Bears' NFL Draft: Defending NFC North Crown

0:00It's April 22nd. This is NFL News Today, powered by AI, your gridiron update. I'm Corey with the story. The 2026 NFL Draft is underway in Pittsburgh, starting Thursday 9, putting the Chicago Bears in every team in full rebuild mode for. Next season, as NFC North Chams from a Razor Thin 2025 run, the Bears edged out the Packers, Vikings and Lions, but those rivals are loaded and hungry to flip the script. The Packers push Chicago hard until injuries like Michael Parsons going down, force their hand, while the Lions scrape to 9 and 8 without. Their top play collar, but still showed grit, under Dan Campbell. Meanwhile, the Vikings nearly snagged the division crown, if not for one fluke return, giving the Bears prime field position. Fans and analysts are buzzing about how close it all was. Chicago's luck and tiebreakers and miracle moments won't repeat, and now they've got a massive. On their back as division kings, facing a tougher, first play schedule.

1:02Keyholes stare the Bears down. They top the league with 33 takeaways and 23 picks last year, but a bottom five pass rush makes. That unsustainable, Pro Bowl Center, drew down and retired, so their trade for Garrett Bradbury is just a one year patch, and left tackle stays a battle with Aussie Trapilo, sideline long term. All four north squads boast sharp scouting crews, so Chicago can't coast, they're drafting with fire to lock in that edge and defend their throne. Before rivals close the gap for good.