My way to early 2026 mock draft

[ASHKUM BEAR]

My way to early 2026 mock draft.  More about looking at the roster and composing needs.  Ben gets his RB, then DA takes over. Later rd picks G, S#2, K. 

1-24 Jeremiah Love RB ND 6-0 205

2-48 Braylon Shelby DE S Car 6-5 265

3-86 Dillon Thieneman S Pur 6-0 207

4-118 Demonte Capehart DT Clem 6-5 315

[ASHKUM BEAR]

On 4/28/2025 at 11:40 PM, ASHKUM BEAR said:

My way to early 2026 mock draft.  More about looking at the roster and composing needs.  Ben gets his RB, then DA takes over. Later rd picks G, S#2, K. 

1-24 Jeremiah Love RB ND 6-0 205

2-48 Braylon Shelby DE S Car 6-5 265

3-86 Dillon Thieneman S Pur 6-0 207

4-118 Demonte Capehart DT Clem 6-5 315

2026 scouting season starts tomorrow. 

Though the Bears scouts officially started 2 weeks ago attending camps.

Any thoughts on what this team might need after preseason ended? 

Poles attending next weekend...Texas vs Ohio St, LSU vs Clemson and Notre Dame vs Miami.  I have a ND and Clem players in my first few selections 

Team needs after last game: LT, RB, DT, DE, S, CB

 

[Stinger226]

Needs could change as the season goes forward. Definitely S, DE but not sure RB would be first round.

 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

1 minute ago, Stinger226 said:

Needs could change as the season goes forward. Definitely S, DE but not sure RB would be first round.

 

If there is any chance Love from Notre Dame is around, the Bears will continue making their Love offense.   He has all the tools, plus I am a Golden Domer Homer.   I wouldn't pass on a DT either if a DE is not available. 

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

If there is any chance Love from Notre Dame is around, the Bears will continue making their Love offense.   He has all the tools, plus I am a Golden Domer Homer.   I wouldn't pass on a DT either if a DE is not available. 

I agree but if he balls out, probably wont make it past the first 15 picks.

[adam]

On 4/28/2025 at 11:40 PM, ASHKUM BEAR said:

My way to early 2026 mock draft.  More about looking at the roster and composing needs.  Ben gets his RB, then DA takes over. Later rd picks G, S#2, K. 

1-24 Jeremiah Love RB ND 6-0 205

2-48 Braylon Shelby DE S Car 6-5 265

3-86 Dillon Thieneman S Pur 6-0 207

4-118 Demonte Capehart DT Clem 6-5 315

I doubt Love makes it to 24. I am thinking he ends up top 15, maybe even top 12.

From the way Poles has drafted, you really can only expect a starter out of the 1st 2 rounds. He has been terrible in the 3rd (Velus, Pickens, etc). So I agree that RB, Edge are the top 2 needs to fill. I think they can get Safety help via free agency if they move on from Brisker.

[Mongo3451]

Any mock draft that doesn't include a stud LT and/or EDGE with the top picks, doesn't resonate with me.

[BearFan PHX]

5 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Any mock draft that doesn't include a stud LT and/or EDGE with the top picks, doesn't resonate with me.

Amen Amen Amen - ive been saying since before (and right after) the draft that we needed LT and Edge

The three most important positions on the football field are:

1) QB

2) Edge rusher (tackles the QB)

3) LT (blocks the edge rusher so he cant tackle the QB)

This is the holy trinity of any football team.

You can add coach to the list.

As optimistically as possible, you can say we have the coach and QB set. halfway there.