B+
Chicago Bears
The Bears won the night they stopped Slaughter from sliding. Grade: B+.
by BoriKings ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 4 steals
· 0 reaches
Every so often the board makes a mistake, and the Bears were there to profit. Jake Slaughter, the No. 58 name on the board, should have been long gone before slot 89.
Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck. They punted on linebacker, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but linebacker.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 26 they get protection for the quarterback. A clean fit for the roster.
Nice patience on Keith Abney II, who had no business lasting to Round 2, Pick 28. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
By-the-book stuff, Derrick Moore at pick No. 63 squarely in line with his ranking. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jake Slaughter at the Round 3 slot is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Germie Bernard in the 91st pick is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They paid sticker price for Bishop Fitzgerald in the 125th overall pick, and that is fine. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Justin Joly at No. 129 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the tight end. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Tim Keenan III slid further than he should have, and pick 168 is lovely value for the interior defensive lineman. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A straight-up fair deal on Jaydn Ott at slot 239, value and slot in agreement. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They took Eli Heidenreich at par in No. 241, which is nothing to complain about. It patches a soft spot without any drama.