Bears Draft Pick Sam Roush Speaks to Media After Third-Round Selection in 2026 NFL Draft
- The Chicago Bears selected Stanford tight end Sam Roush with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing a need for depth...
- Roush, a 6-foot-6, 267-pound three-year starter for the Cardinal, appeared in 48 games over four seasons, recording 119 receptions for 1,201 yards and four touchdowns.
- The Bears acquired the 69th pick by trading their original 60th selection in the second round to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the 69th pick and a...
The Chicago Bears selected Stanford tight end Sam Roush with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing a need for depth in their tight end room following the departure of Durham Smythe.
Roush, a 6-foot-6, 267-pound three-year starter for the Cardinal, appeared in 48 games over four seasons, recording 119 receptions for 1,201 yards and four touchdowns. In his final season at Stanford, he earned second-team All-ACC honors after posting career highs of 49 receptions, 545 yards, and two touchdowns.
The Bears acquired the 69th pick by trading their original 60th selection in the second round to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the 69th pick and a fifth-round choice (No. 144). General manager Ryan Poles described Roush as a strong fit for the team’s frequent use of 12 and 13 personnel groupings, which involve multiple tight ends.
“We’ll have a really strong room there,” Poles said. “I think we’re top five in both of those personnel groups. That was important to us to add a ‘Y’ (inline tight end) to the group.”
Head coach Ben Johnson emphasized the value of depth at the position, noting that even with veterans Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland playing nearly every game in 2025, third tight end Durham Smythe still logged 293 snaps — 25% of the team’s offensive total. Johnson reportedly favors having multiple tight ends available, with Poles quoting him as saying, “the more the merrier in that tight end room.”
Roush is expected to compete for the snaps vacated by Smythe, who played 239 snaps (25.3% of offensive snaps) for the Bears in 2025 before departing in free agency. The team views Roush as a blocker-first tight end capable of contributing in both the running and passing games within Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme.
Roush addressed the media at Halas Hall on Saturday, April 25, 2026, following his selection, speaking about his football background and readiness to contribute to the Bears’ offense.