Chicago Bears Rookie Forecast 2026

Solid Starter

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon – Round 1

The Bears’ defense gave up a lot of yards and lived off turnovers in 2025, and it can be hard to replicate that two years in a row. To improve their ability to cut down on giving up yards, Chicago added Thieneman in the first round to improve their talent in the middle of the field.

In pass coverage, Thieneman is a versatile safety who can help in all areas of the field and execute the different requirements for a safety. With excellent deep speed, athleticism, and intelligence, Thieneman can be the deep single free safety to defend the deep part of the field. He has excellent range and covers a lot of ground. Thieneman has impressive ball skills to defend passes downfield and is dangerous to create turnovers with his ball awareness. As a deep centerfielder, Thieneman has natural ability.

Thieneman can also cover the short part of the field as a strong safety playing zone. He has quality route recognition and covers a lot of ground. With his speed and athleticism, Thieneman shows some ability to line up against slot receivers and cover them as a nickel. He does a nice job early in the route, but as routes extend, wideouts can generate some separation from Thieneman. That issue will get more pronounced versus pro receivers, so Thieneman should be used as a slot corner exclusively.

As a run defender, Thieneman is a solid contributor and good tackler. Sometimes he will miss from being overaggressive, but he does not miss tackles from poor technique. He comes downhill quickly and has no hesitation to cut down on backs. Thieneman is not a big safety, and he could stand to add some weight to tackle in the NFL. If his pro team wants him to play a lot of strong safety, he should definitely get stronger for tackling pro backs and improve his ability to get off blocks.

Thieneman should step in as the starting strong safety for Chicago, with free agent addition Coby Bryant manning the free safety spot. I think issues in coverage could keep Thieneman from being a boom pick and an elite safety, but I think he will turn into a solid starter for Chicago.

2025: Colston Loveland, TE
2024: Caleb Williams, QB
2023: Gervon Dexter Sr., DT
2022: Kyler Gordon, CB
2021: Teven Jenkins, OT
2020: Cole Kmet, TE
2019: Riley Ridley, WR
2018: James Daniels, C
2017: Eddie Jackson, S
2016: Jonathan Bullard, DE
2015: Eddie Goldman, DT
2014: Kyle Fuller, CB
2013: Jonathan Bostic, LB

Most Likely To Bust

Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU – Round 3

The Tigers’ receivers were held back by a struggling offense and injuries to the quarterback last season, and that hurt Thomas’ ability to show his talent for the NFL. While Thomas has some speed, he does not have a dominant trait with elite speed or size to consistently get the better of NFL cornerbacks. I could see Thomas having a hard time getting snaps over Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Kaliff Raymond. Third-round picks are expected to start out as backups and develop into starters. I think Thomas could fall short of that and end up being just a backup.

2025: Ozzy Trapilo, OT
2024: None
2023: Tyrique Stevenson, CB
2022: Velus Jones, WR
2021: None
2020: None
2019: David Montgomery, RB
2018: Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB
2017: Mitch Trubisky, QB
2016: Cody Whitehair, G
2015: Hroniss Grasu, C
2014: Ka’Deem Carey, RB
2013: Kyle Long, G

Potential Boom Pick

There weren’t any picks in the Bears’ draft class that I feel have real boom pick potential. I think Dillon Thieneman, Logan Jones, and Sam Roush could be solid starters. Although Roush is blocked by Colston Loveland. I do not think any of those three will be busts, but I do not see a boom pick candidate.

2025: Luther Burden, WR
2024: Rome Odunze, WR
2023: Darnell Wright
2022: Jaquan Brisker
2021: Justin Fields
2020: Jaylon Johnson
2019: None
2018: Roquan Smith, LB
2017: Adam Shaheen, TE
2016: Leonard Floyd, LB
2015: Kevin White, WR
2014: Will Sutton, DT
2013: Khaseem Greene, LB

Future Depth Player

Sam Roush, TE, Stanford – Round 3

I was not a fan of the Bears’ draft, and I felt like Roush was the best pick for where they got him.

For the NFL, Roush is a well-rounded tight end who is an effective blocker and receiver. He should quickly become a starting Y tight end as a pro. Many tight end prospects are finesse receiving tight ends who struggle to block, but Roush is big, strong, and valuable to contribute as a blocker. He is strong at the point of attack and shows the ability to seal rush lanes from edge defenders and linebackers. All good tight ends have to be able to block the C-Gap and pass protect. Roush shows that ability with the size to tie up edge rushers and is capable of handling the C-Gap with his ability to tie up and block in the ground game, pushing straight ahead next to the tackle. Roush should be an asset as a blocker as a pro.

As a receiver, Roush is a big target with enough functional speed and athleticism to be dangerous against zone coverage. Roush presents a big target going down the seam and running passes to the flat or along the sideline. Roush runs quality routes and has reliable, strong hands with a natural ability to snatch the ball. Roush is dangerous after the catch, showing a surprising burst to dart downfield after he makes a catch. Roush uses his big body to bounce off tacklers, and he shows a knack for ripping off good gains after making a reception. Roush does not have the speed and athleticism to separate from adept pro linebackers or safeties in pass coverage, but he has the size to win 50-50 and contested catches. Roush is not a dynamic receiving threat, but he could be a functional and good contributor to the pass game.

The Bears have Colston Loveland in place to be their feature tight end for many years to come, but Roush could be their replacement for Cole Kmet as the Y tight end. Chicago landed a good No. 2 tight end in Roush, and I think he is a safe pick to be a solid depth contributor.

2025: None
2024: Kiran Amegadjie, OT
2023: Roschon Johnson, RB
2022: Braxton Jones, OT
2021: Khalil Herbert, RB
2020: Trevis Gipson, DE
2019: Kerrith Whyte, DL
2018: Bilal Nichols, DL
2017: Tarik Cohen, RB
2016: Nick Kwiatkoski, LB
2015: Jeremy Langford, RB
2014: David Fales, QB
2013: Cornelius Washington, DE