The Chicago Bears have selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg with the 213th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Chicago traded both seventh-round selections (239, 241) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the sixth rounder.
Van den Berg, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, is an explosive athlete who is a great fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. Last season at Georgia Tech, he totaled 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks as a first-team All-ACC selection. Van den Berg, who spent three years at Penn State before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final two seasons, totaled 90 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 56 total quarterback pressures.
This is the first time the Bears have selected a defensive lineman in the 2026 draft, despite it being one of the biggest needs on the roster.
Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said about van den Berg: “Jordan van den Berg began to hit his stride at Georgia Tech in 2024 after three quiet years as a backup at Penn State. Elite testing numbers at his pro day will send scouts back to the tape for further evaluation. He possesses disruptive first-step quickness and heavy hands to beat blocks. He carries average mass and below-average length. He needs to prove he can take on NFL blockers at the point of attack. The career production looks a little light on paper, but van den Berg appears to possess translatable traits that could entice a team with a one-gapping defensive front to draft him on Day 3.”
There have been questions about the Bears defensive line given the struggles against the run and getting pressure on the quarterback last season. Van den Berg joins a defensive tackle that features starters Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett, as well as free-agent addition Neville Gallimore.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears trade up for DT Jordan van den Berg in 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
