Ranking Chicago Bears Trade-Up Targets in 2026 NFL Draft

If the Chicago Bears are going to make a move up the board in the 2026 NFL Draft, it won’t be for just anyone.

Ryan Poles has shown he’ll be aggressive when the payoff is worth it. But moving up from No. 25 comes with a cost, especially with multiple needs still on the roster.

In other words, if the Bears trade up, it has to be for a difference-maker, a guy who will make an immediate impact in the starting lineup.

Here are the five most logical trade-up targets for Chicago, ranked by fit, value, and impact.

1. Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon

Thieneman is an obvious trade-up candidate for the Chicago Bears, especially if he slips into the mid-teens range of the first round.

He checks every box for what the Bears need at safety opposite Coby Bryant. He’s instinctive, physical, and plays with the kind of range that would allow coordinator Dennis Allen to trust him with a wide variety of responsibilities.

Thieneman is also a special athlete. He ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and had a 41-inch vertical jump at the 2026 NFL Combine.

You can bet Poles has him ranked high on his wish list.

2. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

If this list were based purely on need meeting upside, Bain might be No. 1.

The Bears still need a true running mate for Montez Sweat, and Bain has the kind of power and explosiveness to develop into a perennial double-digit sack guy in the NFL. He's a force.

Bain is expected to be a top-10 pick, so trading up for him would cost the Chicago Bears a lot of draft capital. But at this point, Poles must be prepared to invest in a pass rusher who will be the engine of the defense for years to come.

Bain could be that guy.

3. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Left tackle remains one of the biggest unanswered questions on the Bears' roster.

Freeling offers the kind of upside that makes a trade-up conversation realistic. He has the size, movement skills, and developmental ceiling that teams look for in a long-term blindside protector.

His lack of starting experience could cause him to experience a first-round slide, but there's no way he lasts until No. 25 overall.

If the Bears believe he can anchor the offensive line for the next decade, the price to move up becomes easier to justify.

4. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Fano brings a slightly different profile than Freeling, but the logic is the same as Freeling's.

Indeed, Fano has been a right tackle for the last two seasons, but he did start 11 games at left tackle in 2023.

The Bears seem set at keeping Darnell Wright on the right side, so Fano would be playing left tackle in the NFL, which would be a bit of a projection. But it's one the Bears should strongly consider if he, like Thieneman, slides into the mid-teens of Round 1.

5. Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State

Downs is the best pure player on this list, and he's ranked here because he's the least likely to fall into a tradeable range for the Chicago Bears.

There's no doubt the Ohio State star will be a top-8 pick. And if the Bears have any hope to somehow make him the face of the defense for the next 10 years, they'll need to sacrifice a first-round pick in 2027 to move up.

It's highly unlikely but not impossible. If Poles believes Downs can be a transformative piece on defense, he might just pull the trigger.

Remember: There's no Ian Cunningham in the war room to stop him from making an irrational trade anymore.

The Bears’ Bottom Line

The Chicago Bears don't need to trade up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to have a successful draft class.

However, it is a very real option for Poles because of the draft capital he has at his disposal.

If the Bears decide to be aggressive, it has to be for a player who changes the trajectory of the defense or solidifies the offense around Caleb Williams.

Otherwise, let the board fall as it will and welcome the next Chicago Bear without making any sacrifices.