The Chicago Bears welcomed seven new rookies to the roster during the 2026 NFL Draft, which included first-round safety Dillon Thieneman, who was considered a steal at 25th overall.
Chicago also added some new offensive pieces for Ben Johnson with center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush and wide receiver Zavion Thomas, while adding some new defensive players in cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. While it’s not the flashiest class, it’s one assembled by Johnson and GM Ryan Poles that one analyst believes will be the thing to get the Bears to the Super Bowl.
Over the next few days, our Bears Wire staff will be sharing their thoughts about the 2026 rookie class. Next up: We’re discussing the best value pick of the draft, where there was one player who was an overwhelming winner.
Alyssa Barbieri: CB Malik Muhammad
The Bears got a steal in the fourth round, trading up for Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad. Many draft analysts had Muhammad ranked as a Top 100 prospect, and Chicago managed to snag him at 124th overall. That’s incredible value at a premium position with a question mark opposite Jaylon Johnson on the outside. Muhammad, who’s just 21, fits what the Bears have been looking for on defense — speed, instincts, athleticism and competitiveness.
Muhammad has the opportunity to compete for the starting job opposite Johnson immediately as a rookie, where Tyrique Stevenson is currently the favorite to retain the job. It also helps that defensive backs coach Al Harris is still in place, where he’ll be able to maximize Muhammad’s potential almost immediately after taking Nahshon Wright from relative unknown and turning him into a Pro Bowler last season.
Brendan Sugrue: CB Malik Muhammad
In the days leading up to the draft, I became convinced that the Bears would target a cornerback early on to help shore up their changing secondary. While they opted to go in different directions in the first three rounds, selecting cornerback Malik Muhammad was easily the best value considering he was a borderline top 100 player across the board and someone who can push veterans such as Tyrique Stevenson.
Muhammad, like Thieneman, brings both talent and intangibles to the secondary. He’s a bit small as of now (6 feet, 182 pounds) and can get handsy, but he makes the most of his frame by consistently adjusting to receivers and barreling down on run defense as well. Muhammad should push to become a starter early on, and if he can bulk up a bit, he’s likely to turn some heads when training camp rolls around.
Mike Pendleton: C Logan Jones
His talent may not grade out to be one, but Logan Jones’ could have the impact of a legitimate first-round talent given the franchise he’s landed with and the importance of the position under Ben Johnson’s offense. The Bears had quite the season in 2025 and while their offensive line was revamped, a lot of the credit came down to Drew Dalman who had an abrupt retirement this offseason. Jones comes in as a second round pick who many believe can challenge for the starting job as a rookie over veteran Garrett Bradbury, and he’s coming off quite the run at the University of Iowa.
Winning the Rimington Trophy for the nation’s best center in college football last season, Jones replaced NFL standout Tyler Linderbaum for the Hawkeyes and didn’t miss a beat. He’s strong, physical, and a great fit for the scheme fit under Johnson’s offense, but there’s also his mindset that his relationship with his quarterback is of the utmost importance and will do everything it takes to make that the smoothest chemistry possible.
There were some very valuable picks for Chicago in this year’s class, but Logan Jones could stabilize the center position for a franchise that has been missing a stalwart at the spot since Olin Kreutz.
Vincent Parise: CB Malik Muhammad
Like the first selection, cornerback Malik Muhammad may be the unanimous answer for “best value pick” as well. He was someone who could have gone in any of the middle rounds, but he fell to the fifth round when the Chicago Bears finally drafted him. He was one shiny spot on a mostly lousy Texas defense, and now he is a highly motivated player with a chip on his shoulder. Expect Muhammad to come to camp looking to impress and earn lots of snaps throughout the 2026 season. With some of the other talent that the Bears have in the secondary, Muhammad will be put in a great position to succeed.
Preston Zbroszczyk: CB Malik Muhammad
The Bears moved up five spots for Malik Muhammad in the fourth round and got a player who was a consensus No. 104 best player in the draft in the fourth round. Muhammad fills in as a lengthy, disciplined cornerback who could see playing time this season, but more importantly with one year left on Tyrique Stevenson contract Chicago may have found a replacement.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears’ best value picks from the 2026 NFL Draft class
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Brendan Sugrue, Mike Pendleton, Vincent Parise and Preston Zbroszczyk , Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
