The Chicago Bears selected Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott with the 166th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Elliott, who measures 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, started 38 games at the collegiate level between New Mexico State and Arizona State. He totaled 98 tackles and seven sacks last season for the Sun Devils, which earned him. All-Big 12 honors. Elliott has good instincts and was a team captain, but he does need to improve in coverage. The Bears got another great value pick with Elliott, who The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had ranked 83rd overall and with a third-round grade.
Here’s a quick rundown on Elliott:
The Basics
Height: 6-foot-1 3/4 inches
Weight: 231 pounds
Age: 22
From: Richmond, MO
Breakdown
Big, productive inside linebacker lacking the athletic traits to make enough plays on the next level. Elliott has earned praise for his exceptional work ethic and football character. His instincts and reaction time are average, though. He can be heavy-handed when taking on blocks and his execution is inconsistent. His pursuit speed to the sideline is too heavy-footed in pass coverage and as an open-field tackler. His pathway will need to be as a physical thumper who can star on special teams. — Lance Zierlein
Dane Brugler’s Scouting Report
A two-year starter at Arizona State (and for three-and-a-half years overall), Elliott wore the green dot as the Mike linebacker in defensive coordinator Brian Ward’s 4-2-5 base scheme. He was in the same signing class as Diego Pavia at New Mexico State, then transferred to play for the Sun Devils his final two seasons. He combined for more than 300 career tackles and was the only player from a power conference in 2025 with 90-plus tackles, 14-plus tackles for loss and seven-plus sacks.
Elliott has good size and speed for the position, with the read-react instincts to trigger and go. A high school quarterback, he does a great job picking up on pre-snap clues and meets contact with violence as a downhill tackler. In coverage, he has functional athleticism but needs to see things faster. He was the heart of the linebacker room (Arizona State’s LBs called themselves the “Werewolves”), and his uplifting leadership style will translate well to the league.
They Said It
“He is a high-end intangible player. He’s smart and instinctive. He wore the green dot for them in Arizona State. Works hard. Everything you want in a player, especially in day three of the draft. So, we’re really happy to have him, really passionate about the game and he is elite. He has the kind of intangibles and makeup, as far as signature traits.” — West Coast Area Scout Reese Hicks
RAS card
Grade: B-
The grade is not indicative of Elliott’s talent, it’s the fact that the Bears take a player at a position that is filled with veteran talent and will be difficult for the rookie linebacker to crack the lineup. While starting jobs are not handed out to fifth-round talents, or most rookies for that matter, Elliott is going to have to earn his opportunity at playing time, likely on special teams, where he did not play in the college level. His talent is there, totaling 7.0 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the 2025 season, but it’s a pick that is a bit interesting given that the Bears have elected not to address the defensive line. — Mike Pendleton
Highlights
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Keyshaun Elliott
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
