The Chicago Bears are still in the thick of the playoff hunt, looking to break a postseason drought that’s stretched over the last five years. But even as the team pushes toward a potential Wild Card spot, it’s becoming increasingly clear what the next step has to be if they want to move from “in the mix” to “in the conversation” for real contention.
This season marked the beginning of the Ben Johnson era in Chicago, and alongside GM Ryan Poles, the Bears front office put together an offseason that’s already paying dividends-especially on the offensive side of the ball. Their 2025 draft class has been a revelation.
Tight end Colston Loveland is showing real chemistry with the quarterback. Wide receiver Luther Burden has added a spark to the passing game.
Offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo looks like a long-term piece up front. And running back Kyle Monangai has carved out a role with his physical, downhill style.
That’s a strong foundation, and it’s been a huge reason why the Bears’ offense has taken a noticeable step forward.
But the defense? That’s been a different story.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has had a rough go of it in Year One, and much of that has been out of his control. The injury bug didn’t just bite-it feasted.
Big-ticket free agent Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles early on, robbing the Bears of a key piece on the edge. Veteran Grady Jarrett has battled a lingering knee issue that’s limited his impact.
Promising second-round pick Shemar Turner suffered a torn ACL, ending his rookie campaign before it really got started. Fourth-round linebacker Ruben Hyppolite has mostly been a special teams contributor.
And fifth-round corner Zah Frazier was deactivated for the season due to personal issues. It’s been a brutal stretch for a unit that needed a few breaks to begin with.
Now, the good news: reinforcements may be on the way-and the timing couldn’t be better.
According to analyst Brett Kollmann, the 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a defensive goldmine. In a year where offensive talent may be unusually scarce in the first round, defensive prospects are dominating early boards. Kollmann notes that we could see only a handful of offensive players go in Round 1, which opens the door for teams like the Bears-who are now in the market for premium defensive help-to clean up.
Pro Football Focus backs that up. Their latest big board features 29 defensive players among the top 50 prospects and 19 with first-round grades.
The most encouraging part? Sixteen of those are defensive linemen.
That’s music to the Bears’ ears.
If Chicago plays this right, they could walk out of the 2026 draft with multiple impact defenders-especially in the trenches, where the need is most urgent. The Bears have struggled to consistently generate pressure, both off the edge and up the middle. Adding young, explosive talent to the defensive line could change that dynamic in a hurry.
There’s also the looming issue at safety. Both of Chicago’s starting safeties are set to hit free agency in March, which means the Bears may need to dip into the draft pool to find at least one replacement.
That adds another layer to the team’s offseason puzzle. It’s not just about chasing pass rushers-it’s about striking the right balance across all three levels of the defense.
The good news is that the groundwork on offense is largely in place. That gives Poles, Johnson, and Allen the freedom to shift their focus almost entirely to rebuilding the other side of the ball. And with the 2026 draft class loaded with defensive talent, the opportunity is there to reshape the Bears’ defense in a big way.
This offseason won’t be about splashy headlines or swinging for the fences on offense. It’ll be about smart, targeted moves on defense-adding depth, getting younger, and finding difference-makers. If the Bears can do that, they’ll be one step closer to turning this playoff push into something much more sustainable.