The Chicago Bears finally addressed the defensive line in the 2026 NFL Draft with the final pick in the sixth round, No. 213 overall, and the selection of Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan Van den Berg.
Van den Berg (6'3", 310 pounds) was a First-Team All-ACC performer in 2025. He registered 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and three sacks.
A former rugby player who moved to the United States from South Africa at 10 years old, Van den Berg began his college career at Penn State before transferring to Georgia Tech in 2024.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler ranked Jordan van den Berg as the 29th defensive tackle in the class, noting that he was "a late bloomer on the football field, but his 2025 tape showed a player with NFL-caliber size, traits, and effort."
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While this pick won't fix the Bears' pass-rush issues, it at least adds another talented player who can compete for reps with established veterans like Neville Galimore and Kentavius Street.
The Chicago Bears added a solid yet unspectacular Day 3 defensive lineman with this pick, which continued a late-round theme of defensive upgrades.
GRADE: B-
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