Bears Draft Linebacker Elliott for Defense

0:00On April 25th, Chicago Bears just beefed up their defense in the 2026 NFL Draft, grabbing linebacker Kishan Elliott from Arizona State, with the 166 overall pick. This marks their third defender taken, after safety Dylan Thineman at 25th overall in the first round and cornerback Malik Muhammad, whom they traded up for at the 124th pick. Here this week, the Bears went heavy on offense in rounds two and three, but swung back to defense with these moves to build depth. The linebacker spot a stack with vets like TJ Edwards, Demarco Jackson, Devon Bush, and Jack Sanborn, plus last year's fourth rounder, Rubin. Hip a light the second. Elliott brings youth to the group and could shine on special teams while grinding for snaps. Analysts gave this pick a B-grade, not knocking Elliott's skills. He racked up 7 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season, but the Crowder Room means he'll battle for time, likely starting on specials despite no college experience there.

1:03Meanwhile, the defensive line still needs work. Bears fans will watch how this rookie jails in a competitive setup, setting the stage for training camp battles ahead. This has been NFL News Today, powered by AI.