The Chicago Bears welcomed seven new rookies to the roster during the 2026 NFL Draft, a class headlined by first-round safety Dillon Thieneman—widely regarded as a steal at pick No. 25. But as any seasoned fan knows, every draft class comes with its share of head-scratchers, and our Bears Wire staff is breaking down the picks that left us raising an eyebrow.
On offense, new coordinator Ben Johnson added some intriguing pieces: center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush, and wide receiver Zavion Thomas. Defensively, the Bears bolstered their depth with cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. While this group may not be the flashiest on paper, it's one assembled by Johnson and GM Ryan Poles that some analysts believe could be the key to finally pushing Chicago toward Super Bowl contention.
Over the next few days, our team will be sharing their honest takes on the 2026 rookie class. Today, we're focusing on the picks that raised questions—the ones that could either prove the doubters wrong or become cautionary tales. After all, in the NFL, it's often the unexpected selections that end up defining a draft.
