Mel Kiper Jr. Issues His Final Grade for Chicago Bears’ 2026 NFL Draft
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. hands the Chicago Bears a “B” for their 2026 NFL Draft, praising Dillon Thieneman but questioning key third-round decisions.
By most evaluations, the Chicago Bears walked away from the 2026 NFL Draft with a productive class, and Mel Kiper Jr. is largely in agreement.
The longtime ESPN draft expert handed Chicago a “B” grade, a respectable mark that raised some eyebrows given the debate surrounding Ryan Poles’ two third-round selections.
Chicago used those picks on Stanford tight end Sam Roush and LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas, choices that caught analysts off guard based on positional needs and consensus draft boards. Still, Kiper saw enough upside across the class to land on a positive overall evaluation.
Mel Kiper Jr. Gives Bears a “B” for 2026 NFL Draft
“Dillon Thieneman was a great get at No. 25,” Kiper wrote. “Coordinator Dennis Allen can move him all over the place—deep safety, in the box, out wide, over the slot. He’s an instinctive player who had a six-interception season in 2023 while still at Purdue, and he should help make up for some of the on-ball production lost in free agency.”
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Thieneman headlines the class as its clear centerpiece. He fills an immediate need in the secondary and brings the kind of versatility and playmaking ability that made him a projected top-20 pick throughout much of the pre-draft process. His slide to No. 25 was widely viewed as a win for Chicago.
Mixed Reviews After Round 1
Kiper acknowledged that the rest of the Bears’ draft class wasn’t as clean.
“The rest of the class was slightly up and down,” Kiper wrote. “Logan Jones—my top-ranked center—looks like the perfect Drew Dalman replacement… At receiver, general manager Ryan Poles went down the board a little bit for Zavion Thomas; he was a clear Day 3 guy.”
MORE: Here’s the Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft Class: Full Breakdown of Every Pick
Jones has been one of the most universally praised picks in Chicago’s class. He's a long-term answer at center with 51 career starts at Iowa. Thomas, however, has drawn more skepticism. Many evaluators viewed him as a late-round prospect, and with more pressing needs along the defensive front, his selection in Round 3 raised questions.
Edge Rusher Still a Lingering Question
The most glaring omission from Chicago’s draft strategy was edge rusher. Despite entering the draft with a clear need at the position opposite Montez Sweat, Poles opted not to address it.
That decision puts added pressure on internal development. Austin Booker is a legitimate breakout candidate heading into 2026. Shemar Turner’s versatility could offer situational pass-rush juice if he’s healthy. There’s also Dayo Odeyingbo, whose debut season in Chicago was derailed by an Achilles injury.
The Bears could still explore veteran additions after June 1 or revisit the trade market if needed. But as it stands, the lack of a Day 2 investment at edge likely capped this class from reaching elite status.
Had Chicago landed a high-impact pass rusher, this group may have pushed into “A” territory. Instead, it settles in as a solid—but imperfect—haul.
