The Freak, The Safety Convert, and The Thumper: 5 LBs to Fix the Middle
We won the North. 11-6. Division Champs. It feels good to say that, doesn’t it?
But here is the hangover reality check: We have some expensive decisions to make. Tremaine Edmunds is staring down a contract that looks a lot like a $15 million piñata waiting to be smashed for cap space. If Poles decides to move on, we have a massive hole in the middle of Dennis Allen’s defense. Even if he stays, we need more speed.
The modern NFL isn’t about 250-pound neck-roll guys stuffing the A-gap anymore. It’s about 6’4″ aliens who can run a 4.4 and cover a tight end down the seam without looking lost.
We are picking at No. 25. This is a prime spot to grab a linebacker who doesn’t just fill a gap, but changes the geometry of the defense.
I’ve broken down the 5 names you need to know. One is a pipe dream, one is a perfect modern fit, and one is a blitzing maniac who just wants to hurt people.
Here is the no-BS breakdown of the top linebacker prospects for the Bears in 2026.
1. Arvell Reese (Ohio State) – The “Micah Parsons 2.0” Dream
The Vitals: 6’4″ | 243 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: A lab experiment gone right.
Arvell Reese is what happens when you create a player in Madden and max out the speed and hit power stats. He’s 243 pounds and moves like a safety. He played edge, he played off-ball, he played slot corner. He is versatility personified.
Why He Fits: He is the ultimate chess piece. He had a 22% pressure rate as a pass rusher. In Dennis Allen’s scheme, you could line him up at SAM, mug him in the A-gap, or put him on the edge. He chases down plays from the backside like a cheetah hunting a gazelle.
The “But…”: He’s going Top 10. The NFL loves freaks, and Reese is the biggest freak in the class. Unless he forgets how to run at the Combine, he’s not falling to 25. Also, his coverage instincts are still a little raw — he relies on speed to recover rather than reading the play perfectly.
The Verdict: If he falls, you sprint to the podium. He’s a blue-chip talent. But don’t buy the jersey yet.
2. Sonny Styles (Ohio State) – The “Modern Solution”
The Vitals: 6’4″ | 237 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: Fred Warner with a Buckeye helmet.
This is the guy. Circle his name. Sonny Styles is a former 5-star safety who grew into a linebacker’s body. He’s 6’4″, long, and fluid. He covers tight ends like a blanket. Daniel Jeremiah compared him to Fred Warner, and frankly, the tape backs it up.
Why He Fits: If we cut Edmunds, Styles is the plug-and-play replacement who might actually be an upgrade in coverage. He understands route concepts because he used to play deep safety. In a division where we have to cover Sam LaPorta and Tucker Craft four times a year, Styles is the weapon we need.
The “But…”: He’s still learning to be a linebacker. He can get washed out by big offensive linemen in the run game because he’s used to playing in space. He needs to get nastier at the point of attack.
The Verdict: Target A. He’s realistic at pick 25. He fits the modern NFL perfectly. He gives Dennis Allen a coverage weapon in the middle of the field who can also blitz. This is the smart pick.
3. Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) – The “Heat Seeker”
The Vitals: 6’3″ | 240 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: A downhill missile that hates quarterbacks.
Anthony Hill Jr. is violence. He’s an attacking linebacker who thrives when he’s moving forward. He led the SEC in TFLs as a sophomore. He blitzes with bad intentions and hits like a truck.
Why He Fits: He brings the 85’ Bears principle to life. He forced 7 fumbles in two years. He creates chaos. If you want a linebacker who scares offenses, this is him.
The “But…”: He’s not as fluid in coverage as Styles or Reese. He’s a “see ball, hit ball” guy who sometimes relies on athleticism over technique. His production dipped a bit in 2025 as teams started scheming away from him.
The Verdict: Great value in Round 2. If we go Edge or DT in the first round and Hill is there at 57 (maybe a trade up?), he’s a steal. He’s an instant starter at SAM linebacker.
4. CJ Allen (Georgia) – The “Safe & Boring” Pick
The Vitals: 6’1″ | 235 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: An Eric Kendricks clone who just does his job.
CJ Allen isn’t going to wow you at the Combine. He’s not a freak athlete. But he is a football player. He diagnoses run plays instantly. He doesn’t miss tackles. He’s the “adult in the room” for the Georgia defense.
Why He Fits: He stops the run. It’s that simple. He’s arguably the best pure run defender in the class. If you’re tired of watching teams gash us up the middle, Allen is the antidote.
The “But…”: He’s limited. He’s not going to cover slot receivers. He’s not an elite blitzer. He’s a throwback “thumper” in a league that is moving away from them. His ceiling is “solid starter,” not All-Pro.
The Verdict: A solid “double” in the draft. Not a home run. If we trade back and pick up extra capital, Allen is a great stabilizer. But don’t take him at 25.
5. Jake Golday (Cincinnati) – The “Mad Scientist” Experiment
The Vitals: 6’4″ | 240 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: A defensive end who learned to stand up and run fast.
Golday is the sleeper. He’s a former defensive end who transferred from Central Arkansas and turned into an athletic freak at Cincinnati. He has elite closing speed and a 10-foot broad jump.
Why He Fits: Upside, upside, upside. He has pass-rush skills from his DE days and the speed to play in space. He’s a special teams demon immediately with the potential to be a star if he learns the position.
The “But…”: He’s raw. He gets lost in zone coverage and sometimes guesses wrong on run fits. He’s a project.
The Verdict: Round 3 target. Do not touch him early, but if he’s there on Day 2, he’s a fun toy for the coaching staff to mold.
Visualizing the Linebacker Board
Final Verdict
Here is the play:
- If Arvell Reese falls to 20ish (highly unlikely): You think about moving up. He’s a game-wrecker.
- The Realistic Move: Sonny Styles at 25. He solves the coverage issue, replaces Edmunds’ athleticism (and potentially his roster spot), and gives us a 6’4″ weapon to erase tight ends.
- The Value Play: Wait until Round 2 for Anthony Hill Jr. or CJ Allen. The drop-off from Styles to Hill isn’t massive if you just want a blitzer, but the coverage drop-off is real.
If I’m Ryan Poles, I’m drafting the Buckeye. Sonny Styles fits the timeline, the scheme, and the modern NFL.
Bear Down.