The Chicago Bears added seven new rookies to the team with their 2026 NFL Draft Class. If you could only pick one as your favorite, who would you choose?
If you could only choose one of the seven Bears players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft as your favorite rookies, who would you choose?
Would it be first-round draft pick Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon? The versatile playmaking safety should provide defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with a variety of options and flexibility.
How about Iowa center Logan Jones and the potential he provides at stabilizing the center position of the future? Tight end Sam Roush now has a coach in Ben Johnson who loves to utilize the position. And Zavion Thomas’ 4.28 40-speed paired with Johnson’s creativity could be deadly.
The three Day 3 picks in cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and interior defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg all provide depth to the roster and could become more with opportunity and coaching.
There are some intriguing options, but if I could only choose one, I’m going with Jones. For those who don’t know, I graduated from the University of Iowa, and although that may be a slight reason for my decision, it goes deeper than the Hawkeye roots.
When center Drew Dalman announced he would be retiring after a Pro Bowl season in Chicago, the Bears had to pivot and do so quickly. General manager Ryan Poles had signed Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal. An investment meant to stabilize the position for the foreseeable future.
The Bears did the right thing trading a 2027 fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots for the veteran center, but Bradbury has one year left on his contract, and the team will benefit having a veteran center to pair with Caleb Williams for his third NFL season.
To ensure there isn't a dropoff after the 2026 season concludes, the Bears invested in the center position by selecting Jones with the 57th overall pick in the second round. As the anchor in the middle of the offensive line, that individual will be given plenty of resonsbility, something Johnson noted after Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We do load guys up and that was something that we talked about when he was here on the top-30,” Johnson said. “He knows that center position is, I don't want to say it's unique to what we asked them to do, but I would say we're probably on the higher end in terms of NFL teams and what we ask those guys to be able to handle. And so, I know he's up for the challenge. We will see where he's at when he gets here and how quickly he takes to it. But, you certainly take a player where you take him and you see a future for him. There's no question about it.”
Johnson also mentioned that Jones’ mental is “top notch” and his football IQ is “next level” to go along with a player that can excel in the run game and provide consistent protection for Williams.
The Bears selected the first center in the 2026 NFL Draft because they didn't want to leave it up to chance for another team to take their guy. They identified Jones as a necessity and made him a part of the Bears’ organization. That hasn't been the norm for the Bears, a positive sign that times are changing in Chicago.
Although Jones may not play at all in his rookie season, the investment the Bears made in him is significant. The days of neglecting the center position are over, and that should be a reassuring sign for Bears fans, knowing the team prioritizes the necessary pieces to build and sustain a competitive football team.