Bears Final 2026 Draft Grades: Ryan Poles gets criticized for controversial decisions but it’s time to put full trust in Ben Johnson
The Chicago Bears had a hot start to the 2026 NFL Draft in the first-round and followed it up with some questionable decisions on Day 2 of the draft.
The Chicago Bears made some controversial decisions during the 2026 NFL Draft but there’s no controversy who’s in charge of the team’s draft room and Bears fans need to start altering their mindset about this team.
This is head coach Ben Johnson’s team now and he made it clear in this draft that he is in charge of bringing in talent that fits his team and his culture, regardless of any consensus rankings or outside ideas about what his team needs.
With the draft class now finalized, let’s go through the individual player grades and the final grade for the overall class.
Chicago Bears’ final draft grades for the 2026 class
Round 1, No. 25: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The simple fact that Dillon Thieneman feel in the draft makes this selection great value for the Chicago Bears. The fit in Dennis Allen’s system and the character he brings to Ben Johnson’s locker room makes this entire selection a home run.
Thieneman is going to be an All-Star and another big-game player for this defense. His traits are off the charts and fits exactly the kind of player the Bears were looking to add to the defense to take that unit to the next level.
Grade: A+
Round 2, No. 57: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
I understand the need at the position following the sudden retirement of Drew Dalman, even if the Bears went out to acquire Garrett Bradbury. While 57 seems rich for a backup center, the Bears wanted to ensure they landed their top guy at the position.
Logan Jones was compared closely to Dalman and the NFL’s new highest-paid center in Tyler Linderbaum. If he can reach that level once he takes over as a starter in 2027, he can be a 10+ year guy for Chicago and prove to be worth the high pick. As of right now, it was a high capital pick to draft an older backup.
Grade: B
Round 3, No. 69: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
Drafting a TE3 in the Top-75 was viewed as a big reach for the Bears. However, no team is better at multi-TE sets than Chicago under Ben Johnson’s offense. Sam Roush is the ideal Y-TE for this offense and a clear upgrade over Durham Smythe.
Paired with Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland, the Bears now have three really good tight ends to deploy all over the formation. Roush significantly elevates the position, the run game, and allows Johnson to get even more creative. I would have liked to see a top defensive lineman here, but I understand why Johnson wanted this guy.
Grade: C+
Round 3, No. 89: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU
Based on the consensus draft board, this was the classic Ryan Poles mid-round reach he does every single year. Given Poles’ third-round hit rate and the failed experiment with Velus Jones Jr., I understand why Bears fans are nervous about this selection.
However, I trust Johnson’s judgement more than any consensus draft board. If Johnson believes Zavion Thomas can be a real weapon for this team utilizing his dangerous speed, I’m all for it. Thomas can be a really fun player in the right situation and this was absolutely the best landing spot for him. Throw you consensus rankings in the trash the Bears got a beast weapon for a stud play-caller.
Grade: A-
Round 4, No. 124: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
I really think the Bears were hoping to land fiery Miami defensive back Keionte Scott with this selection and after missing out on him, they quickly moved up to land Malik Muhammad. He’s still a killer that can compete for an outside spot or play inside in dime packages alongside Kyler Gordon. Even though it’s not Scott, I still like the fit and another player that can bring more speed to the secondary.
Grade: B+
Round 5, pick 166: Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State
Value alone, Keyshaun Elliott was a nice selection in the fifth-round. This guy was a Top-100 projection and viewed as a top linebacker given his leadership and experience. However, it’s a loaded position that’s had a ton of turnover this offseason. Elliott might not have a significant defensive role out of the gate, but he can develop into a future green dot starter for Dennis Allen. He’s that smart and that instinctive.
Round 6, No. 213: Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech
Bears fans expected the first DL to be selected way higher than 213rd overall, but the board just didn’t work out that way for Chicago. Even still, the Bears landed a freak of an athlete at a position that has major long-term question marks.
Grade: B+
Final 2026 Draft Grade
Say what you want about the lack of defensive linemen or the Bears “reaching” on players during the second day of the draft. The Bears added very high character players and continued adding more speed and versatility to the entire roster. I trust in Ben Johnson and fans need to start doing the same moving forward.
Final Grade: B