Experts hand out final grades for Bears in 2026 NFL Draft

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman is selected by the Chicago Bears as the number 25 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon celebrates after being selected twenty-fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles a punt in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks in action against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 29: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks reacts after beating the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Terrance Carter Jr. #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes a catch defended by Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 17: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks looks on during Oregon Ducks Pro Day at Moshofsky Center on March 17, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) and Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Antonio Stevens (11) tackle Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch (12) Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Nov 2, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Joseph Himon II (6) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Nov 29, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) intercepts a pass against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks practice on Jan. 5, 2025, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon, ahead of the Peach Bowl.

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, brings down Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

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Experts hand out final grades for Bears in 2026 NFL Draft

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon celebrates after being selected twenty-fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Experts hand out final grades for Bears in 2026 NFL Draft

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon celebrates after being selected twenty-fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman is selected by the Chicago Bears as the number 25 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Bears 2026 NFL Draft: Instant analysis of Chicago's rookie class

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman is selected by the Chicago Bears as the number 25 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Coby Bryant had the best reaction to Bears' pick of Dillon Thieneman

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon celebrates after being selected twenty-fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles a punt in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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Bears reveal rookie safety Dillon Thieneman's jersey number

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks in action against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 29: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks reacts after beating the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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What draft experts said about new Bears safety Dillon Thieneman

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Terrance Carter Jr. #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes a catch defended by Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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Bears safety Dillon Thieneman outran Justin Jefferson in 40-yard dash

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 17: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks looks on during Oregon Ducks Pro Day at Moshofsky Center on March 17, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) and Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Antonio Stevens (11) tackle Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch (12) Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

Nov 2, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Joseph Himon II (6) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

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Bears draft Dillon Thieneman: Photos of Chicago's new safety

Nov 29, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) intercepts a pass against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Bears earned 'elite' grade for Dillon Thieneman selection in NFL draft

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks practice on Jan. 5, 2025, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon, ahead of the Peach Bowl.

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Highlights of new Bears safety Dillon Thieneman

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, brings down Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

USA Today: C

NFL.com's Chad Reuter: "Loveland is a talented player, but we'll see over the next couple of years whether fellow tight end Tyler Warren, who went four picks later, would have been the better selection at No. 10. I expect Burden to be a stud in Chicago, where he’ll team up with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. The Trapilo and Turner picks addressed needs, even if the team might have jumped the board a bit for them. Hyppolite was picked a bit earlier than I expected, but he has the quickness and toughness to make an impact on special teams defense. Frazier's a bit of a project in the fifth round, but he did intercept six passes last season. Newman could contribute at guard or tackle. Monangai could prove to be the best value of all these picks."

NFL.com: A-

Chad Reuter: "Thieneman is an easy fit with the Bears in the first round, because his athleticism, toughness and versatility will fill a hole in the secondary left by departed free agent Kevin Byard. Chicago picked the best center in the draft in Round 2; Jones should remind fans of prior starter Drew Dalman. The trade of veteran receiver DJ Moore to Buffalo puts pressure on 2025 second-round pick Luther Burden III and Thomas, a surprising third-round choice, to replace that production. Roush was a good value in Round 3 as a future starter with solid receiving and blocking skills.

Muhammad's athleticism and toughness made him a steal in Round 4. Selecting Elliott made sense for the Bears since 2023 fifth-round pick Noah Sewell is recovering from a torn Achilles. Van den Berg, a native of South Africa, is an excellent athlete and meets the team’s need for defensive line depth. The Bears did not use any picks on edge rushers or offensive tackles this year despite their needs at those positions."

ESPN: B

Mel Kiper Jr.: "Dillon Thieneman was a great get at No. 25. Coordinator Dennis Allen can move him all over the place -- deep safety, in the box, out wide, over the slot. He's an instinctive player who had a six-interception season in 2023 while still at Purdue (before transferring to Oregon), and he should help make up for some of the on-ball production lost in the free agency exodus in the secondary.

The rest of the class was slightly up and down. Logan Jones -- my top-ranked center -- looks like the perfect Drew Dalman replacement. Yes, the Bears traded for Garrett Bradbury, but I wanted to see Chicago make a long-term move there, and Jones is already essentially a seasoned pro with 51 career starts. At receiver, general manager Ryan Poles went down the board a little bit for Zavion Thomas; he was a clear Day 3 guy.

