Are the Bears Relying Too Heavily on the NFL Draft in 2026?
The 2026 NFL offseason is just a few weeks in, and it’s been full of twists and turns, including the story of defensive lineman Maxx Crosby. Among the teams fighting for Crosby were the Chicago Bears. After coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory that ended in a Divisional Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, high expectations have entered the Windy City. One week into free agency, Bears fans are already a bit concerned and confused about the plan moving forward. Nearly the entire defensive back room was wiped out despite leading the NFL in takeaways, along with losing wide receiver D.J. Moore and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. While some of the moves were expected, what the Bears have done to replace these spots has yet to be seen. Unlike the past few years in free agency, the Bears are taking a different route in acquiring their talent for next season.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be more important than ever for Chicago, with a need for a lot of different positions that include the offensive and defensive lines, defensive back, and linebacker. Luckily for Bears fans, head coach Ben Johnson proved his ability to draft strong talent last year. Wide receiver Luther Burden III, tight end Colston Loveland, and running back Kyle Monangai all shone in their rookie seasons. Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles were praised for their work in the 2025 NFL Draft, after a couple of weak classes from prior years. The success they were able to have in the draft massively translated to the success they had on the field, proving that they can do it again. The question in Chicago now is, will they be able to fill every key position they currently need?
Despite sitting with the least amount of salary cap space in the NFC North, the Bears have still not restructured their contracts. The team is expected to make lots of restructures, freeing up plenty of space for a few free agency splashes. The noise they make in the offseason may not be as loud as the last three years, but they can still make moves for reliable talent to fix dire issues. Based on Poles’ most recent comments on missing out on Crosby, it doesn’t sound like the Bears have completely given up on him while potentially looking to land him during the season. Chicago has plenty of options to make and will continue to be an interesting team to follow as the offseason continues.
