| News |
|---|
|
Heads to Chicago
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 4:28 PM
The Bears selected van den Berg in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 213th overall.
Analysis: The Bears sent the Bills two seventh-round picks to move up and take van den Berg. A six-year collegiate athlete, van den Berg spent his final two seasons at Georgia Tech, starting 20 of 26 games and producing 67 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He was a late bloomer but managed to earn All-ACC honors in his final season before running a 4.94 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds at his pro day. There's room for him to grow with that level of athleticism, and the 2025 tape showed a player with the requisite skills to potentially earn a role in the NFL. |
|
Chosen by Chicago
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 2:16 PM
The Bears selected Elliott in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 166th overall.
Analysis: Elliott (6-foot-2, 231 pounds) transferred from New Mexico State to Arizona State in 2024, totaling three-and-a-half years as a starter between both teams and 301 tackles in that span. The 22-year-old's aggressiveness, physicality and ability to stop the run are well-established traits, but the same is arguably true for Elliott's limitations against coverage and his average athleticism. As a rookie in Chicago, Elliott figures to have every chance to prove he's capable of taking a step forward in his development while competing for depth snaps with Noah Sewell (Achilles), Jack Sanborn and 2025 fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite. |
|
Scooped up by Chicago
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 12:24 PM
The Bears selected Muhammad in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 124th overall.
Analysis: Muhammad (6-feet, 182 pounds) is perhaps on the smaller side for a boundary corner, but the former Texas standout has good reach (32 and 3/8-inch arms) for press purposes and his 4.42-second 40 demonstrates enough recovery speed to buy the idea of Muhammad starting down the road. He might be able to put some heat on Tyrique Stevenson for the second boundary corner role behind Jaylon Johnson as soon as this year. |
|
Taken by Chicago
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 9:41 PM
The Bears selected Thomas in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 89th overall.
Analysis: Though he primarily operated on the boundary as a starter at LSU, Thomas showed his versatility in motions and backfield action, and he also has the experience on special teams as a returner on kickoffs and punts that should help him contribute immediately to the Bears. Thomas' speed and acceleration means he is a threat to make a game-altering play any time he touches the ball, which makes him an intriguing playmaker in the offensive scheme of head coach Ben Johnson. There's a real chance that Thomas beats out Jahdae Walker and Kalif Raymond to earn the Bears' WR3 job behind Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. |
|
Picked by Bears
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 8:37 PM
The Bears selected Roush in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 69th overall.
Analysis: Roush (6-foot-6, 267 pounds) is a massive tight end and moves well for his build (4.7-second 40-yard dash, 38.5-inch vertical, 126-inch broad jump), but his short arms (30 and 5/8 inches) were a hindrance and a plausible explanation for his poor pass-catching production at Stanford. Athletic as he is, Roush projects more as a blocker than a receiver at the NFL level, and that's even before you account for the fact that Colston Loveland is obviously the featured pass-catching tight end for Chicago's indefinite future. |
|
Selected by Bears
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 7:54 PM
The Bears selected Jones in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 57th overall.
Analysis: Jones is light (6-foot-3, 299 pounds) and even more so has short arms (30 and 3/4 inches), but in literally every other regard the Iowa product is a blue-chip center. Despite his technically smallish build, there's very little concern about Jones translating at the next level. That's in large part due to his rare athleticism -- it's a lot easier to deal with short arms when you run a 4.9-second 40 with strong jumps and agility testing. Jones should be at least an average starting NFL center soon or immediately. |
|
Selected by Chicago
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:37 PM
The Bears selected Thieneman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 25th overall.
Analysis: Thieneman would have been a justifiable selection somewhere in the top 20, so the Bears jumped at the chance to add the speedy safety with the 25th pick. Thieneman (6-feet, 201 pounds) was outrageously productive as a true freshman and sophomore starter at Purdue (2023-2024), accumulating triple-digit tackles in both seasons and intercepting six passes in the first season. Thieneman almost made it three seasons in a row with triple-digit tackles, but he finished with 'only' 96 tackles in his one season with Oregon (2025). With a 4.35-second 40 and 41-inch vertical, Thieneman showed he's a top-tier athlete in addition to a skilled safety. |
|
Colston Loveland Colston Loveland Ready to build on strong finish
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 12:50 PM
Loveland (concussion) said he "feel(s) very good" and is embracing a larger role heading into his second NFL season, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.
