The Chicago Bears faced criticism for their 2026 NFL Draft strategy, notably not addressing their need for an edge rusher. The draft highlighted head coach Ben Johnson's influence over general manager Ryan Poles.
Key points
Chicago Bears criticized for 2026 NFL Draft strategy
Did not draft an edge rusher or prioritize defensive needs
Only selected one interior defensive lineman late in the draft
Ben Johnson's influence over Ryan Poles confirmed
Draft success depends on player development
Mentioned in this story
Ben JohnsonRyan Poles
Chicago Bears
Bears' draft class shows Ben Johnson’s voice is louder than Ryan Poles
The Chicago Bears took a lot of criticism for the way that they operated at the 2026 NFL Draft. They didn’t draft an edge rusher and waited until the end of Day 3 to snag a single interior defensive lineman.
Almost no draft resources went to their greatest area of need, which came to the surprise of many who watched it all unfold. There are other ways to address their weaknesses; it was just assumed that the draft would be a key.
This does not mean that the Bears had a bad draft, necessarily. They did not have a bad draft. However, it remains to be seen if it was a good draft because the players they took chances on have to develop and fit in. All this draft did was confirm that head coach Ben Johnson has a louder voice in the organization than general manager Ryan Poles. It was speculated that this was the case anyway, but this draft all but confirmed it.
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush
Q&A
Why did the Chicago Bears receive criticism for the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Bears were criticized for not drafting an edge rusher and only selecting one interior defensive lineman late in the draft, ignoring their most pressing needs.
What does the 2026 NFL Draft reveal about Ben Johnson's role in the Bears organization?
The draft indicates that head coach Ben Johnson has a more significant influence in the organization than general manager Ryan Poles, as evidenced by the team's draft decisions.
How did the Bears address their defensive needs in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Bears did not prioritize their defensive needs during the draft, leading to concerns about their strategy and the effectiveness of their selections.
What are the implications of the Bears' draft decisions for the team's future?
The implications hinge on the development and fit of the drafted players, as their success or failure will determine whether the draft was ultimately beneficial.
Related Articles
Sports
Injured White a major doubt for World Cup
Sky Sports·
Sports
Join Chelsea or wait for 'dream' Liverpool job? Alonso's big dilemma
Xabi Alonso faces a tough choice between Chelsea and his dream job at Liverpool.
Sky Sports··1 min read
MLB·Feature
Paul Skenes leads star-studded NL Cy Young race
Paul Skenes is the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award in 2026.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
MILLER: How UND's latest Hall of Fame basketball player became an NFL journeyman
Discover how Chad Mustard transitioned from basketball star at UND to NFL journeyman.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
UND women enter Summit League Outdoor Championships with title hopes
UND women's track and field team aims for Summit League title in Fargo.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Chargers sign 2nd-round pick Jake Slaughter
Chargers ink 2nd-round pick Jake Slaughter as they finalize draft class.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den Berg
1 / 7
Bears 2026 NFL Draft tracker: See all of Chicago's picks
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)
1 / 7
Bears 2026 NFL Draft tracker: See all of Chicago's picks
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)
2 / 7
Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Logan Jones
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones
3 / 7
Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Sam Roush
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush
4 / 7
Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Zavion Thomas
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas
5 / 7
Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Malik Muhammad
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad
6 / 7
Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Keyshaun Elliott
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott
7 / 7
Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Jordan van den Berg
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den Berg
Johnson is an offensive-minded football coach. He likes creating units that are capable of putting up big point totals in different ways. Johnson proved his offensive capabilities as a coordinator in Detroit, and so far, he has brought that to his head coaching gig in Chicago.
Despite the defensive needs for the team, they selected a center (Logan Jones), tight end (Sam Roush) and wide receiver (Zavion Thomas). All of those players are nice, but do they help the football team get better as an overall unit? That’s debatable. Johnson may think so, but does Poles?
At this point, does it matter? Things seemed to be headed in the wrong direction before Ben Johnson showed up. Maybe landing him as a head coach was always a part of Poles' plan, which would look great in hindsight, but the truth is that Ben Johnson has brought respect back to the Chicago Bears organization, which has been lacking in that regard for a long time.
If Johnson and Poles work well together, but Johnson's word means a little bit more, that is a good thing because his resume is that of a winner up to this point.
