Get to know the Chicago Bears’ 7 rookies before training camp begins

· Yahoo Sports

The Chicago Bears selected seven players in the NFL draft this year. Get to know the rookies before training camp starts.

Want the latest Bears news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune to read it all — and sign up for our Bears Insider newsletter.

Visit rouesnews.click for more information.

Round 1, No. 25: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman

Dillon Thieneman may be a rookie, but the Bears safety has an opportunity to be a tone-setter on the field and in the locker room — and that’s by design.

General manager Ryan Poles likened Thieneman’s character to that of tight end Colston Loveland, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2025.

“The work ethic, that passion for ball was off the charts (with Thieneman),” Poles said. “We grade on a scale of 1-9. … There’s a lot of 7s and 8s when you look across this guy’s character.” Read more here.

Round 2, No. 57: Iowa center Logan Jones

The Bears believe they found their center of the future.

They selected Logan Jones out of Iowa with a second-round draft pick in April. Jones probably won’t start right away, but he’s expected to take over the job eventually.

The franchise has been trying to find a long-term answer at center for years. General manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson believe Jones will be that answer. Read more here.

Round 3, No. 69: Stanford tight end Sam Roush

Sam Roush might become one of the Bears’ most important offensive acquisitions that you’ll hardly hear about during the season.

The third-round pick likely will have a complex role in coach Ben Johnson’s offense, at times playing alongside fellow tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Read more here.

Round 3, No. 89: LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas

Ben Johnson wanted speed.

Zavion Thomas can provide it. It’s not hard to see what the Bears coach likes in the rookie wide receiver, selected in the third round of the NFL draft.

With Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond and Jahdae Walker looking like the top options at receiver, it might be an uphill battle for Thomas to see touches as a rookie. But Johnson is intrigued by Thomas’ abilities as a returner and a unique piece within the offense. Read more here.

Round 4, No. 124: Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad II

Perhaps it’s too much pressure to place on a rookie, but Bears cornerback Malik Muhammad II joins a secondary that has a tough act to follow from last season.

Twenty-three of the Bears’ league-leading 33 takeaways were secured by a defensive back, including safety Kevin Byard III’s NFL-high seven interceptions and cornerback Nahshon Wright’s top-ranked eight takeaways. Both, among others, left in free agency.

Despite Muhammad’s lack of experience, he could play a large role in a thoroughly reshaped secondary. Read more here.

Round 5, No. 166: Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott

The first thing that comes to mind for Arizona State linebackers coach A.J. Cooper when he thinks of Keyshaun Elliott is his football intelligence.

“You’re talking about a guy who’s a former high school quarterback,” Cooper said. “Just his ability to understand concepts, whether it’s defensively or offensively. That’s what’s fun about him.”

The Bears saw that football IQ on full display during Elliott’s two years at Arizona State. They believe it will translate well to the next level for a player who should make an immediate impact on special teams. Read more here.

Round 6, No. 213: Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg

Jordan van den Berg hopes to become more than just a novelty.

He’s one of a handful of South Africans to make it to the NFL, he grew up playing rugby, cricket, basketball and baseball — seemingly everything but football — and he owns a laundromat.

But he hasn’t secured his biggest goals yet: sticking on an NFL roster and making the Bears defensive tackle rotation. Read more here.

Read full story at source