CHICAGO — While the team's future home is still up in the air, the Chicago Bears are set to make some decisions on which players may one day play at a new stadium, regardless of whether it's in Illinois or Indiana. The 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday night with the first of seven rounds starting at 7 p.m.
The draft is being held in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1948.
The Bears have seven selections overall in the three-day draft with the first at No. 25 in Round 1, which starts and is completed tonight. Here is a quick breakdown of where Chicago is scheduled to pick barring any trades or other transactions:
Day 1 (Thursday night)
Day 2 (starting 6 p.m. Friday night)
Day 3 (starting 11 a.m. Saturday morning)
Of note, the Bears have no selections in rounds five or six as both were previously traded away.
RELATED: Bears Trading WR DJ Moore To Bills
There is some debate among NFL circles about who and what position Chicago is looking at with the first-round pick. The consensus seems to be the team is leaning toward bolstering the defense, with edge rusher and defensive tackle being chosen most frequently in mock drafts.
ESPN is reporting Chicago General Manager Ryan Poles wants to use an early draft pick on a star player to start opposite defensive end Montez Sweat as the organization didn't use free agency to address the need. The Bears have not used a first-round selection on a defensive player since 2018.
Among the top edge rushers in the draft, who are all expected to go before Chicago picks barring a trade to move up, are David Bailey (Texas Tech), Arvell Reese (Ohio State) and Ruben Bain, Jr. (Miami).
The edge rushers that could slide to the Bears if they intend to address the position on the first day are Keldric Faulk (Auburn), Akheem Mesidor (Miami), R. Mason Thomas (Oklahoma) and Malachi Lawrence (University of Central Florida).
In his latest mock draft (posted Thursday), ESPN's Field Yates has Chicago selecting Thomas.
"Chicago has put an emphasis on getting faster this offseason, and Thomas would support that push," Yates noted in his analysis. "He has an excellent first step, powerful hands and a high-level motor to help the Bears be less reliant on scheming pressure via blitzes. Last season, Chicago ranked 29th in pressure rate (28%)."
Other positions the Bears are expected to address in the draft are defensive tackle, offensive tackle and safety.
RELATED: IL House Approves Bears Megaproject Legislation, Moves On To Senate — Report
The draft follows an amended megaproject bill intended to keep the team in Illinois, and build a new stadium in Arlington Heights specifically, being approved by the Illinois House by a vote of 78-32, on Wednesday night.
HB910 now moves on to the Senate for a vote, which reconvenes next week.
The bill, which the House Revenue and Finance Committee passed earlier in the day by a 15-5 vote, would give the team a long-term tax break at the former Arlington International Racecourse property.
"If Illinois doesn't pass legislation for Arlington Heights soon, sources believe the Bears are likely to be Indiana bound," said Adam Schefter, ESPN senior NFL Insider, on April 6.
Schefter said two proposed sites for a new stadium in Chicago are not considered "feasible," according to league sources he had spoken to.
Coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft will include ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes.
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