As the Chicago Bears prepare to host their rookie minicamp, third-round draft pick Sam Roush's pass catching will be under the spotlight.
When the Chicago Bears drafted Stanford tight end Sam Roush with the 69th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, there may have been some initial confusion surrounding the selection.
The Bears added another tight end to a team that already has Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland. An already strong position group gained more depth and that was accomplished before an edge rusher was selected for a defense that desperately needed reinforcements.
Although the latter is true, coach Ben Johnson is someone who can always use another tight end in his offense. According to Sumersports, the Bears used 13 personnel (one running back and three tight ends) 8.52% of the time -- fifth most in the NFL. The Bears also finished sixth in the league in 12 personnel (32.64%).
It's a position that matters and has a place in Johnson's offense, and Roush has the potential, even as a rookie, to establish a role this upcoming season. Even as the third tight end on the depth chart, Roush can earn his playing time if his relentless blocking he displayed throughout his time at Stanford translates in the NFL.
“He's a finisher through the whistle,” Johnson said following Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. “I think that showed up on a consistent basis. It didn't matter who he was blocking, could be a big guy, could be a little DB, and he consistently finished through the whistle each and every play. You always love it when you, when you take a player and you get a text message from somebody, one of his coaches at Stanford, said, 'He will crush himself to do whatever he can to help the football team.' And it just verifies what you all already thought about the player. So, feel good about that one."
There’s plenty of reasons for Johnson to feel good about the selection, but one area that Roush must improve is his consistency catching the football. Roush dropped seven passes last season – tied for the most in the FBS among tight ends in the 2025 regular season.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound third-round pick also had 10 contested catch opportunities and converted on 40% of those plays, ranking 34th for tight ends.
Roush must prove to this Bears coaching staff that his drops last season were more of an anomaly rathen than the norm. A good way for the tight end to leave his drops in the past is to display soft and reliable hands throughout rookie minicamp from May 8-9th.
Over the two days, the camp will test the rookies’ knowledge to process information, retain it and then execute quickly on the football field. If Roush can play fast and catch the football in this early setting of the offseason workout program, then his physiciality as a blocker will be showcased when the full pads become incoporated.
Consistency and reliablity are two of the most important traits a rookie can demonstrate early on in thier football journey. Roush and the rest of the 2026 NFL Draft Class will get their firest opportunity to do just that later this week.