Bear Down or Bear Frown: Chicago Bears 2026 Draft Grades and Analysis

By Ha Kung Wong

X: @FBGarbageTime

As we do every year, we take a look at every Chicago Bears draft pick and give you our thoughts and grade.  Last season we were dead on with the late Kyle Monangai pick.  Will we do it again?  Take a look and sound off!

Round 1

Pick 25
Dillon Thieneman – S (Oregon)

To be honest, I thought Dillon Thieneman would have been off the board in the top 20, if not the top 15.  But somehow, he hung around long enough for the Bears to grab him at 25.

As I mentioned in our Mock Draft, saying the Bears have significant inconsistency on defense is a huge understatement.  They had a bottom 5 run defense, allowing the 6th-most yards rushing in the NFL last season and were tied for the 7th-fewest sacks.  Add on top of that the fact that they allowed the 5th most passing TDs in the NFL and you have a recipe for disaster.  The amount of heroics the offense had to have was directly proportional the number of big plays given up by the defense last season.  So, getting arguably the best safety in the draft, not to mention one of the fastest (4.35 second 40-yard dash) and strongest (18 bench reps), not only made sense, but was for all intents and purposes, a steal.

In 2025 at Oregon, he recorded 95 tackles, 5 pass breakups, and 3.5 TFLs in 2025, plus two interceptions having played multiple roles over his college career including free safety, weak-side linebacker, nickel, and even in the slot — giving him flexibility to fit into various defensive schemes.  He’s the perfect Day 1 add to the defense that could help take the defense back from “cross your fingers and pray” to “monsters of the midway”, particularly playing with new off-season acquisition, Coby Bryant.  Don’t think so?  Well, Coby Bryant does…

GRADE: A

Round 2

Pick 57
Logan Jones – OL (Iowa)

After standout center Drew Dalman departed unexpectedly, the Bears traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury, but he’s likely better suited as a backup.  So, getting a solid center to build on was a priority, and Logan Jones can be that guy, perhaps not immediately, but in the near future.  At 25, Jones brings experience from facing top Big Ten defenses, toughness, and the athleticism to handle Ben Johnson’s fast-paced offense.

Scouts noted his run-blocking prowess and ability to thrive in a zone-oriented system and to run outside zone, though his short arms and play strength are limitations, and there are some concerns in pass protection.  Given the Bears’ offensive line instability, Jones’ elite college resume, and his ability to compete for the starting job immediately, this does look like a solid value.  The main risk is his size and play strength in the NFL, but his experience and fit for the scheme make him a credible long-term starter.

GRADE: B+

Round 3

Pick 69
Sam Roush – TE (Stanford)

Tight end wasn’t exactly the spot I thought the Bears needed to build.  I mean they have Cole Kmet and 2025 1st round pick Colston Loveland.  So, when the Bears selected Stanford tight end Sam Roush at No. 69 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, it certainly was a surprise.  That being said, having had a minute to think about it, he’s not a bad fit.

Roush started all 12 games in 2025, catching 49 passes for 545 yards and 2 TDs, with an average of 11.1 yards per catch, but more importantly for the Bears, Roush is a Y‑tight end — an in‑line blocker who excels in run‑game protection and zone coverage.  He can make cut‑off blocks in zone and combo blocks in gap schemes, and holds his own in pass protection.  After losing Durham Smythe to Baltimore, it makes sense that Ben Johnson would want to maintain flexibility in 12‑ and 13‑personnel sets, which require multiple TEs.

Sam Roush Receiving Stats
Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Season Team G Rec Yds Y/R TD Y/G
2022 Stanford 12 2 34 17.0 0 2.8
2023 Stanford 12 28 288 10.3 0 24.0
2024 Stanford 12 40 334 8.4 2 27.8
2025 Stanford 12 49 545 11.1 2 45.4
Care Care 48 119 1201 10.1 4 25.0

That being said, a 3rd Round pick is a lot to pay for a blocking tight end that hasn’t exactly excelled at pass-catching, so I’m not 100% sold on this pick, particularly with defense being a more immediate need.

GRADE: C+

Pick 89 – Zavion Thomas – WR (LSU)

After taking a tight end, the Bears again drafted a position I didn’t think they needed when they selected LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas.  Sure, the speed is there with 4.28‑second 40‑yard dash at the Combine, the second fastest among all wide receivers at the Combine.  And that speed probably helps on special teams, as he had 3 career return touchdowns at LSU.  However, the production at LSU in 2025 wasn’t really there with just 41 catches for 488 yards and 4 touchdowns, and there’s no clear path to targets in a Bears offense which already has Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Kalif Raymond in the wide receiver room, plus Jahdae Walker.

I do think there’s some upside here with Thomas, who might end up sneaking into specific 4 wide receiver sets, or on special teams, but I would have prefer to go defense here in Round 3.

GRADE: C

Round 4

Pick 124 – Malik Muhammad – CB (Texas)

This is more like it.  As I mentioned, the Bears had significant gaps in the secondary even before losing Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright, so adding Malik Muhammed to help out first round pick Dillon Thieneman and new free agent signing Coby Bryant makes a ton of sense.

Muhammad ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and had a near-11-foot broad jump at the Combine and has strong coverage instincts and versatility in both man and zone coverage. In 2025 in Texas, he recorded 30 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack in 11 games, earning Second-Team All-SEC honors. He broke up 16 passes over his career limiting receptions all around the field.  His speed and length align well with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s press-man style and his technique and competitiveness should make him an instant upgrade to the secondary.

GRADE: B+

Round 5

Pick 166 – Keyshaun Elliott – LB (Arizona State)

I honestly was hoping the Bears would invest in a linebacker earlier in the draft, particularly with Tremaine Edmunds leaving, but taking Keyshaun Elliott in the 5th Round was a decent depth move.

Elliott started the last two seasons at ASU after transferring from New Mexico State. He posted 98 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 7 sacks in 2025, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. Pundits have highlighted his work ethic, instincts, and downhill mentality, and he’s shown the ability to key and diagnose run plays, close on ball-carriers, and occasionally blitz for sacks.  He excels at run defense from middle or weak-side linebacker and should contribute on special teams right away.

GRADE: B

Round 6

Pick 213 – Jordan van den Berg – DL (Georgia Tech)

The Bears were for some reason allergic to drafting a defensive tackle until the 6th Round, so I’m not thrilled about that, but trading both of their 7th Round picks to Buffalo to move up and select Jordan van den Berg made sense.

Van Den Berg was a First-Team All-ACC performer in 2025 with 44 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 3 sacks.  He has good size, athleticism, physicality, and versatility, which add to his value, but is unlikely to be an immediate contributor on defense. There’s certainly path to contribute as a run stopper and in situational rotations alongside veterans Neville Galimore and Kentavius Street.  The long term potential is there, so I’m on board with this pick.

GRADE: B

Overall 2026 Draft Class Grade: B

I think the 2026 Bears Draft class is a solid, if not unspectacular, class that addressed most of the Bears offseason issues.  I was hoping for more defensive picks earlier in the draft, and in particular an EDGE that could help build a better pass rush, but there’s certainly long-term potential for the defensive players selected later in the class, and getting Dillon Thieneman at 25th overall is a steal and instant upgrade to the ailing secondary.  Early picks at tight end and wide receiver were not on my bingo card, but I understand the potential upside.

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