3 SEC prospects for Bears to consider in 2026 NFL Draft
· Yahoo Sports
The Chicago Bears have the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They made the playoffs and won a playoff game for the first time in over a decade, and now they need to continue building if they want to sustain that success and perhaps take it to the next level.
This 25th pick is a great way for them to add a solid player who can make an impact right away. There are a lot of ways that they can go with this pick. Will it be a true team need, or will Ben Johnson have his offensive agenda at the forefront again? The possibilities are endless.
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Left tackle, center, edge rusher, and interior defensive line are the top priorities, but they could consider a safety or wide receiver as well. Nobody truly knows.
The SEC is one of the top conferences in college football, and they are pumping out great prospects at these positions every year. These are the three players from the conference that the Bears should have the closest eyes on in case they are available:
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
If Kadyn Proctor, a tackle out of Alabama, is sitting there when the Bears come up to pick at 25, they might want to ask Roger Goodell to sprint to the stage to announce his selection. He has the tools to become a premier pass protector and someone who can help in the run game.
Chicago’s offensive line is much improved compared to previous years, but left tackle still remains a mystery in the long term. Proctor is one of those players who could be a star at the position one day.
It’s not like Alabama has had any shortage of top-tier offensive lineman end up becoming elite in the NFL either. Proctor projects to be the next in a long line of them.
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Similar to Alabama, Georgia sends a lot of talent to the NFL in the trenches. Monroe Freeling, another tackle, is someone for the Bears to consider when they come to pick at number 25.
There is a world where Freeling goes even higher than Proctor, but none of it will matter if they end up being selected by the Bears at 25. From there, it will be about developing them while also giving them an opportunity to compete for a starting job as a rookie.
Caleb Williams was sacked significantly fewer times in 2026 compared to 2025. Revamping the kine paid dividends for Ryan Poles, Ben Johnson, and any other decision makers or scouts. Freeling may look good with Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, and Joe Thuney there to help mentor him.
Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
It isn’t just about the offensive line for Chicago, as we alluded to earlier. Their pass rush and run defense leave a lot to be desired. If they have the 31st-ranked pass rush again, they most certainly will not lead the league in turnovers again. They usually go hand in hand, unless you’re the 2025 Bears.
Caleb Banks from Florida is someone that they might consider when the time to draft him is right. Whether that is with pick 25 or in the second round, Banks is a defensive lineman ready to make an impact at the NFL level.
This is an interior lineman who fits a need for the Bears and has been chasing SEC quarterbacks and running backs for a while now. There is enough speed and footwork there to make him an asset on any defensive line. There is no telling if he’ll become a star, but it’s worth the risk late in the first round or anywhere in the second.
If the Bears draft an inside lineman, alongside another EDGE to pair opposite Montez Sweat, and they all stay healthy enough to make impacts, it will be a much-improved unit, as was the offensive line in 2025. If both of those groups improve in 2026, the Bears will have a chance to win the North again.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Bears should consider these SEC prospects