Bears Close 2026 NFL Draft With Georgia Tech DT Jordan Van Den Berg

Bears Close 2026 NFL Draft With Georgia Tech DT Jordan Van Den Berg

Yet another draft in the Ryan Poles era came to a close for the Chicago Bears on Saturday.

The Bears took eight players, starting with Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Chicago then drafted Iowa center Logan Jones, followed by Stanford tight end Sam Roush, LSU wideout Zavion Thomas, Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad, Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan Van Den Berg.

After fans were clamoring for Poles to take a defensive lineman, the Bears finally got one in the sixth round. Chicago needed help at edge rusher and defensive tackle ahead of the draft.

The Bears needed help at edge rusher last season. Dayo Odeyingbo went down with an Achilles injury and missed significant time. There was a lack of depth that went on full display after the injury.

Montez Sweat had a productive season, recording 10 sacks. There wasn't really much depth outside of him. Gervon Dexter (6) and Austin Booker (4.5) were the only others who really provided a consistent pass rush.

Defensive tackle was a major need after the Bears' run defense was exposed time and time again in 2025. Chicago allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game last season.

Van Den Berg gives the Bears a true disruptor that can get into the opposing backfield with ease. He had 44 total tackles, 11 TFLs and three sacks for Georgia Tech last season.

To explain why the Bears decided to wait so long to take an interior defensive lineman, you have to go back a few months. stated back in February that he believed edge rusher was a deeper position than defensive tackle in the draft.