Chicago Bears make announcement before NFL Draft

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 12:01 PM ET

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. They are looking to improve on their impressive season last year. The Bears finished with an 11-6 record in 2025, their best record since 2018. They also won the NFC North title. However, Chicago failed to reach the Super Bowl, losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.

This offseason, head coach Ben Johnson and the Bears are looking to tighten up their roster. Unfortunately, they have already lost some key pieces in free agency. Most recently, the Bears bid farewell to Jonathan Owens. The undrafted safety will be playing for the Indiana Colts after he signed a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during the second half of the game against the Detroit Lions.

Crucial 2026 NFL Draft for the Chicago Bears

Despite losing a few guys in free agency, the Bears still made some key signings to bolster their squad. Coach Johnson and the front office added defensive players such as Coby Bryant, Devin Bush and Cam Lewis, to name a few.

On top of that, Chicago is now looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, which will take place next month. The Bears currently have eight picks in the upcoming draft, including three in the top 60 (25th, 57th and 60th).

In anticipation of the excitement surrounding one of the biggest events of the offseason, the Bears announced plans for an NFL Draft Party.

The NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23 to 25. This will be the first time that the NFL Draft has been held in Pittsburgh since 1948.

As for the Bears, their draft party will be held on April 23 at Soldier Field. The event is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT. The team has reminded fans, however, that gates will close 30 minutes after the Bears pick.

Mock drafts are predicting that the Bears will choose a player to immediately help their defensive line. Despite Chicago leading the league in turnovers forced, they were still on the lower end of the league in overall defense.

ESPN’s mock draft has the Bears taking Zion Young, a defensive end for the Missouri Tigers. In a month, we will see who the Bears will end up taking in the draft.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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