over the hump.
