The Chicago Bears are in the middle of an important offseason fresh off an impressive 2025 season where they went from worst to first, won the NFC North and won their first playoff game in nearly two decades. And that wast only in Year 1 under head coach Ben Johnson.Now, the Bears have some big needs to address on the roster, most notably along the defensive line, safety and left tackle, and general manager Ryan Poles has free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft to shore up those positions. While Chicago has had a top-10 pick the last three years, they'll be selecting in the late 20s after their 11-6 season. But there are still some top prospects who could be available at No. 25.We've rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Bears will select a defensive lineman at 25th overall, and there's one name that's starting to emerge as a favorite.USA Today: Caleb Banks, DT, FloridaMichael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "At 6-6 and 335 pounds with more than enough quickness to make himself a fixture in opposing backfields, Banks stands out a good bit in a class filled with mostly pocket pushers at defensive tackle. He doesn't dispatch blockers as quickly as one might like to see from a player with his physical capabilities, and finishing plays remains somewhat of an adventure for him. Still, the potential is there for Banks to go considerably higher than this, so Chicago might have to leap at the opportunity to electrify its interior."ESPN: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateMel Kiper Jr.: "It's probably a little early for Texas A&M'sCashius Howell, Clemson'sT.J. Parkeror Oklahoma'sR Mason Thomas. The Bears obviously need more edge rush support, but the board just isn't lining up. But withGervon Dexter Sr. signed for only one more season andGrady Jarrettturning 33 in April, it would make sense to pad the defensive tackle group. McDonald is actually the DT1 onmy Big Board, and he has a nose for the football. He had 17 run stops in 2025. Having him on the interior would be huge for a Bears team that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season (fourth worst)."NFL.com: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateBucky Brooks: "McDonald's disruptive presence as a beefy defensive tackle would quickly help the Bears shore up a lackluster run defense."The Athletic: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateScott Dochterman: "The up-and-coming Bears need multiple pieces along the defensive line, and McDonald would help immediately. Hes not quite ready to elevate the pass rush, but McDonald excels against the run and can free up his linemates by eating up blockers. He was the key cog in Ohio States elite defense."CBS Sports: Dillon Thieneman, S, OregonGarrett Podell: "The Bears are set to see safeties Kevin Byard, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jaquan Brisker hit free agency. Thieneman can save Chicago some money at the position. He's versatile with an ability to line up in the slot, back deep and in the box. He's an efficient mover who can close on the ball well thanks to quick plant and drive technique. Thieneman has good instincts in the run game, and he'll use them to fly into the path of opposing ball carriers. He does a lot of things well, which makes him an ideal NFL safety in 2026."Yahoo! Sports: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas TechNate Tice: "The Bears defense had admirable late-season performances, notably against the Rams in the divisional round, but that group needs to become more stout against the run. Luckily, this is a good defensive tackle class, especially for run-first guys. Hunter is one of those talented interior defenders, and he would give the Bears a burly defender who can eat blocks but also get into the backfield. He even has upside as a pass rusher. Hunter has to work on down-to-down consistency, but there arent a lot of players with this size who can move as easily as Hunter does."Pro Football Focus: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateDalton Wasserman: "No Bears defensive tackle earned a 55.0-plus PFF run-defense grade in 2025. Meanwhile, Ohio States Kayden McDonald led all FBS defensive tackles with a 91.2 PFF run-defense grade in his final college season. He wont offer much as a pass rusher, but McDonald is the type of gap-filler who makes his teammates better."FOX Sports: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&MHenry McKenna: "Whos the best defensive player still available? Howell? Howell it is, then. Hes an explosive, albeit undersized (6-foot-2, 248), pass-rusher whose production alleviates any worries."NBC Sports: Caleb Banks, DT, FloridaEric Froton: "Caleb Banks(66/330) flashed disruptive upside along Floridas interior in 202324 before a foot injury cut short his 2025 campaign. He took a clear step forward in 2024, playing 422 snaps and improving his overall defensive grade to 73.0, while his pass-rush grade climbed to 73.2 with 29 total pressures, 4 sacks, and 21 hurries, establishing him as one of the SECs more effective interior disruptors. Banks 2025 breakout bid was derailed after just 96 snaps, but his two-year trajectory beforehand painted the profile of a plus athlete with real interior penetration skills and a pass-rush ceiling that Florida coaches believed was just beginning to unlock. His eye-opening Senior Bowl showing helped to quell any injury concerns."Sporting News: Monroe Freeling, OT, GeorgiaVinnie Iyer: "The Bears should think about looking at upgrading the tackles' pass protection for Caleb Williams, with Braxton Jones being a free agent. Freeling's massive frame and athleticism should be intriguing to turn some athletic potential into dominance in time."Athlon Sports: Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonLuke Easterling: "The Bears offense is in good hands withCaleb Williamsand Ben Johnson, but the defense needs a ton of help all over the place, especially if theyre not able to keep some key free agents. One of the most glaring needs is for a disruptive interior presence up front, and Woods would be the ideal fit. His production dipped in 2025 thanks to playing out of position at nose tackle much of the time, but hes a rare athlete for his size, and could be a dominant 3-technique."Draft Network: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateKeith Sanchez: "The Chicago Bears appear to be hitting their stride offensively and have a lot of momentum entering the 2026 season. Defensively, it is a different story. The Bears in 2025 definitely relied on turnovers, and their rush defense was in the bottom half of the NFL. To help solve that issue, the Bears draft IDL Kayden McDonald."This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears zero in on a top defensive tackle