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  "path": "/bears/2026/02/27/bears-nfl-scouting-combine-mock-draft-20-kayden-mcdonald-defensive-tackle-ryan-poles-carnell-tate-ben-johnson",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-27T19:37:48.716Z",
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  "textContent": "<p>INDIANAPOLIS — As sure as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be chosen first overall by the Raiders, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate will be the highest Chicago native selected in the April draft. He started his high school career at Marist before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida.</p><p>“Growing up in Chicago was great,” Tate said Friday the NFL Scouting Combine. “It’s a tough city, so you had to learn how to fight. That’s all my life, what I’ve been doing, is fighting.”</p><p>Armed with intel from the Combine, here’s the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/12/bears-nfl-mock-draft-pick-25-overall-fernando-mendoza-tj-parker-indiana-clemson-april\" target=\"_blank\" >Sun-Times’ Mock Draft 2.0 </a>— featuring the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears’</a> pick at No. 25: </p><h3><b>1. Raiders — Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza</b></h3><h3></h3><p>At their Combine meeting, Mendoza was taught one play by head coach Klint Kubiak, complete with progressions and problem-solving tips — and then made Mendoza teach it back to him.</p><h3><b>2. Jets — Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Agreeing to trade Jermaine Johnson to the Titans locks the Jets in at edge rusher here. Bailey helped his cause this week with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and a 35-inch vertical leap.</p><h3><b>3. Cardinals — Utah T Spencer Fano</b></h3><h3></h3><p>The Cardinals could be the worst team in football next year, which would give them a crack at drafting a franchise quarterback in 2027.</p><h3><b>4. Titans — Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Adding Johnson doesn’t eliminate the need for another defensive end. With Robert Saleh as head coach, the Jets once picked a first-round edge rusher in consecutive years.</p><h3><b>5. Giants — Miami T Francis Mauigoa</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Mauigoa will try to ensure that new coach John Harbaugh runs the ball as efficiently at his new job as he did with the Ravens.</p><h3><b>6. Browns — Ohio State WR Carnell Tate</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Tate said one benefit of joining the team would be the short drive back to Columbus to meet up with old friends and teammates.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" data-embed> <iframe width=\"113\" height=\"200\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/DIu0dOR5RBg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Have a day, Carnell Tate\"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p></p><h3><b>7. Commanders — Ohio State EDGE Vell Reese</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Reese had an eventful week, saying he was an edge rusher and not an inside linebacker — he played both at OSU — and announcing he’d go by Vell instead of Arvell.</p><h3><b>8. Saints — Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson</b></h3><h3></h3><p>The Saints’ second-leading wide receiver last year had 293 receiving yards. The Bears, by contrast, had four wideouts with more.</p><h3><b>9. Chiefs — Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love</b></h3><h3></h3><p>NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah could see the Chiefs trading down unless Love, “the second-best player in the draft,” is available.</p><h3><b>10. Bengals — Ohio State S Caleb Downs</b></h3><h3></h3><p>After posting one of the worst defensive seasons in NFL history, the Bengals get the draft’s surest thing.</p><h3><b>11. Dolphins — Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy</b></h3><h3></h3><p>The Dolphins hold five of the first 90 picks and still could look to trade down. McCoy fills one of many needs.</p><h3><b>12. Cowboys — Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Devoting a first-round pick to edge rusher after trading Micah Parsons to the Packers makes a kind of only-in-Dallas sense.</p><h3><b>13. Rams (via Falcons) — USC WR Makai Lemon</b></h3><h3></h3><p>He’d thrive in a receiver room alongside the great Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.</p><h3><b>14. Ravens — Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Mesidor’s motor and production makes him feel like a Raven. He turns 25 before Week 1, though.</p><h3><b>15. Buccaneers — Ohio State LB Sonny Styles</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Styles was a Combine star, jumping 43½ inches, the highest by an off-ball linebacker in 24 years and wowing other drills.</p><h3><b>16. Jets (via Colts) — Alabama QB Ty Simpson</b></h3><h3></h3><p>After the Justin Fields experiment failed, the Jets take a chance on the draft’s second-best quarterback.</p><h3><b>17. Lions — Missouri EDGE Zion Young</b></h3><h3></h3><p>The Lions need a true edge threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Young started his college career at Michigan State.</p><h3><b>18. Vikings — Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren</b></h3><h3></h3><p>If safety Harrison Smith retires, the Vikings would have to find a replacement in free agency or the draft.</p><h3><b>19. Panthers — Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Parker had 11 sacks two years ago but only five of them last season.</p><h3><b>20. Cowboys (via Packers) — LSU CB Mansoor Delane</b></h3><h3></h3><p>He’s a potential top-10 pick and great value. The pick is one of the Cowboys they got for Parsons.</p><h3><b>21. Steelers — Washington WR Denzel Boston</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Aaron Rodgers will tell the Steelers his plans in the next two weeks. New coach Mike McCarthy needs firepower.</p><h3><b>22. Chargers — Penn State G Olaivavega Ioane</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Ioane didn’t allow a sack over his last two college seasons and gave up just three pressures year. That fits a Jim Harbaugh team like a pair of crisp khakis.