The Lions had a medically-safe, low-risk draft. So, let’s take a look at how it compares to our NFC North division rivals.
Here is the Chicago Bears draft recap from my NFC North division 2026 NFL Draft roundup:
Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 10 (extreme).
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information.)
Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft
Da Bears stayed very medically safe with their first-round selection in Thieneman. However, their second-rounder, Logan Jones, ratcheted up the risk to moderate levels in terms of injury history and age.
In the third round, they grabbed a very clean prospect in Sam Roush, who I had hoped might fill the Lions’ tight end need. A quick review of fellow third-rounder, Zavion Thomas, shows that he is very medically clean as well.
From an age standpoint, the Bears were willing to draft a couple 24-year-old prospects, but four of their seven picks were 22 or younger.
Overall, the Bears appear to have prioritized a medically low-risk draft. Maybe Ben Johnson’s injury-filled experience (Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, et al) in his final year with the Lions was a factor.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Bears’ 2026 NFL Draft: What injury risks did NFC North rival select?
Reporting by Jimmy Liao, MD, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
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