Analysis: Loveland's role expanded significantly down the stretch in his rookie season, as the 2025 first-round pick caught 28 of 48 targets for 378 yards and two touchdowns over Chicago's last four games, two of which came in the playoffs. He suffered a concussion late in the Bears' NFC divisional-round loss to the Rams, but Loveland's comments indicate he has recovered from that injury and is ready to build on his momentum from last season in a Bears offense that traded away wide receiver DJ Moore earlier this offseason. Moore finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Loveland during the 2025 regular season. |
|
Fifth-year option excercised
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 4:18 PM
The Bears picked up the fifth-year option connected to Wright's rookie contract Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Wright will remain on the roster an additional year before further negotiations are required, now set to make almost $6.7 million in 2026 and $19 million in 2027 on the offensive tackle's fifth-year option. The right tackle is coming off a 2025 second-team All-Pro season, and the opportunity to retain the standout 24-year-old's services should help the Bears maintain strong run blocking and pass protection into 2026. |
|
Returning to Chicago
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 7:37 PM
The Bears signed Sanborn to a one-year deal on Wednesday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports
Analysis: Sanborn is returning to Chicago, where he spent the first three years of his career before signing with the Cowboys for the 2025 campaign. The 25-year-old has seemingly recovered from the groin injury that landed him on Dallas' injured reserve last November and will likely serve a depth role with the Bears during the upcoming campaign. |
|
Lands in Chicago
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 11:51 AM
The Bears signed Lynch to a one-year contract Wednesday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis: Lynch played with the Vikings from 2020-23 and with the Titans from 2024-25, and he will now provide interior defensive line depth in Chicago. While suiting up for all 17 regular-season games with Tennessee in 2025, Lynch totaled 25 tackles (14 solo), including a half-sack, plus one pass defensed. |
|
Returning to Chicago
Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 8:28 PM
Jones is signing a one-year contract with the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Jones entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has played all four of his pro campaigns with Chicago, though he was briefly on Arizona's roster last offseason. The Ole Miss product has played more snaps on special teams than on defense each of the past three years and figures to continue working as a depth cornerback in 2026. |
|
Back with Chicago
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 12:32 PM
Hicks and the Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal Thursday.
Analysis: The 2022 seventh-round pick from California is now slated to remain in Chicago after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the team. Hicks appeared in 17 regular-season games in 2025, recording 19 total tackles across 371 total snaps (309 on special teams, 62 on defense). He's expected to remain one of the Bears' top special-teamers during the 2026 campaign. |
|
Gets deal from Chicago
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 4:11 PM
The Bears agreed to terms with Wills (knee) on a one-year contract Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Following back-to-back injury-ruined seasons in 2023 and 2024, Wills sat out the 2025 campaign to let his knees heal. He's still just 26 years old and was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 Draft by the Browns. Wills gives the Bears a risk-free flyer at left tackle after Ozzy Trapilo suffered a torn patellar tendon in the wild-card win over the Packers in January. |
|
Rome Odunze Rome Odunze Reduced competition for targets
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 11:56 AM
Odunze and Luther Burden are Chicago's unquestioned top WRs after the team traded DJ Moore to Buffalo, Patrick Finley of The Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis: Moore might've only been the No. 3 receiver anyway if he'd returned to Chicago, after plummeting to a 16.0 percent target rate in 2025 while easily leading the team in routes run (512). The Bears also lost WR Oladime Zaccheaus (305 routes), who is signing with Atlanta. There's plenty of time to add competition behind Odunze and Burden, but it does seem clear that those two and TE Colston Loveland will lead the team in targets in 2026 if they stay relatively healthy. Odunze said in January that he didn't anticipate needing surgery for the foot injury that cost him five games at the end of the regular season (he returned for two postseason games, posting 2-44-0 receiving lines in both). He failed to maintain a hot start in 2025, his second pro season, but there were still some promising signs overall, including a 24.4 percent rate and six TDs in 12 regular-season games. Odunze, Burden and Loveland are all popular fantasy breakout candidates for 2026. |
|
Luther Burden Luther Burden Primed for key role
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 11:37 AM
Burden has less competition for playing time and targets after the Bears traded DJ Moore to Buffalo, Patrick Finley of The Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis: Burden would've been a popular 2026 breakout candidate even if the Bears had kept Moore, who was targeted on just 16.0 percent of his routes last season. Burden had a team-high 26.1 percent target rate while ranking fourth among all qualified pass catchers with 2.83 yards per route, but with a mere 41 percent route share across 15 regular-season games. His playing time and production improved as the season progressed, with Burden catching at least three passes in each of his final 10 appearances (including two playoff games). With Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus (Falcons) no longer playing for Chicago, the passing attack figures to flow through Burden, WR Rome Odunze and TE Colston Loveland. |
|
Signs with Chicago
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 7:15 PM
Street is expected to sign with the Bears, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Street spent the past three seasons with the Falcons and is now set to head to Chicago. The 29-year-old has amassed 10.5 sacks across his eight-year career and will likely serve as a depth defender with the Bears. |
|
Bolstering Chicago's secondary
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 4:14 PM
Lewis is set to sign a two-year deal with the Bears, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.
Analysis: Lewis is in line to head to the Bears after being a reliable backup for the Bills. The defensive back played in all 17 regular-season games for the team in 2025, starting in four of them. He accumulated 43 tackles (33 solo) and had four passes defensed as well as two forced fumbles over the course of the season. Lewis has experience at slot cornerback, outside cornerback and safety. The 28-year-old's versatility should bring a new element to Chicago's secondary in 2026. |
|
Kalif Raymond Kalif Raymond Joins NFC North rivals
Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 11:23 AM
Raymond is set to join the Bears on a one-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Raymond spent the past five years in Detroit returning punts and kickoffs while typically serving as the third or fourth receiver. He'll turn 32 before Week 1 in 2026 but should be able to handle a similar role for the Bears. The move to Chicago reunites Raymond with head coach Ben Johnson, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Lions. |
|
Re-signs with Chicago
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 6:33 PM
The Bears re-signed Jones to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million on Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Jones lost his starting job at left tackle to 2025 second-rounder Ozzy Trapilo last season, but Trapilo suffered a serious knee injury in Chicago's wild-card win over the Packers and could miss the beginning of the 2026 campaign. Jones gives the Bears an experienced option, though he could face competition for the spot. |
Connect With Us:
