The NFL draft won't be a consequential discussion for another few months. Right now, the Chicago Bears are enjoying the excitement of a four-game winning streak and being back in the NFC playoff picture. Still, GM Ryan Poles and his scouts can't afford to take days off. They must look ahead to the next infusion of young talent, building what they hope is an eventual Super Bowl contender. It starts with continuing to hit on their 1st round picks. Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, and Rome Odunze all appear to be quality players. Hopes are high for Colston Loveland as well.
One thing about the Bears GM is that he has a history of zeroing in on players he likes early. That was the case with Wright in 2023 and again with Williams in 2024. Even though it's October, one source told SM that the Bears brass have fallen in love with a particular name for the upcoming 2026 class. That is Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey. Chicago has struggled getting to the quarterback this season. Bailey has 10.5 sacks in seven games this season, dominating every blocker he comes across.
Ryan Poles' biggest challenge will be selling Dennis Allen.
It's no secret that the Bears defensive coordinator loves bigger defensive ends. He prefers players with power and length, which makes it easier to defend against the run. However, this approach has left the team with a lack of speed off the edge. Bailey would be an immediate solution to that. He's not overly big, but he's athletic, explosive, and has a bevy of pass rush moves with which to abuse offensive tackles. If Ryan Poles can get Allen to look past the size concerns, this is a player who can make this defense much more dangerous.
It will be interesting to see where Bailey's draft stock goes before April. He was viewed as a 2nd round prospect coming into this year. Smart money says he's a 1st round lock now. The question is whether the Bers will have a shot at him. If they do, Poles would love to make it happen.
