Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' 2026 draft picks

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: A one-year starter at Oregon (and three-year starter overall), Thieneman was a hybrid safety in former defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi’s scheme and wore a variety of hats (deep middle, robber, nickel etc.). A productive post safety at Purdue for two seasons, he transferred to Eugene for his junior season and earned a 2025 All-America nod for the Ducks, with both of his interceptions clinching victories late in a game (Penn State and Washington). He collected more than 300 combined tackles in three college seasons and averaged 7.9 tackles per start.

With his open-field athleticism, Thieneman has a lot to offer in the NFL because of his versatility making plays over the top in coverage or downhill versus the run. He shows impressive range and anticipation from the deep half of the field, as well as the intelligence to understand what opponents are trying to do. Although he doesn’t always play up to his testing numbers, he can guard both sidelines and sort through routes. He can clean up some things in the run game, too — he has a nose for the ball and doesn’t hesitate flying to the contact point.

They Said It: "Dillon's tape popped out. Just the sense of urgency that he plays with, the speed. We talk about taking the air out of the defense or out of the offense. His ability to close on the football, both in the run and the pass, stood out really, really quick. As we watched it, the comments you could hear: This guy is obsessed with football, plays fast. He's extremely smart, great leader and violent in the way that he plays the game. Everything that we're looking for. Then on top of that, you have some versatility. If he has to, he can go over and play a little bit of nickel. He can play free (safety). He can play strong (safety). Really good fit for what we're trying to do.” -- GM Ryan Poles

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RAS: Dillon Thieneman

Grade: A+ The reason for the perfect grade is because general manager Ryan Poles never got anxious, never felt the need to trade up, and let Thieneman fall in their laps when he was frequently mocked to not be on the board leading up to the draft. Thieneman's playmaking ability, excellence in coverage at the safety position, and even more, clean tackling ability will make him a Day 1 starter after being a first-round pick, barring any extreme circumstances. Chicago knew what they needed to get done, and they got a player who wasn't expected to be there at their selection, it's a win-win across the board for both sides. -- Mike Pendleton

Round 2, Pick 57: Logan Jones, C, Iowa

2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones

Breakdown: Undersized but extremely athletic center prospect. Great burst and fast feet. Four-year starter at center. Short arms didn't limit him much as a pass blocker but may show up more at the NFL level. May struggle to seal blocks in the run game. Bigger, longer defensive tackles will give him trouble. --Aryton Ostley

Fit: The Bears landed a Day 1 starter at center in Logan Jones, who started 51 career games at Iowa. Chicago acquired Garrett Bradbury via trade after Drew Dalman's surprise retirement, but Jones might challenge Bradbury for the starting job as a rookie. -- Alyssa Barbieri

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: A four-year starter at Iowa, Jones was a fixture at center (right-handed snapper) in offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s zone-blocking scheme. After enrolling as a 260-pound defensive tackle, he made the transition to center and admirably filled Tyler Linderbaum’s shoes. He gave up only one sack over his junior and senior seasons and had a prolific 2025 season, taking home the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center. He was a significant factor in the Hawkeyes winning the 2025 Joe Moore Award as college football’s best offensive line.

Jones is lightning quick in his snap-to-step process and has an instinctive feel for leverage and blocking angles. With his vise-grip hands, he can latch, drive his feet and torque defenders to create running room. Though he has terrific range and recovery quickness, his lack of length stands out on reach blocks and when attempting to combat powerful defensive tackles in a phone booth. His competitive temperament and toughness are unquestioned — he taught himself to snap with his left hand while managing a right-hand injury in 2024.

They Said It: "We felt convicted as a staff, coaching staff and personnel side, that he was our guy. The mental is top notch. We saw all the traits that we're looking for, whether it's the run game or in pass-pro, and we brought him in for a top 30, and I think that's when it really solidified it for us that ‘yeah, he's got the makeup.’ The guys at Iowa were raving about him, and then just the next level in terms of the football IQ as well. So, I think none of us have any qualms that he'll be able to download the information and, once again, it's just another spot that we'll have high level competition at.” -- HC Ben Johnson

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RAS: Logan Jones

Grade: B+ - There were other options at the center position for Chicago, but they identified Jones as their target and he brings a credible resume to the Windy City with a potential opportunity to compete for the starting job as a rookie. Jones took over Tyler Linderbaum at Iowa, no easy task, and went on to be a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and the aforementioned All-American for his stellar season this past year. The center position is one of the most important in Ben Johnson's offense, and they wanted to make sure to bring in a player who could be there for the long run. -- Mike Pendleton

