When it comes to evaluating an NFL draft, patience is a virtue—but let's be honest, nobody in Chicago has time to wait. Bears fans, coaches, and general manager Ryan Poles all want to see results now. While we won't know the full story of the 2026 draft class for a few seasons, the early buzz from league insiders is already turning heads.
The Athletic's Mike Sando polled NFL executives about the NFC's latest rookie hauls, and the Chicago Bears' seven-man class sparked some intriguing conversation. Head coach Ben Johnson's new roster additions have drawn both praise and raised eyebrows around the league.
The biggest surprise? The Bears didn't draft a single edge rusher—and they didn't sign one in free agency either. Instead, Chicago waited until the sixth round to address the defensive line, grabbing Georgia Tech interior lineman Jordan van den Berg. One exec didn't hold back: "Maybe they should have traded up?"
It's worth noting that by the time the Bears selected Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th overall pick, nine defensive linemen had already come off the board. Even more telling? The New England Patriots jumped ahead of Chicago to snag Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas just two picks earlier. If the Bears truly wanted to bolster the pass rush, they could have used the 25th overall pick—but they stuck to their board and went with Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman instead.
That safety pick, however, earned strong reviews. After losing both starting safeties to free agency, the Bears signed Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant and used their top draft capital on Thieneman. One NFL exec praised the move: "The safety is going to be a good player. We were high on him. He is ball savvy, has some versatility from a blitz and coverage standpoint."
For a team looking to build depth and versatility, Thieneman could be the kind of foundational piece that makes this draft class shine—even if the edge rusher question lingers. Only time will tell if Poles' strategy pays off, but the early returns from around the league suggest the Bears might have found a gem in the secondary.