The second round of the NFL draft has been kind to the Chicago Bears over the years, and in large part, it has been general manager Ryan Poles who has hit on the Day 2 picks.
From cornerback Kyler Gordon, wide receiver Luther Burden III, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, and tackle Ozzy Trapilo, those are just some of the names Poles has drafted and have made an impact on the Bears roster in their short time.
On Friday, Chicago will have not only one, but two draft picks in the second round, and they could go any which way. But here’s how I think the Bears could go at No. 57:
Safety time
The safety options will be plenty in the second round, and for as much hype Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has gotten, I can see him falling out of the first round, and the possibility of Treydan Stukes going higher is certainly likely.
At pick No. 57, safety options are realistic, and as I’ve mocked before, Chicago taking Stukes from Arizona would perfectly fit into the Dennis Allen scheme. His speed and versatility to play near the line of scrimmage and deep over the top are qualities you want in a free safety.
Chicago at the moment only has free-agent addition Coby Bryant and Elijah Hicks as reliable safety options, but Hicks isn’t likely to earn a starting job. They need to shore up the room, both adding a starter and with depth. Like Jaquan Brisker, who was selected in the second round, Stukes would be the best fit for the Bears at No. 57.
Target an edge rusher
The Bears need to improve their pass rush and find a complement for former Pro Bowler Montez Sweat. With a deep edge rusher class, they might be able to find an impactful one on Day 2.
Edge rushers like Illinois’ Gabe Jacas and Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas could be available for the Bears. Another edge rusher, UCF’s Malachi Lawrence, could be a real possibility, but he could also see him selected in the first round.
If Chicago were to go left tackle or safety in the first round, edge rusher is in play at No. 57, with players like Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell potentially on the board.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears’ options with the No. 57 pick