The Chicago Bears are in the middle of another important offseason, where they’re looking to shore up the roster and remain contenders in Ben Johnson’s second season as head coach as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
The Bears didn’t make any big splashes in free agency, where their biggest move was signing Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant to fill one of two starting safety vacancies left by the departing Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Chicago also added linebacker Devin Bush, defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and wide receiver Kalif Raymond. But the Bears also suffered some big losses, including wide receiver DJ Moore, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, Byard and Brisker, as well as center Drew Dalman, who shockingly retired.
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Chicago has seven draft picks that includes four selections in the top 89, including a pair of second rounders, where they can address some of their biggest needs, including defensive line, safety and offensive tackle. Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Next up is defensive tackle, a position that underperformed last year and could use fresh blood to reinvigorate its play.
The Bears’ top two defensive tackles from a year ago are back in 2026. Gervon Dexter is entering a pivotal Year 4 and continues to show flashes of dominance along with inconsistent play up the middle. Statistically, Dexter looked to have a solid season, finishing with career highs in sacks (six) and tackles for loss (six). But he also gets swallowed up easily and doesn’t benefit from the presence of veteran Grady Jarrett as much as people thought.
Jarrett signed a three-year deal last offseason worth up to $43.5 million following an excellent career with the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears were hoping at 32 years old, he could still provide a spark with both his play and his leadership. While Jarrett’s leadership made a significant difference, his play on the field wasn’t as impactful. He appeared in 14 games as he battled injuries and totaled 1.5 sacks, 39 tackles (one for loss), and three batted passes.
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Chicago opted to sign rotational players to the defensive line position in free agency, bringing in Neville Gallimore on a two-year deal and Kentavius Street on a one-year deal. Gallimore most recently played for the Indianapolis Colts and is coming off a career year while playing as a backup. Street, meanwhile, has familiarity with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen from when they crossed paths with the New Orleans Saints and most recently played for the Atlanta Falcons. Both players are expected to contribute behind Jarrett and Dexter.
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Chris Williams
A fan favorite moved onto a new team when Andrew Billings hit free agency and signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Billings joined the Bears as a depth player three years ago and quickly made a strong impression for his ability to defend the run. His impact wasn’t as great as it was in previous seasons, though. The Bears’ run defense struggled mightily, and Billings didn’t seem to fit in Allen’s defense. He finished the year with 31 tackles (six for loss) and one sack.
Chris Williams was with the Bears for two seasons before departing for the Atlanta Falcons. Acquired in a trade just prior to the 2024 season, Williams served as a backup interior lineman in both years. In 2025, he totaled 14 tackles (one for loss) and one sack in 14 games.
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The most glaring holes on the Bears roster are along the defensive line, and despite the team signing multiple players in free agency, those acquisitions aren’t going to solve the problem. Chicago’s disruption on the line last year was lackluster at best when it came to both rushing the passer and stopping the run. The Bears were a bottom-10 team in rush defense, allowing 134.5 yards per game on the ground, and were consistently swallowed up by opposing offensive linemen up the middle. And with Dexter hitting free agency next season and Jarrett becoming a cut candidate, Poles needs to retool the position group.
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Peter Woods, Clemson
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Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
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Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
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Christen Miller, Georgia
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Caleb Banks, Florida
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Domonique Orange, Iowa State
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Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
The bad news for the Bears is this is one of the weaker defensive tackle classes in recent years. The good news, however, is the top players should all be available when they pick at No. 25. Peter Woods has the kind of explosion the Bears could covet to shed blockers quickly, while Kayden McDonald has the potential to become an elite run stuffer. Even if the Bears choose to go in a different direction in the first round, players such as Lee Hunter, Domonique Orange, and Gracen Halton are all viable players on Day 2. And the Bears could take a chance on the talented Caleb Banks, who is recovering from a foot injury. Failing to come away with one of these linemen, however, would be a disappointment.njury. Failing to come away with one of these linemen, however, would be a disappointment.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL draft preview: Where Chicago Bears stand at defensive line
