​The Chicago Bears made significant progress in 2025, but that season is behind them as they turn the page to a fresh chapter. For sustained success, they’ll rely on several players taking the next step, and here are my top five who I believe will breakout. You can find picks 10 through 6 linked here.
5. WR Rome Odunze
Odunze faced some uneven moments early in the season, yet he still looked on track for his first 1,000-yard receiving season and potentially double-digit touchdowns. Injuries are a part of the game, and the third-year receiver deserves credit for battling through a stress fracture in his foot. While his output did taper as the year progressed, raising questions about whether he can hit his pre-draft ceiling, the opportunity ahead remains enormous as we head into 2026. Odunze now has a clear chance to be the featured weapon in this offense, entering the year as their primary X-receiver on the outside. Although Burden is flashier and more explosive, the combination of Odunze and Colston Loveland could drive the offense all season. The talent and size are evident; the main concerns from last season—drops and struggles on 50/50 balls—will be more manageable if he continues to play through a demanding injury. If Odunze can stay healthy and build on his potential, 2026 could be the year he proves why he was selected No. 9 overall.
4. DE Austin Booker
Contrary to some expectations that the Bears would add a splashy edge rusher in the offseason, the roster did not bring in an immediately impactful defender at that position. That reality may reflect the club’s financial commitments to its current pass rush, but the coaching staff remains confident in the talent already on the depth chart. While Montez Sweat could be viewed as a top-end DE2, the real question centers on the players behind him. Dayo Odeyingbo is recovering from the second torn Achilles of his career and appears on track to be ready for Week 1, but the bigger storyline centers on Booker as he enters Year 3 with substantial pressure to perform. Booker showed a promising spark in last year’s preseason but then missed the first seven games with a knee injury. He finished last season with 3.5 sacks across the final four regular-season games and added another in the playoffs after starting with one sack in his first six games. Although his pass-rushing metrics might not jump off the page, it’s reasonable to believe that a healthier Odeyingbo and a clearer role could allow Booker to maximize his strengths. With Sweat rebounding, there’s a real possibility that Booker benefits from heightened attention on the edge and from better depth around him. If he can be deployed more as a stand-alone rusher, his pressure rate and sack numbers could see meaningful improvements, setting him up for a breakout season and helping boost the Bears’ overall pass rush.