Bears 2026 – Chicago’s 2026 NFL Draft class adds speed on defense, line depth, and new weapons—here’s what each of the Bears’ seven selections brings.
The Chicago Bears’ 2026 NFL Draft haul is more than a shopping list of prospects—it’s a map of what the team wants to fix, and how quickly it thinks it can do it.
Bears draft class: the 7 picks and what they signal
The centerpiece of Misryoum’s look at the Bears’ seven selections is the way they’re leaning toward “play-fast” athleticism and versatility—especially on defense. where they’ve repeatedly signaled a desire for speed and range rather than purely bulk.. With each pick. Chicago appears to be building an ecosystem: safeties and corners who can close. linebackers who can move. and bigger bodies that can chew up reps while younger players learn roles.
Round-by-round: who Chicago picked in 2026
In Round 1, No.. 25. Dillon Thieneman is the type of immediate-fit defender the Bears often chase: a safety with reported speed that stands out even among NFL hopefuls.. Misryoum can’t ignore the numbers that drove interest—Thieneman clocked 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash. paired with production that includes eight interceptions. 10 tackles for loss. and two forced fumbles across three college seasons.. His background runs through Purdue and then Oregon after transferring. a path that helped him develop into a player the Bears believe can step into the vacancy beside Coby Bryant right away.
Round 2, No.. 57 goes to Logan Jones, a lineman with a steadier, more developmental arc.. Misryoum notes he played 52 games (51 starts) at Iowa. winning the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the country last season.. Chicago’s apparent plan is to let Garrett Bradbury handle starter duties in 2027 while Jones learns the role and cross-trains at guard—an approach built for continuity. not instant fireworks.
The remaining picks: matchups, gadgets, and depth
Misryoum’s breakdown continues with Sam Roush in Round 3, No.. 69, a tight end whose value looks rooted in two places teams can’t replicate in workouts: blocking and special teams.. His senior year at Stanford produced a meaningful receiving line—49 catches for 545 yards and two touchdowns—yet his background overall fits a Bears profile that often prizes toughness in multiple phases.. The projection is that he could function like a more modern version of a low-drama depth tight end who still earns snaps. especially with Durham Smythe-style expectations.
Also in Round 3, No.. 89, Zavion Thomas gives Chicago a different kind of offensive flexibility.. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Thomas is coming off a season in which he was LSU’s No.. 2 wide receiver, catching 41 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns.. But Misryoum sees the bigger strategic point in his rushing and athletic profile: he also had 19 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. and he ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash this offseason.. Chicago’s intent appears to be using him first as an explosive gadget option—someone who can create mismatch problems without requiring the full workload of a traditional boundary receiver immediately.
Round 4, No.. 124 lands on Malik Muhammad. a cornerback from Texas who Misryoum would summarize as a constant need answer—corners get hurt. get tested. and get outpaced over a season.. Even with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon already in the building, Chicago is still prioritizing the position.. Muhammad left school early after posting second-team All-SEC production: 30 tackles. two interceptions. and 2 1/2 tackles for loss. plus three interceptions in 41 career games.. The Bears’ plan reportedly includes bulking up to handle outside matchups while competing with Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith for meaningful reps.
Round 5, No.. 166 is Keyshaun Elliott. an Arizona State linebacker with production that suggests he can contribute on both the defense and the special-teams grind.. Misryoum highlights the tackling numbers—98 tackles with seven sacks last season—along with a career total that includes 11 1/2 sacks. one interception. and two fumble recoveries over 52 collegiate games.. The Bears’ linebacker room has been described as less proven. so Elliott’s immediate value may come through competition and versatility—while also fitting the reality that teams lean heavily on players who can cover. pursue. and stay available on special teams.
Finally, in Round 6, No.. 213, Jordan van den Berg is a long-term developmental swing.. He’s a Georgia Tech defensive tackle listed at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. an All-ACC performer with 44 tackles and seven tackles for loss last season.. Misryoum points out the athletic traits that make developmental linemen intriguing—he ran a 4.94 in the 40 and posted a 36-inch vertical leap.. Yet the Bears’ own framing is clear: this is a lottery-type pick at this stage. with a tough roster path and the possibility of a practice squad runway.
Taken together. the Bears’ seven selections show a team trying to balance speed and physicality on defense with functional depth on offense.. Misryoum expects the short-term impact to be clearest in Thieneman’s safety fit and in how Thomas and Roush carve out early snaps. while Jones and van den Berg represent the more patient side of Chicago’s approach.
For fans, the biggest question now becomes not whether these players have upside, but how quickly the Bears can translate traits into roles once training camp begins—because the gulf between a highlight reel and a Sunday snap is where seasons are won or lost.