The Chicago Bears are looking to build on their success from last season, and after an active free agent period, general manager Ryan Poles will turn his attention to next month’s NFL Draft. The Bears are armed with seven selections in the draft, including three picks in the top 60, but even with a standard amount of draft capital, it’s still a nerve-racking time for players on the roster.
That includes injured ones such as Dayo Odeyingbo. A big free-agent pickup one year ago, Odeyingbo disappointed in Chicago before tearing his Achilles tendon. With his contract getting another year toward becoming disposable, the Bears will likely plan ahead, taking a player who can contribute in 2026 and replace Odeyingbo as early as the 2027 season.
A Rookie Pass-Rusher Could End Dayo Odeyingbo’s Time with the Bears After Next Season
The Bears have multiple needs coming into next year’s draft, but the biggest might be edge rusher. The Maxx Crosby pipe dream appears to be over after a failed trade to the Baltimore Ravens, and instead of spending big on a veteran that could provide a rotational role, the Bears will probably be looking for a long-term replacement opposite Montez Sweat.
NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft currently has Chicago taking Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with a 28% projection rate at the 25th overall pick. But the Bears can also choose to go with a pass-rusher in that spot with Auburn’s Keldric Faulk (No. 19), Miami’s Akheem Mesidor (No. 20), and Clemson’s T.J. Parker (No. 27) within range, according to their consensus big board.
Even if Chicago doesn’t go with a pass rusher in the first round they could trade back and get McNeil-Warren while also adding Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell (No. 34), Missouri’s Zion Young (No. 37) or UCF’s Malachi Lawrence (No. 45). The 57th or 60th overall picks has a chance to grab another wave of talent including Illinois’s Gabe Jacas (No. 54) or Michigan’s Derrick Moore (No. 59) and it all could mean bad news for Odeyingbo’s time in Chicago.
Odeyingbo’s three-year, $48 million contract was a projection by the Bears front office that he could build on his time with the Indianapolis Colts. While his pass-rush win rate improved each season since entering the NFL, he never found his footing in Chicago, posting an 8.4% pass-rush win rate and 10 pressures on 207 pass-rushing snaps before getting injured in a Week 9 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Pro Football Focus.
With his return date uncertain, there’s no telling how much he’ll be able to contribute to the Bears or when he’ll be able to return. If it’s on the latter end, the Bears may use a draft pick as a key reason for cutting him following the 2026 season, which would save Chicago $15 million in a pre-June 1 release, according to Over The Cap.
Put it all together, and there’s a very real chance that Odeyingbo’s time in Chicago could be over before it began, and the Bears could have a new pass-rusher coming in next month’s draft.