6 First-Round Prospects Who Make Sense for Bears at No. 25 in 2026 Draft

The Chicago Bears are in a strong position at No. 25 overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Bears don't have to chase any one position. Sure, they have needs like edge rusher, safety, left tackle, and center. But there's no one need that's necessarily stronger than the other, giving GM Ryan Poles flexibility with his first-round pick.

As a result, the Bears' first-round wish list won't have an obvious name at the top. Instead, Poles can cast a wide net and wait to see who the highest-graded player on his board is when he's on the clock.

Here are six 2026 NFL Draft prospects who are likely to be at or near the top of that big board when the Bears are on the clock.

1. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

If you want the cleanest Bears fit on the board, this is probably it. According to consensus rankings, McNeil-Warren is the No. 3 safety in the 2026 draft, and multiple mock drafts have already tied him to Chicago after the departures of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker.

He also checks the production and athletic boxes. McNeil-Warren is a big dude at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, finished 2025 with 77 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and six pass breakups, and ran a 4.52-second 40 at the combine.

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That is a real first-round profile for a team that still needs a tone-setter in the middle of the secondary.

2. Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

This is the one that feels most realistic if the Bears stay put at 25. Young is another popular name sent to the Bears in 2026 mock drafts. He's the fourth-most common prospect mocked to Chicago. Assuming the first wave of pass rushers comes off the board before the Bears are on the clock, Young would be a fantastic next-best option.

He's consistently in the second tier of edge defenders, landing fourth for ESPN's Mel Kiper and seventh for Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates.

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Young was one of the big winners at the 2026 Senior Bowl after finishing the 2025 season with 6.5 sacks -- a career high -- and 42 tackles, including an impressive 16.5 tackles for loss.

3. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

This is the trench pick that makes a lot of sense if Chicago wants to get tougher inside. McDonald is ranked as the DT2 on consensus big boards, and fits the profile of what the Bears need to strengthen a run defense that struggled mightily in 2025.

The 2025 production backs up the buzz. McDonald’s final Ohio State season included 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles, and he earned unanimous All-American recognition and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors.

If Dennis Allen wants to fix the run defense while maintaining upside against the pass, McDonald looks like one of the better value-and-need matches in Chicago’s range.

4. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

This one depends on the board falling just right, but if Proctor somehow gets into the Bears’ neighborhood, I would have a hard time passing on him.

ESPN’s analysts slot Proctor anywhere from OT3 to OT5, and Field Yates has him 13th overall on his top-50 board. Daniel Jeremiah also highlighted Proctor as a premium tackle prospect earlier in the cycle, and his combine work did nothing to cool the market.

The appeal is obvious. Proctor is 6-foot-7, 352 pounds, started 40 games at Alabama, earned consensus All-American status in 2025, and tested far better than a man that size should test, including a 5.21 40-yard dash and a 32.5-inch vertical jump.

Left tackle could quietly end up being the Bears' top priority by the time the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around.

5. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman may be less likely to reach No. 25 than McNeil-Warren, but he belongs on any Bears first-round wish list.

He is the unanimous No. 2 safety in ESPN’s four-analyst rankings, and Jeremiah has already mocked him to Chicago because of his ability to play both safety spots and handle slot duties if needed. There's growing buzz that Thieneman will end up a top-20 pick.

The testing and production match the praise. Thieneman ran 4.35 at the combine, posted a 41-inch vertical, and had 96 tackles with two interceptions in 2025.

If the Bears want to leave Round 1 with a player who can start immediately and help stabilize the back end, Thieneman is one of the safest answers on the board. He could even be a trade target for Poles.

6. Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

The Chicago Bears must end the 2026 NFL Draft with a true difference-maker on the interior, and Woods is one of the best fits in the entire class.

He’s the top defensive tackle on consensus draft boards because of his first-step quickness and power that translates immediately to the NFL. Woods has been a disruptive presence at Clemson since his freshman season in 2023.

The Bears don't have the kind of penetrating threat that Woods profiles as. Sure, Gervon Dexter had six sacks in 2025, but he's a more lumbering power player. Woods has twitch and juice.

There's a good chance he'll be on the board at No. 25, and if so, he'd be tough to pass up.