Bears Pivot to Missouri’s Zion Young in Mel Kiper’s Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears hold the No. 25 overall pick and a glaring vacancy on the edge. After the front office’s high-profile pursuit of Maxx Crosby fell through earlier this spring, General Manager Ryan Poles is forced to look toward the collegiate ranks. According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., the solution is simple: Missouri defensive end Zion Young.

Filling the Void Opposite Montez Sweat

Chicago’s defense was a tale of two units last season. While the secondary flourished, the front four often sputtered. The Bears finished 2025 with just 35 sacks (tied for 22nd) and a dismal 28.0% pressure rate, which ranked 29th in the NFL. Montez Sweat carried the load with 10 sacks, but he was largely a solo act. The team’s big free-agent swing, Dayo Odeyingbo, saw his debut season cut short by a torn Achilles in November after recording just one sack in eight games.

Kiper argues that the drought of premium investment at the position has finally reached a breaking point. Chicago hasn’t used a top-50 pick on a pass rusher since they took Leonard Floyd ninth overall back in 2016. A decade is a lifetime in NFL years to go without an elite young bookend.

Zion Young changed the math at Missouri last year. He racked up 6.5 sacks and a massive 16.5 tackles for loss, earning First-team All-SEC honors. He isn’t just a finesse speedster; he plays with a violent, high-revving motor that fits the blue-collar identity Ben Johnson has cultivated in this locker room.

“We know we need more heat up front. Montez is a monster, but you can’t ask one guy to beat double teams for 17 games. We need a dog on the other side who makes them pay for sliding the protection.”
— Anonymous Bears Defensive Starter

Draft Outlook: Why Young Fits

The Bears saw a spark from Austin Booker, who tallied 4.5 sacks last year, but they need a foundational piece. Young provides that. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 262 pounds, he has the frame to hold the edge against the run—a non-negotiable in the NFC North—while possessing the “heavy hands” scouts rave about. His ability to convert speed to power would immediately take the handcuffs off the Bears’ blitz packages.

With Odeyingbo’s recovery timeline stretching toward mid-season, the Bears cannot afford to wait. If the board falls the way Kiper predicts, the card will be turned in quickly. Zion Young isn’t just a prospect; he’s the necessary finish to a defense that is one playmaker away from Super Bowl contention.