Chicago Bears Draft LB Keyshaun Elliott at No. 166: Instant Grade and Analysis

The Chicago Bears clearly understood the assignment on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft—and it centered on one thing: fortifying the defense with depth and physicality.

After grabbing former Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad in Round 4, general manager Ryan Poles doubled down on that mission by selecting Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott.

Elliott (6-foot-1, 231 pounds) didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but his explosiveness showed up in other ways, including a 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot-5 broad jump. His 2025 production backs up the profile: 98 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in 12 games, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors.

Scouting opinions remain mixed. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein labeled Keyshaun Elliott as a physical, productive linebacker but questioned whether his athletic limitations will cap his ceiling at the next level. Concerns about his lateral range, pursuit speed, and consistency suggest he may struggle in space, particularly in coverage. Still, his downhill mentality and toughness give him a clear pathway to contribute.

Chicago’s linebacker room underwent a quiet reshuffling this offseason. The addition of Deion Bush following the release of Tremaine Edmunds adds a new layer to the group, while T.J. Edwards is expected back at full strength after his leg injury. D’Marco Jackson also remains in the mix for meaningful snaps.

That context makes Keyshaun Elliott’s role fairly clear early on. He’ll need to carve out his niche on special teams first, where his physicality and motor could quickly stand out. If he proves reliable in that phase, there’s a legitimate opportunity for him to climb the depth chart, potentially pushing for defensive reps ahead of players like Noah Sewell.

It’s not a flashy pick, but it’s a purposeful one. Elliott fits the Day 3 mold: productive, tough, and with a defined role from Day 1. If he leans into that identity, this selection could return value sooner than expected.

GRADE: B-