Chicago Bears Connected to Dexter Lawrence Trade in New NFL Mock Draft
A new 2026 NFL mock draft links the Chicago Bears to a blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence.
Chicago Bears fans hoping for Ryan Poles to make a splash in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will find this scenario hard to ignore.
In Luke Easterling’s latest mock for Athlon Sports, the Bears do not stay at No. 25. They do not trade up for an edge rusher either.
Instead, Chicago sends the No. 25 overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for Dexter Lawrence.
“It looks like Lawrence wants change of scenery, and the Giants could find a willing trade partner in the Bears, who need the interior dominance he brings to the defensive trenches,” Easterling wrote. “In return for sending Lawrence where he can make an instant impact for a playoff contender, the Giants get the chance to find their new top cornerback. Hood was stellar in 2025 while Jermod McCoy was out all year with his knee injury, proving to be a shutdown corner in his own right against SEC competition.”
A Win-Now Move That Reshapes the Bears’ Defense
This is not a typical draft-day move for Ryan Poles. It signals a clear push to win in 2026.
Instead of adding a rookie, the Bears would land one of the NFL’s most dominant interior defenders in Dexter Lawrence. He brings proven production, elite run defense, and the kind of presence that forces offenses to adjust protections on every snap.
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Pairing him with Gervon Dexter would immediately reshape Chicago’s defensive front. It would also take pressure off Montez Sweat and the rest of the edge group by creating more favorable pass-rush opportunities.
Why the Trade Makes Sense for the Bears
Chicago still lacks a true difference-maker along the interior defensive line.
The Bears added depth in free agency, but none of those moves match the impact Dexter Lawrence would bring. He would immediately become the focal point of Dennis Allen’s front and raise the level of the entire unit.
For a team with playoff expectations in 2026, that kind of addition speeds up the timeline.
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It also fits the broader strategy of building around Caleb Williams while he is still on a rookie contract, which is when teams are best positioned to make aggressive moves.
The Cost of Skipping the First Round in the 2026 NFL Draft
The price in this scenario is significant.
Moving off the No. 25 pick means passing on a premium, cost-controlled rookie who could fill one of Chicago’s biggest needs. It also pushes key positions like edge rusher and left tackle down the board, likely to No. 57 or later, where the talent pool looks very different.
Safety remains an issue as well, and that position would still need attention somewhere in the draft.
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Adding Dexter Lawrence would give the Bears a potential Pro Bowl presence inside, but it is worth noting the team already built a rotation with mid-tier additions this offseason. That group can produce, even if it lacks a true game-wrecker.
The Bears’ Bottom Line
If the Bears view Dexter Lawrence as the missing piece, this move is easy to justify. It raises the defense’s ceiling right away and signals a clear push to contend now.
There is no waiting with a trade like this. It demands immediate results.
That is the gamble Ryan Poles would be making, and it carries real weight. The clock on Caleb Williams’ rookie deal is already ticking, and key needs still exist across the roster.
