Grading every Bears pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears welcomed seven new players to their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft, where there was an emphasis on speed, athleticism, scheme fit and best available. That included some impact players in safety Dillon Thieneman, center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush, wide receiver Zavion Thomas, as well as some potential Day 3 steals in cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. While it’s far too early to start evaluating general manager Ryan Poles’ fifth draft class before they’ve even hit the field, we’re taking an early look at this 2026 draft class, which has the potential to be another impactful one in the long run -- especially with head coach Ben Johnson's heavy influence.

Here’s a round-up of all of our grades for each of the Bears ’ seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (Round 1, Pick 25) The reason for the perfect grade is because general manager Ryan Poles never got anxious, never felt the need to trade up, and let Dillon 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. Grade: A+ Logan Jones, C, Iowa (Round 2, Pick 57) There were other options at the center position for Chicago, but they identified Logan 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. Grade: B+ Sam Roush, TE, Stanford (Round 3, Pick 69) Sam Roush felt like 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.