Sneaky position Bears HC Ben Johnson could look to target in the 2026 NFL Draft with multiple prospects that fit the minor need
The Chicago Bears have two solid tight ends in Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet going into the 2026 NFL Draft, but don’t rule out the thought of head coach Ben Johnson adding another one to the mix.
The Chicago Bears are set to enter into the 2026 NFL Draft with seven total selections after officially getting screwed over by the NFL in the Ian Cunningham compensatory draft pick situation last week.
It’s still a solid arsenal to work with that includes four selections in the Top-100. Looking at the Bears’ pre-draft interest and current roster, here are some of the positions I see the Bears targeting in the draft: DE, S, OT, C, DT.
That’s five of the seven picks right there. What the Bears do with the other two selections (and perhaps more if Ryan Poles decides to trade down) will be fun to watch. The Bears could look to add a new running back to the backfield, a new wide receiver to help make up for the loss of DJ Moore, or find a new starting CB replacement for Nahshon Wright.
Another sneaky position to watch is tight end. Yeah, I’m aware the Bears just drafted a first-round tight end in Colston Loveland and still have Cole Kmet on the roster. Even still, don’t be surprised if head coach Ben Johnson looks to add another TE to the roster.
The 2026 NFL Draft is deep at the TE position, especially in the later rounds
When I say don’t be surprised if the Bears draft a tight end, I don’t mean with the 25th overall pick, or with any of the Day 2 selections for that matter. This is shaping up to be a deep class at the position and the Bears could find a quality player late in the draft.
And this is actually a need for Ben Johnson’s offense. Last season, Durham Smythe played 293 offensive snaps for the Bears as the TE3 before following former offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. As things stand, the Bears current TE3 job will be between Nikola Kalinic and Stephen Carlson.
Ben Johnson loves his multi-TE sets and would ideally need to find an upgrade at that TE3 spot, preferably a player that excels as an in-line blocker to replace Smythe’s role. Luckily, there’s plenty of prospects that fit that bill.
Sam Roush – Stanford
Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy did a breakdown this week of Stanford’s Sam Roush and came away believing that he is the best blocking TE in the class. It’s definitely worth a watch as we consider some different TE3 options for the Bears.
Roush was the sixth-ranked tight end on The Beast and Dane Brugler of The Athletic praised him as a “dirty-work” player that can quietly become an integral part of an NFL offense, which is exactly what Smythe was for the Bears in 2025. He also could offer more athleticism to the position and played 529 special teams snaps in college.
Josh Cuevas – Alabama
Josh Cuevas is a personal favorite of mine. He’s a tough and very technically-sound blocker but his specialty is his versatility. Cuevas can play in-line as a traditional Y-TE or play in the backfield as an H-back. The Bears used Kmet in that H-back role a few times last year and it’s a role better fit for a player like Cuevas.
Having a 6-3, 245 pound player lead blocking in the run game from the backfield could add a whole new element to Johnson’s NFC-leading rushing attack. The downside is that Cuevas is limited as a receiver. However, Smythe had just four receptions in 2025, so it’s not something Johnson asks for out of the position unless a play breaks down or the offense is forced to audible on the fly.
Will Kacmarek – Ohio State
Will Kacmarek is another traditional Y-TE that excels as a blocker. Brugler had him ranked just behind Roush as the TE6 in the draft that possesses the “desired level of aggression as a point-of-attack blocker.”
This guy was built in a lab to be a blocking TE in the NFL. Brugler added the Ohio State staff praised Kacmarek for setting the culture in the room as a “tireless worker.” He can seal the edge, square up blocks, and even lead block with aggression. As a receiver, Kacmarek is a sound pass catcher (0 drops on 27 targets at Ohio State).
Nate Boerkircher – Texas A&M
If the Bears want an even more versatile player, look no further than Nate Boerkircher. He can line up in-line, in the backfield, and even in the slot. He lacks the size to be a sure-fire in-line blocker at the NFL level but he has the mindset to give full effort and the ability to block from any alignment you put him in.
Similar to Roush, Boerkircher can offer more value than just being a blocking tight end on offense after playing 452 career special teams snaps. He’s a limited receiver but did have three touchdowns in 2025, including one lined up as the fullback, so Johnson could get creative with how he uses a guy like this.
