Not all sixth-round picks are created equal. And in the case of the Chicago Bears' sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Georgia Tech defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg, his role might be much bigger than a traditional late-Day-3 pick.
According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Bears have big plans for the athletic freak.
"The Bears believe they're getting a steal with sixth-round defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg out of Georgia Tech," Fowler wrote. "Several of his testing numbers hit the highest mark on the Bears' internal scouting scale. My sense is the Bears have plans for him beyond that of a typical sixth-round flier and believe he was one of more gifted defensive tackles in the draft."
The instant reactions to the Chicago Bears' 2026 draft class have been a mixed bag of great value in Round 1 with Dillon Thieneman and disappointment that Ryan Poles didn't add an edge rusher with any of his picks.
The Bears believe their roster is deep with young pass-rushing options like Austin Booker and Shemar Turner. The healthy return of Dayo Odeyingbo adds an element that was lost for the first half of the 2025 season.
Chicago invested in veteran interior defensive linemen this offseason with the signings of Nevill Gallimore and Kentavius Street, one year after signing Grady Jarrett in 2025 free agency. Gervon Dexter is entering 2026 on an expiring contract, leaving an opportunity for Jordan van den Berg with a path for a significant role in 2027.
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