The Chicago Bears' 2026 draft class is already turning heads across the NFL, and the latest buzz from league insiders suggests the front office may have nailed it. In a follow-up to Jeremy Fowler's ESPN insights, Mike Sando of The Athletic tapped into his network of executives, coaches, and scouts to break down the Bears' first three picks—and the feedback is glowing.
When the draft board fell unexpectedly, Chicago pivoted from the expected pass-rusher selection to snagging Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall. With Miami's Akheem Mesidor and UCF's Malachi Lawrence off the board at picks 22 and 23, the move was a no-brainer. Thieneman, a player many analysts had linked to division rival Minnesota at 18, landed in Chicago's lap—a perfect marriage of value and need. "The safety is going to be a good player," one team exec told Sando. "We were high on him. He is ball savvy, has some versatility from a blitz and coverage standpoint."
In the second round, the Bears addressed the trenches by selecting Iowa center Logan Jones. The pick could have ripple effects for the roster: Sando speculates it might pave the way for Chicago to trade 30-year-old Garrett Bradbury, acquired in March for a fifth-round pick. Bradbury, a 2019 first-rounder, has started all 105 games he's appeared in, but with Jones in the fold, the Bears could listen to offers for the veteran, who's entering the final year of his contract. "They're the same guy: both undersized, tough technicians," another exec noted, drawing a direct comparison between the two.
Day 2 brought a run on tight ends, and Chicago didn't miss out. With the 69th overall pick in the third round, they grabbed Stanford's Sam Roush—the sixth tight end off the board and the fourth in a span of just eight picks (54 to 61). Roush brings a punishing blocking presence to a Bears offense that thrived on the ground last season. "Chicago was really good in the run game this past year, and to get Roush to play tight end, damn, they are going to be able to run some," an executive raved, hinting at a physical identity that could define the Bears' attack.
From a ball-hawking safety to a gritty center and a run-mauling tight end, Chicago's draft class is drawing praise for its blend of skill and toughness. For Bears fans and gear collectors alike, this is a roster taking shape with purpose—and the league is taking notice.