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.
Roush didn't jump off the paper in box scores, and feels more as a short-field threat than a deep threat, but head coach Ben Johnson proved he knew what he was doing with the selection with Loveland last season, so only time will tell.Grade: CZavion Thomas, WR, LSU (Round 3, Pick 89)The need for a receiver wasn't as urgent as the need to address both the offensive and defensive lines, especially at the edge rusher spot. However, Zavion Thomas' arrival to Chicago brings another element of speed that this coaching staff has said they wanted to improve on. He could be a very intriguing player for Ben Johnson to work with and implement in gadget or special packages on offense, especially given the arm talent of quarterback Caleb Williams.
Thomas could also make a big impact in special teams, and putting him in a duo with the veteran Kalif Raymond will be interesting to see how Chicago's special teams unit can improve in 2026.Grade: B-Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas (Round 4, Pick 124)Malik Muhammad's stats don't jump off the page, but it's simply because that he was shutting down wide receivers and not allowing many opportunities against him. With the aforementioned Jaylon Johnson on the other side, and a revamped safety position, the Bears secondary has a good mixture of both highly talented coverage corners and ballhawk safeties, a mix that should help them limit the amount of big plays made by opponents this upcoming season.
With limited options on the board on the defensive line, Chicago landed a player who definitely helps the secondary, an area of need this offseason.Grade: B+Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State (Round 5, Pick 166)The grade is not indicative of Keyshaun Elliott's talent, it's the fact that the Bears take a player at a position that is filled with veteran talent and will be difficult for the rookie linebacker to crack the lineup. While starting jobs are not handed out to fifth-round talents, or most rookies for that matter, Elliott is going to have to earn his opportunity at playing time, likely on special teams, where he did not play in the college level. His talent is there, totaling seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the 2025 season, but it's a pick that is a bit interesting given that the Bears have elected not to address the defensive line.Grade: B-Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech (Round 6, Pick 213)It to