After one day of action in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears already look like massive winners after landing one of the top defensive backs.
Chicago selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th overall pick of the draft after almost considering trading down. Ultimately, the Bears end up getting a steal, with Thieneman mocked as a top-20 pick before the draft.
There are some interesting questions entering Day 2 of the draft, as the Bears have decisions to make that could make their defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, very happy. Here's a look at the Bears' Day 2 mock draft.
Chicago Bears' 2026 Day 2 Mock Draft
Round 2, Pick 57: Lee Hunter, DT (Texas Tech)
And the rich get richer for the Bears as they land one of the top defensive tackles in the draft after once being thought of as a first-round pick. Hunter had 10.5 tackles for loss last season with the Red Raiders, as he landed on the first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 lists.
Gervon Dexter is a solid, young defensive tackle, but Grady Jarrett is getting up there in age and not performing as well as he used to. Hunter gives the Bears a bright future at the position, even if they end up losing Dexter to free agency soon.
Round 2, Pick 60: Cashius Howell, EDGE (Texas A&M)
Another projected first-round pick with a massive fall in the draft, Howell was one of the top pass rushers in the draft. He was a unanimous All-American, first-team All-SEC selection, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year after posting 11.5 sacks in 2025.
Montez Sweat and Austin Booker are there, but one more addition to the edge rusher room is needed after the Bears had just 35 sacks in 17 regular season games last year. Howell can fit into the rotation and be a Day 1 impact player.
Round 3, Pick 89: Kyle Louis, LB (Pittsburgh)
Louis might be one of the most unique players in this draft, as he can play a hybrid of linebacker and safety. He was an All-American in 2024 and was selected to the All-ACC team last year, as he racked up 79 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble in 2025.
Allen could use Louis the same way that the Baltimore Ravens use Kyle Hamilton as a third safety who plays in the box. The Bears have some good linebackers already with Devin Bush and T.J. Edwards, but Louis is a whole new kind of weapon for this defense.