Potentially most important in all of this is Chicago not looking at edge rusher or defensive tackle until Jordan van den Berg at No. 213. Chicago needed someone opposite Sweat and didn't get it, and while I heard some Day 3 sleeper love for van den Berg, he's a depth guy."

Pro Football Focus: B

Pro Football Focus: "Thieneman didn’t often make it to Chicago in mock drafts, but the Bears will certainly be happy he was available here. Thieneman earned 89.0-plus PFF grades on multiple defenses — 2023 with Purdue and 2025 with Oregon — and can cover, defend the run and bring high-end athleticism. Given that the Bears came into this draft with a clear need at safety, this is an ideal scenario for Dennis Allen’s defense.

Jones is a high-IQ, feisty center with strong athleticism for zone schemes. He moves well laterally and shows good hand usage, but his outlier-short arm length creates challenges sustaining blocks and handling longer defenders. Roush has the build of an NFL tight end capable of playing on the line of scrimmage. As a blocking “Y” tight end, he can be a valuable piece in heavy personnel packages and some single-tight-end looks, though his impact in the passing game will likely be limited.

Thomas plays with energy and determination, giving him a strong chance to stick on an NFL roster, particularly due to his special teams return ability. Muhammad is a decorated cornerback from one of the nation's best secondaries, and his size and pedigree point to starting potential at the next level, particularly in a zone-oriented scheme. He earned PFF grades of 78.5 in 2023, 71.7 in 2024 and 70.8 in 2025. His lighter frame and limited disruptiveness remain concerns and may factor into evaluations despite the overall profile.

Elliott has shown flashes as a downhill player, with effectiveness as a run defender and blitzer, but his below-average frame helps explain his limitations in coverage. He earned PFF grades of 67.8 in 2024 and 67.5 in 2025, which reflect a steady but unspectacular profile. His struggles in coverage may limit his role at the next level, though he still offers some starting upside in the right situation. Van den Berg did not receive a combine invite but delivered strong pre-draft testing, with quickness and explosiveness that stood out. His pass-rush production remains limited, as he recorded 56 pressures across five seasons, but his work against the run offers value, highlighted by an 81.2 run-defense grade in 2025, which supports a potential role in a defensive line rotation."

CBS Sports: B-

Carter Bahns: "The Bears had not taken a defensive player in the first round since 2018, which was the longest stretch of any team. The expectation was that the streak would end, but the question was whether they would address the defensive front or continue to rebuild their secondary after a free-agent exodus. The latter came to fruition when Dillon Thieneman was available to them at No. 25. He is an immediate starter for a team with a hole at safety. The front, meanwhile, had to wait until Day 3 for help.

Logan Jones is a less conventional pick, to say the least. Renner gave it a "D+" because of Jones' weaknesses in pass protection. Yes, he will help Chicago maintain its imposing run game and will have time to develop behind Garrett Bradbury. But that makes it even more questionable: Why use second-round capital on a backup center, especially when better options were on the board?

At face value, the Sam Roush pick also looks strange considering Colston Loveland is already on board. But Roush is a blocker by trade and will not step on Loveland's toes. It's an excellent acquisition for a team looking to further flex its run-game ability and was the Bears' best pick of the first three rounds."

Yahoo! Sports: B

Nate Tice: "The positions the Bears addressed all made sense, even if none of the picks had me standing up and applauding. Dillon Thieneman now joins new free-agent signing Coby Bryant to form a talented backend duo that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will have a field day in using all over the place. Logan Jones is a classic undersized but quick center who is tough and athletic. He’s a center-only player, so his lack of flexibility is a luxury this year until he takes over for Garrett Bradbury, but he is an excellent fit for a zone-heavy running scheme like the one that Ben Johnson likes to employ and can, finally, give the Bears a long-term center option. Zavion Thomas is a dynamic returner and big-play threat who can give Johnson his new version of a Kalif Raymond (who is on the Bears’ roster, of course). Malik Muhammad has starter potential, with his feel for routes making him dangerous in Allen’s trapping blitz looks. Jordan van den Berg is an athletic dart throw and Keyshaun Elliott is a smart, hardworking player with size who could end up starting in the middle — even with his lack of high-end coverage ability. This class grew on me a bit."

Sports Illustrated: B-

Gilberto Manzano: "Suddenly, the Bears have a versatile group of safeties and plenty of depth in the secondary. Thieneman will partner with free-agent addition Coby Bryant, who found his footing after moving from cornerback to safety in Seattle. If Chicago can find another quality cornerback, this could be one of the league’s better secondaries in 2026. Perhaps Muhammad can fit that need, but he’s going to need to work his way up the depth chart. On the downside, the Bears failed to add more talent on the defensive front. Montez Sweat is their lone reliable edge rusher, and he will turn 30 in September."

