The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a week in the rearview mirror, but for those of you who have been around Windy City Gridiron for long enough, you know how much of a sicko I can be when it comes to a good mock draft.
Between my work here and my job at PFSN, preparing for the NFL Draft is truly a full-time job for me. Making a mock draft 11 months before the start of the draft is hardly meant to be a predictive exercise. Rather, it’s a fun way to introduce some talented prospects to the forefront heading into the new college football season.
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The Bears were surprisingly conservative spending along their defensive line this offseason, but I have that changing in my first 2027 mock. Sooner or later, Ryan Poles is going to have to bite the bullet and use significant draft capital up front, and luckily for him, next year’s draft class seems to have some really intriguing defensive linemen.
As always, I’ll be using the PFSN NFL Mock Draft Simulator to make the picks for the other 31 teams. Their draft order is based off of betting odds, so here’s where each of Chicago’s picks land in the simulator:
Without further ado, here is my first 2027 Bears seven-round mock draft.
Round 1: Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (FL)
I understand the Bears passing on a defensive tackle in the first round, especially since most of the consensus top defensive tackles weren’t incredible fits in their system. I would’ve used a third-round pick on someone like Gracen Halton or Kaleb Proctor, but hey, all I can do is trust the decision makers. There are several more high-end prospects who fit Chicago’s scheme in the 2027 draft, with Ahmad Moten being one of them.
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Moten had 4.5 sacks, nine tackles for a loss, and he placed second in the ACC with an 83.7 PFSN DT Impact Score in 2025. He can win in a variety of alignments but is a prototypical 2- or 3-technique; he’s low to the ground, he’s explosive coming off the snap, and he’s a technically-sound defender. His toolbox of hand techniques run deep, and he has good spatial awareness plugging up holes against the run. If he can clean up his tendency to miss tackles in space, Moten has potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber interior defender.
Round 2: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri
I’m batting 1.000 so far in my journey to manifest standout Missouri offensive weapons to the Bears. Will I go 2-for-2? It’s too early to say, but the Bears could have an opening at running back next offseason. D’Andre Swift will be a free agent in the 2027 offseason, and at 28 years old by the time next March comes around, I’m not sure they’ll give him another long-term deal. That could open up some touches alongside Kyle Monangai.
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Ahmad Hardy is my 2027 RB1 heading into the summer, though with a pretty talented running back class including Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy and Florida’s Jadan Baugh, it’s entirely possible he falls to the middle of Round 2. He’s been dominant to begin his collegiate career with exactly 3,000 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns between his freshman year at UL-Monroe and his sophomore year at Mizzou last season. He’s a stout runner with tremendous pad level and elite contact balance, and he has the agility to make defenders miss in space. He’s patient out of the backfield and has the aggression to hit the hole hard when he discovers an opening. Hardy is unproven as a pass-catching back, but I think he has bellcow potential in between the tackles.
Round 3: Teitum Tuioti, EDGE, Oregon
The Bears didn’t draft an edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the position is still a need going forward. The tandem of Montez Sweat and Austin Booker provide some upside heading into the new year, but Shemar Turner is unproven and coming off a season-ending injury, and Dayo Odeyingbo is a surefire cap casualty next offseason to free up $15 million at this rate. Adding depth to their rotation should be a must in 2027.
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Teitum Tuioti has combined for 72 pressures, 15 sacks, and 23.5 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons. He’s a powerful edge rusher who wins with proper leverage, physicality at the point of attack, and a high motor deconstructing blocks. He’s a reliable tackler who can break down with a wide base and secure tackles with very good play strength. Though Tuioti isn’t the most flexible or lengthy edge rusher in the world, he has the tone-setting ability off the edge to contribute against the run and win with power as a pass rusher.
Round 4: Joe Brunner, OG, Indiana
Joe Thuney has been everything the Bears hoped for and more. He was an All-Pro and won the inaugural Protector of the Year award in the first season in Chicago. However, he’ll turn 34 this season, so while he’s shown no signs of slowing down, he still has more football behind him than in front of him. Taking a shot on a guard prospect as a potential successor might not be a bad idea if the value is right.
In 749 pass-blocking snaps during his time at Wisconsin, Joe Brunner did not allow a single sack in pass protection. He was also only called for one penalty, and though he’ll be lining up at right tackle for the Hoosiers in 2026, I expect him to move back to guard in the NFL. At 6’5” and 313 pounds, he’s a big, physical lineman who lands his strikes accurately and does a good job of keeping his head on a swivel to find work in pass protection.
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Round 6: OJ Frederique Jr., CB, Miami (FL)
The consensus on OJ Frederique Jr. is all over the place, with some touting him as a potential Day 1 pick, while others have him down in Day 3 range. He was available for me late in the simulator, though, and I couldn’t pass on the upside. He’s prone to missed tackles and can be inconsistent in off coverage, but he’s physical, athletic, and uses his length to jam receivers in press and compete hard at the catch point. When you turn on that Miami defense, Frederique’s upside is obvious.
Round 7: Drayk Bowen, LB, Notre Dame
Drayk Bowen was a carry-over from my 2026 scouting process, and I’m excited to see what he can do with another year at Notre Dame. He’s a reliable tackler and a hard hitter who brings active pre-snap communication skills as the MIKE linebacker for the Fighting Irish. He wraps up with good pad level and takes good angles to the ball in pursuit. I’m not sure he’ll test insanely well athletically, but he has the intangibles to stick around in the NFL for quite some time, especially on special teams.
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