The Chicago Bears will start an important weekend when the NFL Draft opens in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

For the first time in Ryan Poles’ tenure as Bears general manager, he’ll try to supplement a playoff roster instead of building from the ground up. Chicago took a major step in head coach Ben Johnson’s first season last year. Now they’ll try to fill some holes in order to return to the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006.

Shaw Local will be covering all things Bears throughout the three days of the draft. Check back here for live updates.

[ Everything Chicago Bears fans need to know ahead of the 2026 NFL draft ]

Chicago uses last pick on defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg

Chicago used its final selection of the NFL draft to address defensive tackle, selecting Georgia Tech’s Jordan Ven Den Berg in the sixth round at No. 213.

Chicago traded their final two draft picks to get into the sixth round to get him. The Bears traded Nos. 239 and 241 to move up to No. 213.

Ven Den Berg, who was born in South Africa, had a long journey to get to this moment. He started playing college football with Iowa Western Community College in 2021 before he spent three seasons at Penn State in a mostly reserved role.

That changed once he reached Georgia Tech in 2024. Ven Den Berg played in all 13 games and had seven starts with 23 tackles five for a loss, and a sack. He earned Second Team All-ACC for his season.

Ven Den Berg took another major step last season for the Yellow Jackets. He started all 13 games and finished with 44 tackles, 11 for a loss, with three sacks and a blocked kick. That led to a First Team All-ACC honor.

Bears add linebacker Keyshaun Elliott in fifth round

The Bears continued to boost their defense in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday afternoon, selecting Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott at No. 166.

Elliott will bring plenty of experience after playing in 52 games over four seasons. He played two seasons with New Mexico State before spending the last two years at Arizona State.

Elliott proved he has an ability to get to the ball while also conveying the plays on the field for the Sun Devils. He had a career-high seven sacks last season to go along with 98 tackles, 14 of which were for a loss. Over four years, he had one interception, two fumble recoveries, 10 passes defended and 301 total tackles.

At 6-foot-1 3/4 and 231 pounds, Elliott has good size and produced well as a inside linebacker. He will likely play a role on special teams for the Bears as well.

Chicago chooses cornerback Malik Mauhammad in fourth round

Chicago started the final day of the NFL by boosting their secondary once again, this time selecting Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round at No. 124.

The Bears originally had No. 129 but traded that pick and No. 144 to the Carolina Panthers for No. 124 and No. 166.

Muhammad played in 41 games over three seasons with the Longhorns. As a junior last year, Muhammad finished with two interceptions, four passes defended, one sack and 30 tackles, 2.5 for a loss.

Although Muhammad is on the smaller size at 6 foot, 182 pounds, he does well in coverage. That should match well with how Bears deference coordinator Dennis Allen likes to run his defense. He’s also got good speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the NFC scouting combine, something that’s also been a point of interest this offseason.

Day three begins

The third and final day of the draft is underway with the start of round four. The Las Vegas Raiders traded up to select cornerback Jermod McCoy, who had dropped to the fourth round because injury concerns.

Bears select wide receiver Zavion Thomas at No. 89

Chicago used their second third round pick of the NFL draft Friday night to boost their wide receiver room, selecting LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas at No. 89 overall.

Thomas played in 48 games over four season in college. He started his career at Mississippi State for two seasons before transferring over to LSU for the last two seasons.

Thomas put some of his best numbers of his career with LSU during his senior season. He had a career-highs in 41 receptions and four touchdowns with the Tigers last season to go along with 488 receiving yards.

Aside from his role as a wide receiver, Thomas made an impact as a returner. He returned 60 punts over four seasons averaging 9.7 yards per return and 35 punts averaging 27.2 yards per return. Thomas returned two kickoffs for a touchdown and one punt for a touchdown.

Chicago take tight end Sam Roush at No. 69

Chicago used its first third round pick of the NFL draft on Friday night to select Stanford tight end Sam Roush at No. 69.

The Bears originally had two second-round picks heading into Friday. But they traded out of No. 60 with the Tennessee Titans. The Bears got the No. 69 and No. 144 picks.

Roush spent four seasons at Stanford, playing in 48 games. He had career highs with the Cardinal during his senior season last year, catching 49 passes for 454 yards and two touchdowns. Roush was named to the Second Team All-ACC team.

At 6-foot-6, 267 pounds, Roush has good size to make a difference both as a blocker and a receiver. He is expected to be a “Y” tight end who will mostly block in the NFL.

The move was a bit of a surprise since tight end wasn’t expected to be a need for the team heading into the draft. Chicago used the No. 10 overall pick to select Colston Loveland last. The Bears also have Cole Kmet, who fit in well as a blocking tight end to create a dynamic duo with Loveland last season.

Bears draft Logan Jones at No. 57

The Chicago Bears boosted their offensive line to start the second round on Friday by selecting Iowa center Logan Jones with the No. 57 overall in the NFL draft.

Jones was considered one of the top centers heading into the draft and will bring plenty of experience after starting at center for the Hawkeyes over the past four seasons. He originally joined Iowa as a defensive tackle before the coaching staff converted him to a center because of his large frame.

Over four seasons, Jones started 50 games for Iowa at center. As a senior last season, Jones earned plenty of honors for his play. He was named a First Team AP All-American, First Team All-Big Ten and won the Rimington Trophy, the award for the nation’s top center.

At 6-foot-2 7/8, 299 pounds and a 30 3/4-inch arm length, Jones is considered a bit undersized for an NFL center. But Jones is considered ready to compete in the NFL with pro-level technique.

Chicago traded out of 60 with the Titans. The Bears will get No. 69 and No. 144.

