The late, late show: Pivotal draft, but very different scenario for Bears

Can the Bears handle success? Sustain success? Those are legitimate question, because there has been so little of either since the Ditka Era faded away in the early 1990s.

The schedule will be tougher as a division champ, some argue. Yes, but it's really three games. First-place matchups against Seattle and Philadelphia could be tough, but the Bears beat the Eagles last year. The 17th game is Jaguars at home instead of Raiders on the road. With so much parity in the NFL, we'll see how it all plays out.

The more important issue is the draft. Waiting around to pick No. 25 in the first round is more foreign to the Bears than home games in January.

The Bears have made eight top-10 selections since the last time they picked bottom 10 in the first round. Who can forget Gabe Carimi, the tackle they tabbed at No. 29 in 2011? That was the draft following Lovie Smith's march to the NFC title game. So yeah, it's been a long time.

There were two other first-round picks at No. 25 or lower since Mike Ditka was fired. Tight end Greg Olsen was a winner at No. 31 in 2007, after the Bears found their way to the Super Bowl. At No. 29 in 2002, the Bears went with tackle Marc Colombo, who did all his best work for Dallas.

So previous regimes have gone 1-2 with late first-round picks. This entire draft, though, is vital for the Bears because they need to keep momentum moving forward.

For Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams to become the NFL's next great coach-QB combo, there needs to be a step forward in 2026, not a regression to the Bears' norm. This draft might make all the difference.

What's challenging is general manager Ryan Poles has no control over what happens with the first 24 picks, unless he decides to trade up. There are some clear and obvious needs — defensive tackle, safety, edge, maybe left tackle.

The only strategy is to stay flexible, since Poles won't know who is left on the board until the Bears are on the clock. Is the need at safety strong enough to move up for Oregon's Dillon Thieneman or Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren? That seems like a long shot. The feeling here is free-agent addition Cam Lewis is capable of starting at safety if a rookie doesn't fill the vacancy.

There has been talk that no defensive tackles will be picked in the top 24 since none of them has much of a track record as a pass rusher. If that's the case, should the Bears just snag Ohio State's Kayden McDonald, who could be an elite run-stopper?

Or is the lack of defensive tackle demand a sign to trade down or just wait, thinking they could get McDonald, Clemson's Peter Woods or Georgia's Christen Miller later?

The Bears need people who can make a difference on defense. Maybe that makes Clemson edge T.J. Parker the best option, someone who could inject energy into the Bears hibernating pass rush.

Or why not try to settle the left tackle problem once and for all by taking Utah's Caleb Lomu? The Bears aren't sure if Ozzy Trapilo will play at all this season after knee surgery. Do they really expect to make a long playoff run with Braxton Jones and Jedrick Willis Jr. covering Williams' blind side?

Poles has done well with his four previous first-round picks since joining the Bears in 2022, but all of those were in the top 10. It's not all about the first round, either. The Bears need contributors at all four positions of need mentioned above.

This year's draft scenario is what can lift longtime losers like the Bears into legendary status. Just be ready to make the right move after waiting a few hours for No. 25 to arrive.