Story perspectives

Bears Draft Logan Jones, Score 20th Rank, Skip Edge Rusher

4/28/2026

Summary

Bears Draft Jones

Chicago Bears selected Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson praised Jones and noted the Bears received a 2.82 grade, ranking them No. 20 overall and ninth in the NFC.
Critics said the draft lacked an edge rusher, noting the Bears waited until the sixth round to select defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg.

Summary

Bears Add Linebackers

Bears entered 2026 offseason with quarterbacks Tyson Bagent, Caleb Williams and Case Keenum after Bagent was not traded.
They left the draft without an offensive tackle, relying on Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. for the left-tackle job.
Dennis Allen added three external linebackers, including Keyshaun Elliott, to address depth issues from 2025.
Defensive ends stayed unchanged as staff expects Dayo Odeyingbo, Shemar Turner and Austin Booker to rebound.

History

Historical Context

After Dave Wannstedt’s 1995 Bears posted a 9-7 record but missed the playoffs, the team’s offensive line was viewed as a key strength. Decades later, the franchise’s 2026 draft focus on bolstering the line mirrors that earlier rebuild, reflecting the Bears’ long-standing reliance on line play to spark contention in the NFL.

1 of 3

Bears Draft Jones

Chicago Bears selected Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson praised Jones and noted the Bears received a 2.82 grade, ranking them No. 20 overall and ninth in the NFC.
Critics said the draft lacked an edge rusher, noting the Bears waited until the sixth round to select defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg.

1 / 3