Round 3, Pick 69 (from TEN): Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush

Breakdown: One of few tight ends in this class who is a plus blocker from day one. Very, very short arms may cause some trouble with blocking NFL assignments but he has the power and burst to get there. Transitions out of breaks well in route running. Not elusive in the open field but strong enough to break tackles against smaller defenders. Lacks production from college. -- Aryton Ostley

Fit: Sam Roush will bring toughness and physicality to Ben Johnson's offense. He's also an elite blocker with plenty of upside. Roush will serve as a complement to last year's top-10 pick Colston Loveland. But Roush's selection also puts Cole Kmet's future in question beyond 2026. -- Alyssa Barbieri

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: A three-year starter at Stanford, Roush worked primarily inline as an attached Y tight end in former head coach Frank Reich’s offense. After not playing football until high school, he made up for lost time and produced improved tape each season — as both a receiver and blocker — for the Cardinal. He doesn’t have much “wow” on that tape, but his combine performance opened some eyes.

With his rugby background, Roush prides himself on trying to be the toughest and most physical player on the field. He works to center his blocks and strains to sustain, even moving defensive linemen against their will at times. As a pass catcher, his quickness at the snap helps him uncover in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field, although his catch-point consistency must improve (12.5 percent drop rate in 2025).

They Said It: "He's a finisher through the whistle. I think that showed up on a consistent basis. It didn't matter who he was blocking, could be a big guy, could be a little DB, and he consistently finished through the whistle each and every play. You always love it when you when you take a player and you get a text message from somebody, one of his coaches at Stanford, said, 'He will crush himself to do whatever he can to help the football team.' And it just verifies what you all already thought about the player. So, feel good about that one." -- HC Ben Johnson

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RAS: Sam Roush

Grade: C Roush was an unnecessary choice, not because he's a bad player but the tight end position was not one of need, and there were plenty of options available at other needs. Chicago had opportunities to bring in an offensive tackle, or edge rusher, potentially even a wide receiver if they wanted an offensive weapon, but they decided to bring in a guy who will be the third tight end on the depth chart from the start. Roush didn't jump off the paper in box scores, and feels more as a short-field threat than a deep threat, but head coach Ben Johnson proved he knew what he was doing with the selection with Loveland last season, so only time will tell. -- Mike Pendleton

Round 3, Pick 89: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU

2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas

Breakdown: Thomas lacks gaudy production as a receiver, but his athleticism, versatility and return talent could bolster his roster value. He has average size with enough vertical speed to stress defenses downfield. He’s average in beating man coverage underneath and struggles finishing catches through contact. His vision, burst and elusiveness as a runner makes the evaluation more interesting. Thomas is likely to be viewed as a WR5 candidate with value as a return man, but teams could dig a little deeper on his potential as a running back. -- Lance Zierlein

Fit: Zavion Thomas is another speedy weapon for Ben Johnson's offense, having run a 4.28 40-yard dash, and he projects to serve as a return specialist and gadget player for the Bears. With Kalif Raymond under contract for just one season, Thomas could be his successor, especially as it pertains to the return game. -- Alyssa Barbieri

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: A starter for one-and-a-half-years at LSU (and two-and-a-half years overall), Thomas lined up primarily to the boundary (79.3 percent of his snaps) in former offensive coordinator Joe Sloan’s scheme. He was also used on versatile motions and backfield action for jets, orbits and handoffs. He put his name on the map at Mississippi State before returning home and fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for the Tigers. He finished second on the team in receiving in 2025.

Because of his speed and competitive energy, Thomas offers big-play potential every time he touches the rock. He scored a touchdown four different ways in college (receiving, rushing, punt return, kick return), and he shows immediate acceleration both horizontally and vertically. He is coachable and driven, both of which boost his NFL chances.

