The Chicago Bears offense is no longer the question. With Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, elite skill talent, and one of the league’s better offensive lines, Ryan Poles has built a side of the ball that can win shootouts if needed.
The defense? That’s where margins still exist.
So with the 25th overall pick, Mel Kiper projected the Bears to draft Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. And his reasoning cuts straight to the point:
“The Bears are in “best player available” territory. Edge rusher would obviously be a target, but once Akheem Mesidor went off the board at No. 20, the value disappeared at the position. Maybe Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell? But why not kick inside and address the interior? Gervon Dexter Sr. is entering a contract year, Grady Jarrett will be turning 33 and most of the depth behind those two — namely Andrew Billings and Chris Williams — is headed toward the open market.”
“McDonald had a huge breakout season, showcasing power and quickness with 67 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. And considering Chicago was gashed for 5.0 yards per carry this season, it could use a solid 326-pound presence up the middle.”
A trend is forming (and it’s not an accident)
GettyOhio State DT Kayden McDonald
Mel Kiper isn’t alone in seeing the Chicago Bears this way. Across the mock draft landscape, Chicago keeps getting paired with interior defensive linemen (whether it’s McDonald or Florida’s Caleb Banks) being one of the most frequently mocked Bears picks over the past week.
Banks, like McDonald, checks the boxes teams crave up front: massive frame, rare movement skills for his size, the ability to absorb double teams and still disrupt.
Dennis Allen’s defense didn’t collapse in 2025, but it bent too often in the one place contenders can’t afford to be soft as Chicago allowed 5.0 yards per carry.
Many believe the Bears should look for an edge rusher in the draft or free agency. However, with Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and 23 year old Austin Booker developing pretty quickly, the clear emphasis should be DT.
Drafting someone like McDonald (or Banks depending on how the board falls) isn’t about replacing stars. It’s about stabilizing the spine of the defense before cracks become fractures.
The bigger picture for Ryan Poles
GettyOhio State DT Kayden McDonald
This is the same front office that spent multiple offseasons rebuilding the offensive line before the results fully showed up. The payoff came in 2025. Now, the blueprint flips.
Expect the Chicago Bears’ 2026 offseason to be defense-heavy, starting with the trenches. Free agency may fill gaps, but the draft is where long term answers live, especially at defensive tackle. And Kayden McDonald should be the Bears #1 target.
If Mel Kiper’s projection holds any weight, the Bears aren’t swinging for splash or headlines. They’re making the kind of disciplined, forward thinking decisions that keep contenders from slipping back into the pack.
It’s not about winning the offseason for like the fourth straight time. It’s about making sure 2025 wasn’t the peak, but rather the foundation.
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