The Chicago selected Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott with the 166th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here is what the Bears are getting in their newest member on defense.
With the 166th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears added depth to their linebacker room.
The Bears selected Arizona State's Keyshaun Elliott, who finished second on the Sun Devils' defense last season with 98 total tackles.
Over his four-year collegiate career (two at Arizona State and two at New Mexico State), Elliot has registered 206 total tackles, six passes defended and 46 quarterback pressures and 12 sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
In his final season with the Sun Devils, Elliott led Arizona with his career-high seven sacks and had 14 tackles for loss.
Elliott described how he was able to achieve those statistics in the 2025 season.
"Just watch a lot of film, understand what's going on before the ball is snapped, like I was saying about Fred (Warner)," Elliott said. "But it's something that I wanted to do walking into this past season was I needed to play behind the line of scrimmage just a little bit more. I was blessed to have a great D-line that was able to hold some blocks for me to go down there and run through some lanes. So just overall, the amount of work I put in just led to those 14 tackles for loss."
Someone that Elliott tries to model his game after is 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, and there are many reasons for that.
"Everything that he does is elite," Elliott said. "And you look at a linebacker that's a gamechanger, anytime he's going to punch that ball out, he’s going to get interceptions, he's gonna be disruptive in the run game. So just his overall disruptiveness is something that I want to take away from him. How is he getting all these forced fumbles and getting in passing lanes? So just watching his game and a lot of it's just a reflection of how much time he puts into the game, watching film and everything, playing before the snaps. So, a great guy to watch film of."
One of Elliott's games that stands out from last season is his performance against Iowa State. He played 70 total defensive snaps, registering one quarterback pressure, eight total tackles and allowed three receptions for just 13 yards.
Chicago Bears west coast area scout Reese Hicks provided some insight on what stands out about the 6-foot-2, 235-pound rookie.
"A high-end intangible player," Hicks said. "Smart, instinctive. He wore the green dot for them at Arizona State. Worked hard. Everything you want in a player, especially in Day 3 of the draft. So, we’re really happy to have him. He’s really passionate about the game. Just elite kind of intangibles and makeup."
Elliott enters a Bears linebacker room that has plenty of competition. General manager Ryan Poles signed Devin Bush three-year, $30 million deal. The Bears also brought back Jack Sanborn and re-signed D'Marco Jackson to a two-year, $7.5 million contract. And T.J. Edwards is working back from a fractured fibula and aiming for a return this summer.
Before Elliott can find a role on Dennis Allen's defense, he will have to make his mark on special teams, which is exactly what Elliott plans to do.
"That's the first thing that I'm going to be doing when I get into the building, meeting with the special teams coordinator and understanding the schematics of it," Elliott said. "I look at myself, and I look at a guy that was able to lead multiple defenses for a multiple amount of years. So going into the league, I know that's going to be a priority for myself is, walking in and being able to handle special teams, not just for myself, but also the other guys around me. So it's something I'm super excited about. I think my play as a linebacker is something that translates pretty well to special teams."