They Said It: ""He has a unique skillset, just in terms of him being a 4.2 (40-yard dash) guy. Those guys don't grow on trees. It's easy to look at because that flashes up and everyone sees it, but yet, when you turn on the tape, it's more than just being able to run deep routes. The versatility that he showed both at Mississippi State and at LSU, from the backfield, whether it's running routes or getting hand-offs. Then, the returning aspect of it. I think it all adds up. Coach (Antwaan) Randle El, myself, (Offensive Coordinator) Press Taylor, we all have a vision of how this guy could really help us. As I talked about, it's a compliment to what Rome does best, what Luther does best, (WR) Kalif (Raymond) does best. He's a guy that we really feel like can play a key component in what we want to do this year." -- HC Ben Johnson

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RAS: Zavion Thomas

Grade: B- The need for a receiver wasn't as urgent as the need to address both the offensive and defensive lines, especially at the edge rusher spot. However, Zavion Thomas' arrival to Chicago brings another element of speed that this coaching staff has said they wanted to improve on. He could be a very intriguing player for Ben Johnson to work with and implement in gadget or special packages on offense, especially given the arm talent of quarterback Caleb Williams. Thomas could also make a big impact in special teams, and putting him in a duo with the veteran Kalif Raymond will be interesting to see how Chicago's special teams unit can improve in 2026. -- Mike Pendleton

Round 4, Pick 124 (from CAR): Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas

2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad

Breakdown: Muhammad has good coverage talent to offset his slender frame. He can man up from press or off and is a plus pattern-matcher, staying in-phase and shadowing break points. He displays outstanding vision and adheres to his zone-cover principles, allowing him to play with ideal efficiency on all three levels. He can get outmuscled by big, strong wideouts inside the route and at the catch-point, but he doesn’t give in and usually holds his own. He does a nice job of chopping pass-catchers down in space but a lack of play strength shows up in occasional broken tackles. Muhammad has Day 2 talent and starter-level ability. -- Lance Zierlein

Fit: Muhammad is the latest speedy addition to Dennis Allen's defense, having run a 4.42 40-yard dash, and brings physicality to the secondary. With Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon returning from injury, the Bears will have a starting job up for grabs opposite Johnson, with Tyrique Stevenson being the favorite. But Muhammad has an opportunity to win the starting job as a rookie. -- Alyssa Barbieri

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: A starter for two-and-a-half years at Texas, Muhammad was an outside cornerback in former defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s zone-leaning scheme. Coming from a family of defensive backs, he took his talents to Austin, where he saw immediate action as a true freshman. He gave up his share of completions in 2025, but he also limited big plays (allowed only two catches of 12-plus yards) and earned All-SEC honors.

Muhammad is a tall, skinny athlete with quality coverage-match talent. He doesn’t consistently play up to his timed speed, but he does show lateral agility and strain to stay attached to routes. He has athletic ball skills (looked outstanding during the gauntlet drill at the NFL combine), although I wish he took more chances to create turnovers. He is tough versus the run, although not always consistent.

They Said It: "The speed and you factor in a little bit of length with that. From a coverage standpoint, obviously that translates to athleticism. So for him, the ability to play man, and stick at top of routes is one of his strengths. And then continuing with instincts and zone coverage too is also a strength of his player. He’s definitely a combo guy that can do a couple different things for us on defense.” -- National Scout John Syty

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RAS: Malik Muhammad

Grade: B+ Muhammad's stats don't jump off the page, but it's simply because that he was shutting down wide receivers and not allowing many opportunities against him. With Jaylon Johnson on the other side, and a revamped safety position, the Bears secondary has a good mixture of both highly talented coverage corners and ballhawk safeties, a mix that should help them limit the amount of big plays made by opponents this upcoming season. With limited options on the board on the defensive line, Chicago landed a player who definitely helps the secondary, an area of need this offseason. -- Mike Pendleton

Round 5, Pick 166 (from CAR): Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State

2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott

Breakdown: Big, productive inside linebacker lacking the athletic traits to make enough plays on the next level. Elliott has earned praise for his exceptional work ethic and football character. His instincts and reaction time are average, though. He can be heavy-handed when taking on blocks and his execution is inconsistent. His pursuit speed to the sideline is too heavy-footed in pass coverage and as an open-field tackler. His pathway will need to be as a physical thumper who can star on special teams. -- Lance Zierlein

Fit: Keyshaun Elliott joins a Bears linebacker room that lacked depth, and he'll have a chance to develop into a potential starter down the line. Elliott has good instincts and is a tackling machine, but coverage is certainly his weakness. As far as immediate impact, he projects to be an elite special teams contributor for Richard Hightower's unit. -- Alyssa Barbieri

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: A two-year starter at Arizona State (and for three-and-a-half years overall), Elliott wore the green dot as the Mike linebacker in defensive coordinator Brian Ward’s 4-2-5 base scheme. He was in the same signing class as Diego Pavia at New Mexico State, then transferred to play for the Sun Devils his final two seasons. He combined for more than 300 career tackles and was the only player from a power conference in 2025 with 90-plus tackles, 14-plus tackles for loss and seven-plus sacks.Elliott has good size and speed for the position, with the read-react instincts to trigger and go. A high school quarterback, he does a great job picking up on pre-snap clues and meets contact with violence as a downhill tackler. In coverage, he has functional athleticism but needs to see things faster. He was the heart of the linebacker room (Arizona State’s LBs called themselves the “Werewolves”), and his uplifting leadership style will translate well to the league.

