Chicago Bears: News, Roster, Depth Chart and Analysis

The Chicago Bears have added Stanford tight end Sam Roush to their roster, selecting him with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25, 2026. The move introduces a new dynamic to a tight end room already featuring veteran Cole Kmet and 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland.

The selection of a third-round tight end was viewed as a surprise given the team’s existing investments in the position. However, General Manager Ryan Poles indicated that the move is driven by the offensive scheme implemented by head coach Ben Johnson. According to Poles, the Bears were among the top five teams in the league for 12 and 13 personnel usage in 2025, a strategy that relies on utilizing multiple tight ends in various roles across the formation.

Strategic Role of Sam Roush

Roush is expected to fill a specific void left by the departure of veteran Durham Smythe, who served as a key run blocker for the offense. Analysis of Roush’s collegiate performance highlights him as an effective in-line blocker with significant athletic upside. His physical profile includes a height of 6’6” and a weight of 267 pounds, with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.94.

During the 2025 season at Stanford, Roush recorded 49 receptions—ranking fifth among all FBS tight ends—for 545 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He also earned second-team All-ACC honors and posted a PFSN TE Impact Score of 83.9, also ranking fifth in that category.

Impact on Cole Kmet

The arrival of Roush has raised questions regarding the long-term future of Cole Kmet in Chicago. Despite the draft pick, Ryan Poles stated that Kmet’s immediate status with the team remains unchanged.

We do a good job, between Ben and I, we communicate really well just to give those guys a heads up and let them know what the role and situation is. Nothing changes for Cole. Our feelings for Cole doesn’t change.

Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears General Manager

While Kmet’s role for the 2026 season is secure, his financial trajectory suggests a more complex future. The Bears recently restructured Kmet’s contract, converting $7.65 million of his 2026 salary into a bonus, which lowered his current cap number to $7.775 million. This maneuver, however, increases his projected cap hit for the 2027 season to $15.425 million, which is the final year of his current contract.

Financial analysts note that trading or releasing Kmet after the 2026 season would result in a $10 million savings for the team. This creates a scenario where Roush’s performance as a rookie could influence the team’s decision on whether to retain Kmet or move toward a younger core of tight ends consisting of Roush and Loveland.

Broader Roster Developments

The selection of Roush was part of a broader effort by Ben Johnson to bolster the offensive side of the ball during Day 2 of the draft. Other key additions included center Logan Jones and wide receiver Zavion Thomas. The team’s 2026 draft class is characterized by a high emphasis on speed and athleticism, with some reports describing it as one of the most athletic groups in NFL history based on RAS grading.

As the Bears move toward the 2026 season, the tight end rotation will likely be used to maximize both run-blocking efficiency and passing game versatility, with Roush providing a traditional Y-tight end presence to complement the skill sets of Loveland and Kmet.