New Bears NFL Mock Draft Expert Roundup for 1st-Round Pick

A memorable season filled with incredible wins leaves the Chicago Bears drafting far later than they're accustomed to.

The franchise knows how impressive its trajectory has been since Ben Johnson became head coach. They will be aiming to put the finishing touches on a roster ready to compete with the best.

Ahead of the first round of the draft on April 23, here's a look at what experts are projecting the Bears will do with the No. 25 pick:

Expert: B/R NFL Scouting Department (4/15)

Selection (No. 25): Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

In order for the Chicago Bears to get the most out of the remaining two years on Montez Sweat's current contract, the team must find him a suitable running mate.

Clemson's T.J. Parker isn't a premium pass-rusher at this point, but the 21-year-old still has significant growth potential, hence why he was viewed as a possible top-10 prospect entering the 2025 campaign.

"The Bears have been looking for another defensive end to play opposite Montez Sweat for a while," B/R scout Matt Holder said, "but still haven't been able to find their guy. Dayo Odeyingbo isn't a true edge-rusher and Austin Booker is far too inconsistent.

"Parker's addition throws another name into the mix, and his skill set is similar to Sweat's, with the Clemson product's ability to win with power as a pass-rusher and set the edge against the run."

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Expert: Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN (4/15)

Selection (No. 25): Edge Zion Young, Missouri

Expert: Field Yates, ESPN (3/24)

Selection (No. 25): Edge Zion Young, Missouri

Expert: Matt Miller, ESPN (3/30)

Selection (No. 25): DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Expert: Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (3/31)

Selection (No. 25): S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Expert: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (3/17)

Selection (No. 25): S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

Expert: Dane Brugler, The Athletic (4/15)

Selection (No. 25): Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

Expert: Danny Kelly, The Ringer (3/4)

Selection (No. 25): OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Summary

Adding a defensive player in the trenches or in the secondary seems most logical, given how much the defense struggled to get stops. Dennis Allen's defense can't rely on forcing turnovers as they did so often last season. Adding an edge rusher or safety could make his unit more formidable as they prepare for a much harder schedule in 2026.