They Said It: "He is a high-end intangible player. He’s smart and instinctive. He wore the green dot for them in Arizona State. Works hard. Everything you want in a player, especially in day three of the draft. So, we're really happy to have him, really passionate about the game and he is elite. He has the kind of intangibles and makeup, as far as signature traits.” -- West Coast Area Scout Reese Hicks

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RAS: Keyshaun Elliott

Grade: B- The grade is not indicative of Elliott's talent, it's the fact that the Bears take a player at a position that is filled with veteran talent and will be difficult for the rookie linebacker to crack the lineup. While starting jobs are not handed out to fifth-round talents, or most rookies for that matter, Elliott is going to have to earn his opportunity at playing time, likely on special teams, where he did not play in the college level. His talent is there, totaling 7.0 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the 2025 season, but it's a pick that is a bit interesting given that the Bears have elected not to address the defensive line. -- Mike Pendleton

Round 6, Pick 213 (from BUF): Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech

2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den Berg

Breakdown: Jordan van den Berg began to hit his stride at Georgia Tech in 2024 after three quiet years as a backup at Penn State. Elite testing numbers at his pro day will send scouts back to the tape for further evaluation. He possesses disruptive first-step quickness and heavy hands to beat blocks. He carries average mass and below-average length. He needs to prove he can take on NFL blockers at the point of attack. The career production looks a little light on paper, but van den Berg appears to possess translatable traits that could entice a team with a one-gapping defensive front to draft him on Day 3. -- Lance Zierlein

Fit: The Bears got another steal in Jordan van den Berg in the sixth round, and he has the potential to factor into the interior defensive line rotation as a rookie. Van den Berg, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, is an explosive athlete who is a great fit for Dennis Allen's defense

Dane Brugler's Scouting Report: Jordan van den Berg, who has four brothers, was born and raised in South Africa by his parents (Michael van den Berg and Lisa Hendry). His grandfather (Francois) was a competitive bodybuilder in South Africa, and his grandmother (Joan Rocci) holds several South African swimming records. When Jordan was 10, his family relocated to the Atlanta area. He’d grown up playing rugby in South Africa and hoped to continue playing in the United States. However, his new friends played football, so he made the switch (and also played baseball and basketball). He attended Providence Christian Academy, a private school in Lilburn, Ga., where he became an all-state linebacker as a senior, posting 157 tackles, and set the school record for career tackles.

A no-star recruit, he didn’t have any Division I offers and walked on at Iowa Western Community College in 2020. He added 40 pounds during his first junior college year and moved from linebacker to the defensive line. Despite a left knee injury, he received double-digit FBS offers and signed with Penn State, where he played three seasons as a backup. He transferred to Georgia Tech for his final two seasons and earned All-ACC honors both years.

A “Freaks List” alum, van den Berg is a broad, well-built athlete who has thickness through his arms, legs and core. He bursts off the snap with aggressive hands to push the pocket, although he shows some lower-body stiffness when attempting to move laterally around blocks. He took a positive step forward from his 2024 tape in his ability to recognize and shed blocks against the run. His motor is relentless, and his coaches said he was one of the team’s best leaders because of the example he set. He also brings outstanding personal and football character (he used his NIL money to become a small-business owner and buy a laundromat in the Atlanta area).

They Said It: "He’s a pretty explosive twitchy kid. (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Dennis) Allen, our biggest goal going into this week was to get faster, more explosive on defense. I think this kid fits want to do. An up field penetrator. He ran well, obviously to your point. He tested well, some of the short area stuff and you see this kid get on edges a lot. And so that's the biggest thing that jumped off to us on tape.” -- National Scout Brendan Rehor

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RAS: Jordan van den Berg

Grade: B It took quite a bit of time, but the Bears finally added on the defensive line and got a player who can contribute in the right situations, but he will certainly be a development project for the coaching staff. Jordan Van den Berg flew under the radar due to limited exposure, but broke out in a big way in his two seasons with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, where he had his best season in 2025, where he earned First-team All-ACC honors.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Analysis, grades for Chicago Bears' picks