With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, we reviewed recently updated mock drafts to see who pro football analysts are projecting the Bears will select with the 25th pick in the first round.
JP Acosta, CBS Sports (April 7)
Pick: Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald
Comment: With no true nose tackle on the roster, they need someone who can eat space and allow Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. to shoot gaps and get up field. Insert McDonald, a ready-made run defender who stacks and sheds as well as anyone in this class.
Charles Davis, NFL.com (March 26)
Pick: Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods
Comment: Woods fills a need for the Bears, providing more pressure from the interior.
Nate Davis, USA Today (April 6)
Pick: Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Comment: Need a Monster of the Midway? How about a 6-foot-4, 200-pound DB with a penchant for big hits and finding the ball? And it certainly seems like the Bears could use one with All-Pro Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker leaving the back line during free agency. McNeil-Warren and recently signed Coby Bryant could equate to a nice recovery plan.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports (April 9)
Pick: Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods
Comment: Peter Woods was once regarded as a potential top-five overall selection. Although I never saw him as a clear and obvious blue-chip talent, this is good value for the Clemson product and fills a need for the Bears. Chicago has bodies at the position, but no one really moves the needle in the way Woods could.
Tyler Erzberger, Newsweek (April 8)
Pick: Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Comment: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could be the change they need.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News (April 9)
Pick: Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker at No. 31 via trade with Patriots
Comment: The Bears can go with several positions, including offensive line and safety, but pass rush opposite Montez Sweat is also important to address. Parker is an ideal Cameron Jordan-like addition for Dennis Allen's defense.
Rhett Lewis, NFL.com (April 7)
Pick: Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker
Comment: Parker had a down year in terms of production in 2025, but the lengthy Clemson edge rusher showed flashes of brilliance early in his collegiate career and again at the Senior Bowl. He gives the Bears a nice option opposite Montez Sweat.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports (April 7)
Pick: Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller
Comment: Miller has the tools to step in and play right away. They could also consider defensive tackle here.
Mike Renner, CBS Sports (April 7)
Pick: Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor
Comment: Akheem Mesidor can make an immediate impact. He can rush from both the edge and the interior, given his experience doing both in college.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com (April 3)
Pick: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 26 via trade with Bills
Comment: General manager Ryan Poles should be happy to regain his fifth-round pick from Buffalo while moving down just one spot. The move ensures he can land the athletic Thieneman, who'll join Coby Bryant in replacing departed starting safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard.
Nick Shook, NFL.com (April 2)
Pick: Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor
Comment: The run on tackles continues at No. 25, where the Bears show they understand protecting Caleb Williams is priority No. 1. With Ozzy Trapilo returning from a patellar injury, it would be prudent for the Bears to invest in the position with Proctor, a massive, athletic tackle with the build to keep Williams' jersey clean.
Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated (April 9)
Pick: Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk at No. 15 via trade with Buccaneers
Comment: The Bears are a Super Bowl contender for the first time in nearly two decades, so making a move up the board is reasonable. After trading away one of two second-round picks, Chicago nabs Faulk to beef up its defensive line. Faulk can play inside or out, pairing nicely with edge rusher Montez Sweat. At Auburn, the 285-pounder had 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks across three years, showcasing traits that could turn him into an elite, well-rounded defender.
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (April 7)
Pick: Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks
Comment: If Banks is healthy, he could be a top-10 pick. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds with 35-inch arms, he can take over games. The problem has been his inability to consistently stay on the field. If he's cleared medically, Banks is a first-rounder all day long. If teams have questions, he could slip to Day 2 like Jer'Zhan Newton did a few years ago.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (March 31)
Pick: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman
Comment: Thieneman offers Dennis Allen's defense an instinctive safety with explosive athleticism and the versatility to help disguise coverages and change the picture post-snap for the quarterback.