Sporting News: A

Vinnie Iyer: "GM Ryan Poles could draft with confidence with his rising playoff team under Ben Johnson. Thieneman and Muhammad give a youthful jolt to keep up the secondary playmaking. Jones might be the missing piece of a strong offensive line. Roush and Thomas give Johnson two more intriguing toys to deploy for Caleb Williams."

The Ringer: B-

Danny Kelly: "I absolutely loved what the Bears did in the first round, grabbing a day-one contributor in the secondary in Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman (my 15th-ranked player overall), who can fill the void left by Jaquan Brisker’s departure. Thieneman is a rangy, physical, and rugged defender who can line up deep, over the slot or in the box, and shows instincts in both coverage and against the run. GM Ryan Poles looked to address roster gaps on day two, grabbing a battle-tested lineman in Iowa’s Logan Jones in the second round to fill the hole left by starting center Drew Dalman’s abrupt retirement. In the third round, Chicago added a long-term successor to Cole Kmet in Stanford’s Sam Roush before bringing in a speedy wideout in LSU’s Zavion Thomas, who could help stretch the field on offense and contribute in the return game. But all three of the Bears’ day-two picks were significant reaches per my board, so I don’t love the value Chicago got with those selections, but the team did come back for a valuable pair in cornerback Malik Muhammad and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott on day three."

Bleacher Report: B+

Kristopher Knox: "The Chicago Bears parted with both of last year's starting safeties in the offseason. Therefore, it was no surprise when they opened their draft by grabbing Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. The former Ducks star is a do-it-all defender who can become a chess piece on the back end of Dennis Allen's defense.

"Dillon Theineman's versatile skillset is being underrated as a true three-down impact defender in the NFL," Daniel Harms of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He can line up anywhere, triggers downhill in a hurry, and gives the coaching staff his all whenever he's on the field."

In a draft that didn't also include Caleb Downs, Thieneman would be the top-ranked safety. Chicago may have reached for center Logan Jones in Round 2—he was the 169th-ranked prospect on the B/R board. It got a bit better value in blocking tight end Sam Roush and a terrific value in cornerback Malik Muhammad.

Muhammad was the seventh-ranked corner and 40th-ranked overall prospect on the B/R board. The Bears also added an unproven but extremely fast (4.28-second 40-yard dash) receiver in Zavion Thomas. He could be a gadget player early in his career, but he'll give Ben Johnson some creative offensive options. Did the Bears nail every selection? Perhaps not, but they should feel good about the overall class they constructed."

Pro Football Network: B

Pro Football Network: "Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears’ front office hit the offensive side of the ball early and often in this draft. This didn’t come as a major surprise since new head coach Ben Johnson is offensive-minded. The Bears’ offense struggled during Caleb Williams’ rookie season, and they made it a point to put more talent around him heading into Year 2. Colston Loveland bolsters Chicago’s passing attack and has the tools to be an instant upgrade over Cole Kmet. Johnson worked his magic with Sam LaPorta in Detroit, and it would be unsurprising to see him have similar success with the explosive Loveland. Speaking of explosiveness, Luther Burden III offers plenty of it. The former Missouri star was one of the most dangerous playmakers in this class, and he could be a dynamic WR3 behind D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze in this offense.

After a strong free agency that bolstered their interior offensive line, Chicago added an athletic offensive tackle with starter upside. Ozzy Trapilo profiles as insurance for Braxton Jones in the short term, but he could eventually replace him. Shemar Turner and Zah Frazier were good value picks in Rounds 2 and 5, respectively. The Turner selection further reinforces the Bears’ plan to solidify the interior of the defensive line. He offers long-term upside and immediate depth behind Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. Frazier doesn’t come from a Power 5 program, but the cornerback checks a lot of the boxes that teams covet – size, speed, ball production, and scheme versatility. He was easily their best Day 3 pick, as the others come with question marks about their potential at the next level. All in all, the Bears got better in certain spots, but they didn’t leave the back end of the draft with a ton of value."

For The Win: B+

For The Win: "After overhauling their offensive line in free agency, the Bears went all in on giving Caleb Williams a complete cupboard of weapons in the draft. Loveland and Burden alone were arguably two of the best pure pass-catchers in this draft class. They now join a depth chart that already features D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. PHEW."

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Experts hand out final grades for Chicago Bears