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Bears Draft LB Keyshaun Elliott, Move Up for CB

4/26/2026

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Summary

Bears Draft Elliott

The Chicago Bears selected linebacker Keyshaun Elliott with the 166th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026.
Chicago acquired the pick from the Carolina Panthers, enabling a move-up to select cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round.
Elliott posted 98 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2025, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Summary

NFL Accelerates Draft

The NFL introduced a 2026 draft timing system with five-minute windows for rounds 3-6 and four-minute windows for round 7.
The new timing reduced the overall clock for later rounds to speed up the draft’s conclusion.
Chicago’s Bears, whose slate includes Sam Roush and Zavion Thomas, selected Malik Muhammad in round 4 and Keyshaun Elliott in round 5, while the draft aired on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Español.

History

Historical Context

The NFL held its 1980 draft on April 29-30 at New York’s Sheraton Hotel. Building on that early format, the 2026 draft used five-minute selection windows and simultaneous broadcasts on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Español. This shift reflects the league’s broader, ongoing, strategic push for year-round national television media exposure.

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Bears Draft Elliott

The Chicago Bears selected linebacker Keyshaun Elliott with the 166th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026.
Chicago acquired the pick from the Carolina Panthers, enabling a move-up to select cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round.
Elliott posted 98 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2025, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors.

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