Edge prospects come off the board

After not many of the secondary edge prospects came off the board Thursday night, there’s been a run on edge rushers early in the second round.

T.J. Parker, Cashius Howell, R Mason Thomas and Derrick Moore have all gone in the second round. Defensive tackles Kayden McDonald and Christen Miller were also selected early in the second round, taking more defensive line prospects off the board for the Bears.

Second round is underway

The second night of the NFL draft officially got underway in Pittsburgh on Friday night. The San Francisco 49ers will start of the second round with the No. 33 overall pick.

Who the Chicago Bears could select Friday

The Bears will have needs to address Friday during the second night of the draft.

Chicago filled one of those needs by selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round. Now Poles will have three picks in the second and third rounds to address some of those needs.

Here’s who the Bears could select Friday.

Bears draft Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman

The Chicago Bears used their first-round pick of the 2026 NFL draft to boost their secondary by selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall on Thursday night.

It marked the first time since 1990 that the Bears used a first-round pick to draft a safety. Thursday also marked the first time the team selected a defensive player in the first round since 2018.

After being a playmaker at Purdue during his first two season, Thieneman took another big step at Oregon last season. He finished with two interceptions and defended five passes to go along with one sack. Thieneman was named a Second Team Ap All-American and First Team All-Big Ten.

Over his three years in college, Thieneman finished with eight interceptions, six of which occurred during his freshman year. He also had 10 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

At just over 6-foot, 201 pounds and a 31 3/8-inch arm lenght, Thieneman has the size to play at all three different safety spots. He also plays well at the line of scrimmage, something that Bears defensive coordinator will likely use as he did at times last season.

Run on offensive tackles starts

The expected run on offensive tackles took place midway through the first round.

Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa went at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively. The Dolphins took Kadyn Proctor at No. 11 before Blake Miller and Monroe Freeling came off the board at No. 17 and No. 19.

Rams shock by selecting Ty Simpson

The Los Angeles Rams pulled off the first stunning move of the draft at No. 13. Los Angeles picked up its heir apparent at quarterback by selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Many analysts wondered whether Simpson would go in the first round. Many thought it he did, it’d be because the Arizona Cardinals would trade back in toward the end of the first round to take him.

Instead, Rams head coach Sean McVay found who will replace Matt Stafford once he retires.

Cowboys trade up to take Caleb Downs

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t waste an opportunity to go after their guy. Dallas traded No. 177 and No. 180 to go up from No. 12 to No. 11 and select safety Caleb Downs.

Downs was considered one of the best prospects in the draft this season after being a defensive difference-maker for Ohio State. Improving their defense was a priority for the Cowboys heading into the draft and they did it by boosting their secondary.

Chiefs trade up to No. 6

The Kansas City Chiefs had been rumored that they would trade up in the top-10 to grab their player. They did so Thursday by trading up to No. 6 from No. 9.

Kansas City traded No. 9, No. 74 and No. 148 to the Browns for No. 6. The Chiefs used the pick to take cornerback Mansoor Delane.

Titans surprise by taking Carnell Tate at No. 4

The Tennessee Titans pulled of a major surprise at No. 4 by selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.

Tate had not been linked with the Titans during the draft process. But Tennessee took a big swing at No. 4 and provided quarterback Cam Ward with an elite target.

Cardinals take Jeremiyah Love at No. 3

The Arizona Cardinals provided the first surprise of the draft after Las Vegas selected Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 and the Jets selected David Bailey at No. 2.

Arizona drafted Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick. Many analysts thought the Cardinals could go with linebacker Arvell Reese or an offensive tackle with the pick. Instead, they selected a dynamic running back who could become the face of the franchise.

The draft has started

The draft is officially underway.

The Raiders are on the clock after commissioner Roger Goodell and some former Pittsburgh Steelers came out onto the stage. He thanked a huge crowd in Pittsburgh and Steelers declared the draft underway.

Latest news for No. 25 pick

Poles and assistant general manager Jeff King made it clear when they met with reporters Thursday that the Bears could go in multiple different directions.

The Bears will have a best-player-available approach as they did last year when they chose tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick. King did say a position of need might be a priority when multiple prospects are graded the same way. But for the most part, the Bears plan to add more talent to the roster regardless of where they play.

They’ll also be prepared to move up or down if they want to get a specific prospect. Poles will have a second second-round pick to use as trade bait and said the Bears feel comfortable adjusting on the fly if they need to.

What are the Bears’ needs?

Even after reaching the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020, the Bears will have plenty of holes to fill over the next few days.

Most of those needs are on the defensive side of the ball. Poles will look for improvements on the defensive line both at the tackle and edge spots after the Bears struggled to stop the run and pressure quarterbacks for most of last season. Chicago will also be in need of another starting safety after signing Coby Bryant in free agency and letting last year’s starters Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker leave this offseason.

Although the Bears have starters set at cornerback and linebacker, they could address those spots for the future.

Offense likely won’t be a priority like it was last year. But with left tackle Ozzy Trapilo’s future uncertain as he recovers from a patellar tendon injury, the Bears might address the spot as early as the first round.

How can I watch the draft?

The 2026 NFL Draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network. It also is available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes. It can be streamed with NFL Plus, the ABC app or the ESPN app.

Bears draft picks

The Bears currently hold seven picks, but they could acquire more through trades. Here are the picks they currently have:

• First round: No. 25 overall
• Second round: No. 57 overall
• Second round: No. 60 overall
• Third round: No. 89 overall
• Fourth round: No. 129
• Seventh round: No. 239
• Seventh round: No. 241