The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps, as well as draft class analysis from Ryan McCrystal. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2026 Football Preview.
Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026?
Let's look at the Chicago Bears, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Chicago Bears 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact?
Dillon Thieneman (first round) looked like one of the steals of Day 1. Before the draft, I compared Thieneman to Kevin Byard, who just departed Chicago as a free agent, so the fit makes perfect sense. In the short term, however, Thieneman might see more action in the Jaquon Brisker role in the defense since Chicago signed Coby Bryant, a less versatile free safety.
Thieneman showed off elite range as a ball hawk in Purdue’s secondary as a freshman and sophomore, but also demonstrated an ability to play in the box consistently during his one season at Oregon. Last year with the Ducks, Thieneman recorded 99 tackles while missing just 7.5% of his attempts, the second-lowest rate out of 74 qualifiers at the safety position. Chicago used two-high coverages 40% of the time last year, so Thieneman will still get his opportunities to be a ball hawk, and his versatility will fit well into Dennis Allen’s defense.
The selection of Logan Jones (second round) may have been a slight reach, but he fills an immediate need at center. The Bears signed Garrett Bradbury in free agency to play center, but that cheap one-year deal was likely an insurance policy in case the draft didn’t fall their way. Jones is the favorite to win that training camp battle.
Sam Roush (third round) was a bizarre selection for a team that just drafted Colston Loveland and still has Cole Kmet under contract for two more years. Roush is a developmental prospect with intriguing size and athletic traits, but he was misused at Stanford as a pure in-line tight end with few opportunities to stretch the field and show off his athleticism. It would make sense for Chicago to get out of Kmet’s contract after the 2026 season to save some cap space, so there’s a path to an increased role for Roush in 2027. However, a third-round pick is a steep price to pay for someone who, hopefully, develops into the No. 2 tight end down the road.
Zavion Thomas (third round) was arguably the most egregious reach of the entire draft. Thomas is a capable return specialist, but never developed as a receiver despite plenty of opportunities during his four years at Mississippi State and LSU. Chicago clearly fell in love with Thomas’ elite speed 一 he ran 4.28 in the 40-yard dash 一 but he is purely a track athlete with limited change-of-direction skills and ability to make defenders miss. Based on route-adjusted data, Thomas generated 20% fewer yards after the catch than expected over the course of his career and fell below average by that metric in each of his four seasons.
Malik Muhammad (fourth round) has potential as a developmental cornerback prospect and was good value early on Day 3. He was beaten downfield at a surprising rate during his career at Texas, which explains why he fell to Day 3 despite impressive testing numbers. However, those testing numbers also provide some hope that he can improve his ability to stick with receivers down the field and develop into a contributor.
Keyshaun Elliott (fifth round) is an aggressive downhill run defender with enough athletic traits to turn into a starter if he improves his awareness in coverage. He generated 17 tackles for loss in 2025, and his average tackle depth was 19% above expected, the sixth-best rate among linebackers in this draft class.
Jordan van den Berg (sixth round) will compete for a spot on the interior defensive line, but cracking the roster might be tough since Chicago also signed three free agents at defensive tackle. Van den Berg spent six years in college and didn’t make any meaningful impact until 2025, but he posted elite workout numbers, so he’s well worth the investment in the sixth round.
This looks like a critical draft for Ryan Poles’ reputation in Chicago. While the Thieneman selection was a no-brainer, each of the Bears’ three Day 2 selections could be considered reaches, and two of them have little chance to make an impact in 2026. If Chicago regresses following its NFC North championship and this rookie class does not contribute in a meaningful way, it will reflect poorly on Poles’ approach to building around Caleb Williams.
This analysis continues in the 2026 Football Preview
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