Chicago Bears Reportedly In Love With 2026 Draft Prospect Already

Don't let anybody tell you that general managers don't plan ahead regarding the draft. They always have a keen eye on which players are coming down the pipeline one or two years in the future. Late Boston Celtic legend Red Auerbach was famous for it. He drafted Larry Bird a year before he actually turned pro. Then he admitted he schemed to draft Maryland superstar Len Bias for three years. You could argue GM Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears planned ahead when they swung that blockbuster trade with Carolina in 2023, believing they had a good shot at a much better quarterback in the 2024 class with the Panthers' 1st round pick. It turned into Caleb Williams.

The 2026 draft is still many months away. Chicago is focused on winning actual games this season and breaking its six-year losing streak. However, Poles is already focused on the next phase of building his roster. He and his scouts were back on the trail this week, attending several games. They were out in force at the Texas-Ohio State matchup. It turns out there was a good reason for this. According to a source, they wanted to see a player they are "absolutely in love with."

That is Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs.

The Chicago Bears know they have a safety issue looming.

Both Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are free agents next offseason. It is still possible the Brisker could be extended, but there is a strong possibility that at least one of them is gone. The Chicago Bears need a plan to find a replacement in such an event. Landing Downs would be the equivalent of hitting a grand slam in their eyes. Many experts see Ohio State's safety as the best overall prospect in the class, comparing him to Eric Berry and Ed Reed. It has been years since the Bears have had anybody of that caliber on the back end. Eddie Jackson briefly reached it, as did Mike Brown. Landing Downs would be a tremendous boon for the defense. Unfortunately, expectations are that he won't go anywhere but the top 10. So, unless the Bears plan to have another losing season or trade up, they may be out of luck.