- Finding value in the secondary and linebacker corps: Chicago identified significant draft-day steals in Texas CB Malik Muhammad (picked 124, board rank 105) and Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott, who fell 63 spots past his big board ranking.
- Prioritizing the interior trenches: The Bears targeted the line of scrimmage with Iowa center Logan Jones and Georgia Tech DI Jordan van den Berg, prioritizing high-IQ players and run-defense stability to bolster their defensive rotation.
All 257 picks from the 2026 NFL Draft have been made, reshaping depth charts across the league and setting the foundation for the season ahead. But draft weekend is only the starting point — the real evaluation comes from how each class aligns with the board, positional value and projected impact.
This class features a wide range of outcomes. Using PFF's Big Board as a baseline, along with wins above average (WAA) added and an emphasis on premium positions, we can begin to separate sound process from questionable decisions before a single training camp snap is played.
With that framework, here's a look at how the Chicago Bears approached the 2026 NFL Draft — where they found value, where they prioritized need and how much immediate impact this class is positioned to deliver.
Chicago Bears: B
Picks: 7 | WAA added: 0.675 (Rank 27/32)
- Pick 25: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Ducks
- Pick 57: C Logan Jones, Iowa Hawkeyes
- Pick 69: TE Sam Roush, Stanford Cardinal
- Pick 89: WR Zavion Thomas, LSU Tigers
- Pick 124: CB Malik Muhammad, Texas Longhorns
- Pick 166: LB Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State Sun Devils
- Pick 213: DI Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Highest-graded pick (2025): S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Ducks (91.0)
2026 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears Draft PicksDraft selections compared to Big Board Rank03774111148184221258295SDillon ThienemanRANK11PICK25CLogan JonesRANK95PICK57TESam RoushRANK87PICK69WRZavion ThomasRANK213PICK89CBMalik MuhammadRANK105PICK124LBKeyshaun ElliottRANK103PICK166DIJordan van den BergRANK295PICK213OVERALL · PICK & BIG BOARD RANKStealBoard rank better than pick #ReachPicked before board rankEvenPick # matches board rankThieneman: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
Berg: 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.
Chicago Bears: Draft Grades SnapshotGradeBTotal WAA Added0.675(Rank 27/32)Avg. WAA0.1(Rank 27/32)Steals3Reaches4Need %100%Premium Positions2 / 7PickPlayerPosBoard #WAA2025 PFF gradeSteal / reachNeed?Premium?25Dillon ThienemanS110.57791.0Steal14 SpotsYesNo57Logan JonesC950.08179.0Reach38 SpotsYesNo69Sam RoushTE87-0.11357.1Reach18 SpotsNoNo89Zavion ThomasWR213-0.01566.2Reach124 SpotsNoYes124Malik MuhammadCB1050.06570.8Steal19 SpotsNoYes166Keyshaun ElliottLB103-0.01467.5Steal63 SpotsNoNo213Jordan van den BergDI2950.09475.0Reach82 SpotsYesNo