</p><h3><b>23. Eagles — Utah T Caleb Lomu</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Since the Eagles took star Lane Johnson fourth overall in 2013, they’ve drafted an offensive lineman in Round 1 just once.</p><h3><b>24. Browns (via Jaguars) — Alabama T Kadyn Proctor</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Jeremiah believes the Browns should pick at least one tackle in Round 1 — if not two. Proctor is just 20 is stands a whopping 6-foot-7, 366 pounds.</p><h3><b>25. Bears — Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Pass rush remains the Bears’ biggest need but coach Ben Johnson said he’d be open to drafting an interior defensive lineman in Round 1. McDonald turns 21 in mid-March and was the anchor of a dominant OSU line.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" data-embed> <iframe width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/l0qCiIaKX4k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"2026 NFL DRAFT HIGHLIGHTS: DL Kayden McDonald | Ohio State Football\"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p>Young and Parker would make sense here — but they've been taken. Drafting McDonald is also an acknowledgment that Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell doesn’t fit Dennis Allen’s prototype for defensive end. Howell’s arms measure 30¼ inches long — per Pro Football Focus, the shortest of any NFL Scouting Combine edge rusher since 1999. He stands just 6-foot-2.</p><p>Howell acknowledged the criticism of his arms this week but said that “production has never been a real issue for me.”</p><p>McDonald, who is ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s top-ranked defensive tackle, was a run-stuffer in college but many <br>believe there’s a pass rush to unlock.</p><p>\"On early downs, I can stop the run,” he said this week. “On third downs, I can push the pocket. I'm a complete player.\"</p><h3><b>26. Bills — </b> <b>Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell</b></h3><p>There’s no doubting his production — only two college players have more sacks over the past three years than his 25.</p><h3><b>27. 49ers — Clemson DT Peter Woods</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Like Howell, Woods has short arms. The 49ers need to add defensive line depth.</p><h3><b>28. Texans — Georgia OT Morgan Freeling</b></h3><h3></h3><p>This one takes some projection — Freeling has just 16 starts to his name.</p><h3><b>29. Rams — Clemson CB Avieon Terrell</b></h3><h3></h3><p>Terrell stops his surprise fall and lands with the Rams.</p><h3><b>30. Broncos — Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq</b></h3><h3></h3><p>We still like teaming Sadiq with Bo Nix, his college quarterback.</p><h3><b>31. Patriots — Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields</b></h3><h3></h3><p>The Patriots will prioritize finding Drake Maye better receiving options.</p><h3><b>32. Seahawks — Oregon S Dillion Thieneman</b></h3><h3></h3><p>He met with the champs at the Combine and came away impressed by their scheme.</p><p></p><bsp-list-loadmore class=\"PageListH\" data-module data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-bc0001\" name=\"list-bc0001\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, items=[{type=Image, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/nonstop-competition-for-bears-caleb-williams-as-he-chases-top-qbs-fights-off-upstarts-like-fernando-mendoza, authors=[{jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}], media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}]}], _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, publishDate=February 27, 2026 01:55 PM, anchorId=promo-eb0002, media=[{alt=Super Bowl Football, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/e6/fc/d85dc894428a85a7198d56d6f68b/ap26058493225030.jpg, width=4235, height=2824}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/e6/fc/d85dc894428a85a7198d56d6f68b/ap26058493225030.jpg, width=4235, height=2824}}], title=Nonstop competition for Bears' Caleb Williams as he chases top QBs, fights off upstarts like Fernando Mendoza, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, timestamp=1772222151000, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, ampLink=null, category=[{items=[Bears]}], audio=[], wordCount=702, audioDuration=null, description=[{items=[If Mendoza elevates the Raiders, they’ll become one more obstacle for the Bears in the harsh ecosystem of the NFL, a zero-sum game in which one team’s gains always come at the expense of another. It’s never as simple as merely finding solutions to your own problems; those solutions have to be better than other teams’ solutions.]}], _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, description=[{items=[Armed with intel from the Combine, our draft features the Bears’ No. 25 pick.]}], publishDate=February 27, 2026 01:37 PM, _styledTemplate=null, authors=[{bio=[{items=[Patrick Finley covers the Bears and the NFL for the Sun-Times after previous stops in Arizona, Florida and California.]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/patrick-finley, jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=patrick-finley-0.jpg, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/3e/6853c67f16af2c0c2ea207670528/patrick-finley-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/3e/6853c67f16af2c0c2ea207670528/patrick-finley-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, 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authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}], bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, title=NFL sets salary cap at low end of original forecast, tightening Bears' offseason crunch, ampLink=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/nfl-sets-salary-cap-at-low-end-of-original-forecast-tightening-bears-offseason-crunch, anchorId=promo-ec0000, audio=[], description=[{items=[The team has two weeks to get under the cap before the new league year begins, but must do more than that to upgrade the roster and make