FlurrySports projects three possible Chicago Bears draft targets with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Kayden McDonald from Ohio State.
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One of the more fun stories of the 2025 NFL season was the Chicago Bears. After being a laughing stock for most of the last decade, the Bears started off the season slowly but ended as one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The team won the NFC North division crown and even knocked off their biggest rival, the Green Bay Packers, to get to the NFC Divisional round. While their run would stop there, those in Halas Hall will be doing everything possible to try to recapture last season’s success.
With the draft being crucial to the Bears’ continuing to build themselves into a contender, here are three Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft targets with the No. 25 overall pick.
Chicago Bears Draft Targets at No. 25 | 2026 NFL Draft
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
If there is one thing that clearly plagued the Chicago Bears last year, it was their inability to consistently get to the quarterback. Their lack of a pass rush was apparent as the season went on, and it was part of the reason they fell behind so much to the Packers in the NFC Wild Card game. Faulk is not only a great player on the field, but he’s a great fit for the Bears’ organization off the field as well. He has a very high motor and is widely viewed as a high character player. For the Bears to keep any semblance of consistency, they need good players and good locker room guys at the same time.
The one trait Bears fans would like the most is that Faulk is absolutely massive and is also young. He stands at 6’6″ and weighs 285 pounds, which is hard for even the most seasoned NFL pros to push around. He also enters the 2026 NFL Draft at just 20 years of age, which gives whoever drafts him plenty of time to work with him and develop him into the player they need him to be. He is good in pursuit and defending the run, which is critical in a run-heavy division such as the NFC North. He also does a good job of getting his hands up on the line when a ball is thrown in his direction.
While he does have some issues in terms of playing straight up and playing with fire, head coach Ben Johnson will certainly be able to get everything out of him.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
If you haven’t caught on to the trend, it’s clear that the Bears need to beef up their defensive line. Few players bring the “beef” like Ohio State product Kayden McDonald. Tipping the scales at over 325 pounds, McDonald would certainly give the Bears a big body up front that they so desperately need. The best part about McDonald’s game is that he doesn’t just bring size, he brings power too. He was able to force his way into the backfield with ease in a stacked Big Ten conference and will likely be a handful in the NFL as well.
While defensive tackles don’t often put up big stats due to where they play and their roles in the defense, it’s notable that he was able to generate three sacks by himself in what was a loaded Buckeyes defense. If there is one downside to his game, it’s that he can struggle at times when he’s double-teamed. However, if he can be paired up with one or two other good players on the defensive line, opposing teams won’t be able to do that to him. Even though he can be pushed back and allow the offensive lineman to get their hands on him too quickly, he is not too far away from being a consistent immovable object right in the quarterback’s face.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
After last season, there is little doubt that quarterback Caleb Williams has a great connection with wide receiver Rome Odunze. Receiver Luther Burden III also looked borderline unstoppable at times late in the year. While the Bears undoubtedly don’t need a wide receiver the most out of all the positions, the prospect of landing Omar Cooper Jr. may be too much to pass up. It goes without saying that the Bears have good options in the passing game with Odunze, Burden and tight end Colston Loveland. Unfortunately for Chicago, they have little to no depth outside of those guys. To hinge the fate of a team and a possible contender, and three players staying perfectly healthy all year, is frankly foolish and the Bears need to make an addition to the receiving corps.
Omar Cooper Jr. would give the Bears a unique blend that few receivers do. He has the size and speed to play on the outside, while also having plenty of experience playing in the slot. While Burden III is mainly used in the slot by Ben Johnson, he could easily move Cooper around the field and into multiple roles on offense as the game progresses. Having multiple options to use in the slot would be a big weapon for Ben Johnson and his mad scientist offenses. Cooper brings more to the table than just his size and ability to play multiple roles as well. He has great acceleration and can break on routes well while also flying past corners who tried to play press coverage against him.
Although Cooper does struggle with contested catches and adjusting to the ball at times, both of those things can be addressed by the Bears’ coaching staff. If the Chicago Bears’ draft targets in the first round are on the offensive side, Cooper will be on that list.
