The Chicago Bears ' final pick of the 2026 draft was also one of their best.
On Day 3, the Bears traded two seventh-round picks (Nos. 239, 241 overall) to the Buffalo Bills for a late sixth-round selection (No. 213), which they used to select defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg, a 2025 first-team All-ACC selection from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
While Chicago added several veterans to the unit during free agency, the rookie's youth, production history, and rare athleticism give him a realistic chance of earning a spot in the defensive tackle rotation early in his career.
In 2025, Van den Berg, who began his collegiate career at Penn St (2021-23), had three sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He was an elite run-defender, with analyst Brett Kollmann noting on social media that his average depth of tackle on rush plays was 0.11 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
The Bears were susceptible to the run a season ago, allowing 5.0 yards per carry, which ranked No. 29 in the league. Per NFL Pro data , opponents gained 1.89 yards before contact per attempt, the second-highest in the league, trailing only the New York Giants .
Van den Berg also has one of the most impressive athletic profiles on record for a player at his position, receiving a perfect 10 Relative Athletic Score and ranking No. 2 out of 2,287 defensive tackles from 1987-2026
Ahead of the draft, the Bears emphasized defensive tackle in free agency , signing veterans Kentavius Street , Neville Gallimore , and James Lynch. They join 2023 second-rounder Gervon Dexter Sr., who had a career-high six sacks in 2025, and 11-year veteran Grady Jarrett , who disappointed in the first year of a three-year, $42.75M contract signed last offseason.
None of the previous signings can match Van den Berg's athleticism, which Bears national scout Brendan Rehor told the official team website was a point of emphasis in assessing his potential.
"Our coaches have been pounding the table for this kid for a long time, really the last two weeks," Rehor said. "Our biggest goal going into this week was to get faster or more explosive on defense. I think this kid kind of fits that, what we want to do."
In its evaluation of Van den Berg, Sports Info Solutions , which ranked him as the No. 15 defensive tackle prospect in the 2026 class, credited his "lightning-quick get off and relentless pursuit" while cautioning his "play strength, pass rush consistency and body control" must improve to move beyond being "a depth-level rotational player at the next level."
But for what Van den Berg already brings to the table, he has plenty to offer at a position that's seen plenty of movement this offseason. Chicago's decision to trade up for him -even if it did only cost two seventh-rounders - shows the organization has a vision for the 6-foot-3, 310-pound lineman.
Van den Berg could make more noise than the typical sixth-rounder. One look at his tape reveals he's an atypical prospect. With a big training camp and preseason, he may give the Bears no choice but to make him a key part of their defense.
This article was originally published on www.dawindycity.com as Bears' Late-Round Pick More Dangerous Than Most Think .
