Clearing the Trenches with Peter Woods
Chicago’s defense struggled to plug the middle last season, making defensive tackle an absolute priority. Locker points to Clemson’s Peter Woods as the perfect fit at No. 25. Woods measured with sub-32-inch arms this week, but his tape screams raw violence. He erupts off the line of scrimmage, routinely throwing interior linemen off their anchor. Critics point to his statistical dip in 2025, but the tape tells a different story. In 2024, Woods posted a 74.0 pass-rush grade and a 74.2 run-defense grade. That is the explosive disruptor the Bears want clogging gaps at Soldier Field.
Securing the Secondary and Adding Firepower
With Chicago likely parting ways with at least one starting safety from their 2025 NFC North championship run, the back end of the defense needs fresh legs. LSU’s A.J. Haulcy fits the bill perfectly. Haulcy racked up an elite 88.6 coverage grade last season. He flies to the football and hits with bad intentions. While Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman remains a first-round dream, grabbing Haulcy in the second round gives Johnson a tough, read-and-react enforcer.
In the third round, Locker suggests the Bears target UConn wideout Skyler Bell. Trade rumors continue to swirl around D.J. Moore. If Moore exits, the Bears suddenly need a reliable target behind Rome Odunze and 2025 breakout rookie Luther Burden III. Bell represents a developmental project. However, Jahdae Walker—who caught Caleb Williams’ miraculous game-tying strike against the Packers in Week 16—already proved he can handle the spotlight. You could almost feel the tension leave the building when Walker hauled that pass in. Chicago might be better off drafting a linebacker on Day 2 and letting Walker eat up those WR3 targets.
“We’ve got to dig a little bit deeper. We’ve got to work a little bit harder. We’ve got to give a little bit more if we want to take this thing over the top. The first 30 is the easiest 30; the last 20 is the hard part.”
— Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears Head Coach
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Last year, Caleb Williams threw for nearly 4,000 yards, and the Bears tasted the postseason. Now, the expectations multiply. Hitting on the No. 25 pick is non-negotiable if Chicago plans to survive a bloodbath NFC North and make a deep playoff run. If Poles can secure a relentless trench warrior like Woods and a ball-hawking safety like Haulcy, this defense transforms from a liability into a weapon. The front office will spend the next 48 hours grilling prospects in Indy. Every interview, every 40-yard dash, and every medical check dictates whether the Bears hoist a Lombardi or watch from the couch next February.