the leap into championship contention]}], timestamp=1772214648000, category=[{items=[Bears]}], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, publishDate=February 27, 2026 11:50 AM}], rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, 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showSecondItemMedia=false, listColumns234=null, footerTextColor=#ffffff, title=Latest on the Bears, pageCount=6834, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, hideDescriptions=false, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, anchorId=list-bc0001, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Bears</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items\" data-with-borders data-list-loadmore-items> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Nonstop competition for Bears' Caleb Williams as he chases top QBs, fights off upstarts like Fernando Mendoza\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/nonstop-competition-for-bears-caleb-williams-as-he-chases-top-qbs-fights-off-upstarts-like-fernando-mendoza\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bd0caa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4219x2824+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe6%2Ffc%2Fd85dc894428a85a7198d56d6f68b%2Fap26058493225030.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/daf3cb3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4219x2824+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe6%2Ffc%2Fd85dc894428a85a7198d56d6f68b%2Fap26058493225030.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Super Bowl Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/daf3cb3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4219x2824+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe6%2Ffc%2Fd85dc894428a85a7198d56d6f68b%2Fap26058493225030.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/nonstop-competition-for-bears-caleb-williams-as-he-chases-top-qbs-fights-off-upstarts-like-fernando-mendoza\" >Nonstop competition for Bears' Caleb Williams as he chases top QBs, fights off upstarts like Fernando Mendoza</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">If Mendoza elevates the Raiders, they’ll become one more obstacle for the Bears in the harsh ecosystem of the NFL, a zero-sum game in which one team’s gains always come at the expense of another. It’s never as simple as merely finding solutions to your own problems; those solutions have to be better than other teams’ solutions.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1772222151000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"702\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"NFL Mock Draft 2.0 — Risers, fallers from the NFL Scouting Combine\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/bears-nfl-scouting-combine-mock-draft-20-kayden-mcdonald-defensive-tackle-ryan-poles-carnell-tate-ben-johnson\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f2bdcbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4846x3244+20+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F34%2Fcd%2F82708db9408ab1aa4529a97cd3e7%2F2263768775.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b96045/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4846x3244+20+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F34%2Fcd%2F82708db9408ab1aa4529a97cd3e7%2F2263768775.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"2026 NFL Scouting Combine\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b96045/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4846x3244+20+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F34%2Fcd%2F82708db9408ab1aa4529a97cd3e7%2F2263768775.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/bears-nfl-scouting-combine-mock-draft-20-kayden-mcdonald-defensive-tackle-ryan-poles-carnell-tate-ben-johnson\" >NFL Mock Draft 2.0 — Risers, fallers from the NFL Scouting Combine</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Armed with intel from the Combine, our draft features the Bears’ No. 25 pick.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1772221068000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/patrick-finley\" >Patrick Finley </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"851\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"NFL sets salary cap at low end of original forecast, tightening Bears' offseason crunch\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/nfl-sets-salary-cap-at-low-end-of-original-forecast-tightening-bears-offseason-crunch\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/de4c236/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6352x4252+13+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd8%2F3d%2F0f4c9644a39fc9f2c782269698a6%2Fpoles-11.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/43f8468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6352x4252+13+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd8%2F3d%2F0f4c9644a39fc9f2c782269698a6%2Fpoles-11.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"A photo of Bears general manager Ryan Poles watching warmups.\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/43f8468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6352x4252+13+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd8%2F3d%2F0f4c9644a39fc9f2c782269698a6%2Fpoles-11.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/27/nfl-sets-salary-cap-at-low-end-of-original-forecast-tightening-bears-offseason-crunch\" >NFL sets salary cap at low end of original forecast, tightening Bears' offseason crunch</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The team has two weeks to get under the cap before the new league year begins, but must do more than that to upgrade the roster and make the leap into championship contention</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1772214648000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"483\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageList-footer\"> </div> </bsp-list-loadmore><p></p>",
  "title": "NFL Mock Draft 2.0 — Risers, fallers from the NFL Scouting Combine",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-27T21:00:08.625Z"
}