Before I get into my Bears draft recap, a couple of notes from the first three OTA practices earlier this week. QB Caleb Williams looks good, and the whole offensive operation is just quicker and smoother now, though penalties are still an occasional bugaboo. There’s been an emphasis on raising Williams’ completion percentage. The guy who has stood out the most is WR Luther Burden III. HC Ben Johnson was effusive in his praise of Burden, who made a number of explosive plays on Wednesday. I’m telling you right now, I think he’s going to have a big year if he can stay healthy.

The Bears’ 2026 draft started out strong but definitely left many scratching their heads by the end. As I mentioned in my draft preview last month, Oregon S Dillon Thieneman was my guy for the Bears at #25 overall, and I was elated when he fell to Chicago after Minnesota passed on him. He’s a fast, rangy safety who diagnoses quickly and is a big hitter. Thieneman will be expected to start right away next to free agent signing S Coby Bryant.

In the second round, the Bears selected Iowa C Logan Jones. In his senior year, he won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the country. Coming from a school like Iowa that produces so many quality O-linemen, there’s a chance that Jones could challenge C Garrett Bradbury for the starting job in training camp.

In the third round, Chicago selected Stanford TE Sam Roush. Drafting a guy who is expected to mainly be a blocking tight end in the third round is a bit rich, but Johnson loves multiple tight end sets. As the third tight end behind TE Colston Loveland and TE Cole Kmet, I don’t expect Roush to be much of a fantasy factor at all unless there are injuries.

WIth their other third-rounder, the Bears selected LSU WR Zavion Thomas. He’s not a very big guy at 5-10 190, but he ran a blazing 4.28 40 at the combine. Thomas could get some snaps as a slot receiver/gadget guy, but his primary role this season will likely be as a kick/punt returner. He is electric with the ball in his hands.

In the fourth round, Chicago selected Texas CB Malik Muhammad. He could challenge CB Tyrique Stevenson for playing time or fill in at nickel if CB Kyler Gordon continues to have injury issues. In the fifth round, the Bears selected Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott. Despite having glaring needs on the D-line, the Bears waited until they traded up into the sixth round and selected Georgia Tech DT Jordan van den Berg to take a D-lineman.

When asked about the team’s lack of pass rush additions this offseason, Johnson said that his coaching staff would have to "coach better". Maybe the Bears feel that a healthy DT Grady Jarrett will be more productive. Maybe they think DT Gervon Dexter will have a career year in a contract year. Maybe DE Austin Booker takes the next step and becomes an 8+ sack guy. Maybe DE Shemar Turner and DE Dayo Odeyingbo will be productive after their injuries last season. But that’s a lot of wishing and hoping, and against what’s projected to be the toughest schedule in the league, the Bears could find themselves in quite a few shootouts this season.

End.