The Bears had a very productive beginning to the new league year. The trades for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and the subsequent signing of Drew Dalman, completely re-made the interior offensive line. On paper, this is a significant upgrade to the weakest part of Chicago’s roster. At the very least, it means that interior offensive line isn’t a pressing need that the Bears need to address in the draft.

In fact, coupled with the signings of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears don’t really have any areas that are pressing needs. For once, Chicago can truly follow the best player available draft strategy.

With that in mind, I conducted my second full seven round mock draft using NFL Mock Draft Database.

ROUND ONE

*TRADE*

The Bears hold the tenth pick of the first round, and there were some very good players available, but none I was especially enamored with. I worked out a trade with Seattle to move down to 18 and added another second round pick, number 52.

*TRADE*

That’s right, two trades in the first round. I didn’t initiate this one, Denver did. The offer was too good to refuse, and only dropping two spots, I was confident that my target player would still be on the board. Denver giving up a 2026 second round pick seems ridiculous, but that is part of the fun of mock drafting.

Pick #20- Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Braxton Jones has actually been an okay left tackle and, truth be told, he far exceeded his draft position. With a better interior offensive line we could see a bump in his performance, but the fact is he will never become an elite left tackle.

Coupled with the room for an upgrade is the fact that Jones is entering the last year of his rookie contract. Look at the offensive tackle free agency market, average left tackles get PAID. The Bears just made significant investments on the interior offensive line and I’m pretty sure they don’t want to pay an average left tackle the 20 million plus per year that Jones is sure to command on the open market.

It was with this mindset that I started zeroing in on Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons. Simmons suffered a season ending knee injury in 2024, or he might be in the conversation for first offensive lineman off the board. He still might be if he tests well at the Buckeyes’ pro day and he’s given a clean bill of health.

Simmons is, quite simply, the best pure left tackle in the draft. For now, he can be had in the late teens, early twenties of the first round. He should certainly be on the Bears radar, even if he’s not one hundred percent recovered.

This is not a pick for immediate need, but one getting a jump on an imminent future situation. Worst case scenario, Simmons sits for a year and acclimates to the pro game. Best case, he is fully healthy and wins the left tackle job as a rookie and solidifies the blindside for years to come.

ROUND TWO

Pick #39- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Edge isn’t a pressing need for the Bears after signing Odeyingbo, but pass rushing depth is never a bad idea and Nic Scourton was too good to pass up at this spot.

His Texas A&M teammate, Shemar Stewart, is getting all of the buzz right now because of his insane combine testing, but Scourton was actually the more productive player in college.

Scourton is no slouch athletically, either. Texas A&M often dropped him into coverage and he didn’t look out of place doing it. His natural position, however, is as a hand in the dirt traditional defensive end and that fits the mold of what new Bears defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, looks for in a pass rusher.

The presence of Montez Sweat and the signing of Odeyingbo means that Chicago doesn’t need to rush Scourton. They can ease him into the rotation and allow him to acclimate to the NFL.

*TRADE*

The Bears hold the 41st selection but I came in looking to move down slightly and add an early day three pick. Arizona was willing to part with a fourth round pick, number 115, to move up six spots.

Pick #47- Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

This is one of the better running back classes in years and I’ve long felt that Bears should take one. Many Bears fans are pounding the table for Ashton Jeanty in the first round, but I’m hesitant to go running back in the first round, especially when high end talent can be found into day three of the draft.

That being said, I’ve had my eye on Quinshon Judkins since watching Ohio State’s run to the National Championship. A bruising, physical runner that can take over games and wear down opponents, it’s hard not to envision him in a Bears uniform.

Judkins is also a good receiver to boot. He would be a good complement to D’Andre Swift and eventually supplant him as the primary ball carrier in Ben Johnson’s offense.

By NFL Mock Draft Database’s rankings, this was a slight reach on my part, but I really wanted Judkins and the earlier trades netting more picks makes it more palatable.

Pick #52- Marcus Mbow, IOL, Purdue

The Bears added two guards in Thuney and Jackson, but Thuney is 32 and Jackson is coming off a disastrous year in Los Angeles. Both are on shorter term deals and offensive line depth is important.

Marcus Mbow is an athletic offensive lineman that excels in an outside zone scheme. He’ll need to add some mass and play strength to become a full time starter in the NFL, but the potential is there.

I acquired this pick in my first round trade, adding two potential starting offensive linemen with essentially one pick, I’m quite happy with that.

ROUND THREE

*TRADE*

Trading down, once again. Dallas came calling and the offer was a bit excessive and I just couldn’t say no. I picked up another seventh round selection, number 239, AND a 2026 fifth rounder.

Pick #76- Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami-Fl

I’ll admit I wasn’t looking to add a tight end this early, but I also wasn’t expecting Elijah Arroyo to be available here.

Arroyo is a long, athletic tight end with the speed to get behind defenses. He has had injury issues, but if his medical checks are good he could be a dangerous weapon in Ben Johnson’s hands.

ROUND FOUR

The Bears lacked a fourth round pick until I picked one up in an earlier trade with Arizona.

Pick #115- Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

Safety is an area of concern, for me, given the age and regression of Kevin Byard and the troubling concussion history of Jaquan Brisker.

Andrew Mukuba is an athletic, ball hawking safety that excels in zone coverage.

Though his lean frame makes him less effective in man coverage and run defense, he has shown a willingness to engage and with his play making abilities, he should be a valuable member of the secondary rotation.

ROUND FIVE

Pick #148- Chris Paul Jr, LB, Ole Miss

Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr is NOT related to the NBA superstar. What he is is an athletic linebacker prospect that excels in coverage.

With added mass and play strength, he could develop into a well rounded NFL linebacker.

This is another pick with a look to the not too distant future, wherein the Bears jettison Tremaine Edmunds and his bloated contract.

ROUND SEVEN

Pick #233- Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas

Seventh round picks are crapshoots. I think the aim here is to find under the radar prospects with a decently high ceiling. An ability to contribute on special teams is also a plus.

Mello Dotson fits the bill. Dotson has excellent ball skills and he’s an aggressive and will run defender. He needs to add play strength and refine his game to become part of the rotation at cornerback but he should be able to contribute as a special teamer while better learning to play corner in the NFL.

Pick #239- Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia

Honestly, at this point I realized I hadn’t taken an interior defensive lineman from one of the deeper classes in recent memory and I targeted one.

Nazir Stackhouse comes from a major program that has consistently produced high end NFL defensive players. However, Stackhouse’s ceiling might be considerably lower than other former Bulldogs.

Stackhouse could carve out a rotational role as an early down run defender, as he offers little in the way of pass rush. He’s a smart, disciplined player that needs to find a motor to really ascend as a player.

Pick #240- Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

Jaylin Lane is exactly the type of receiver I look for in the seventh round. A slot receiver able to take the top off of defenses and electric with the ball in his hands. He’ll need to improve his route running and play strength to carve out a regular role, but he can earn his keep as a return man until he does.