Chicago Bears Secret 22-Year-Old Tight End Primed for Huge 2026
The Chicago Bears have completed OTAs this offseason and will kick off training camp next month in late July. The Bears have directed a lot of attention their way this year, whether it’s new stadium search updates or changes to the roster. After nearly making the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2011 last season, more eyes are on the team to push further this year, with head coach Ben Johnson leading. The 2026 NFL Draft was a controversial one for Chicago, with many fans feeling like they took players at positions they didn’t necessarily need in comparison to other spots on the roster. One of the Bears’ biggest shockers was in the third round, where they selected Stanford tight end Sam Roush.
The 69th overall pick was an excellent collegiate player, earning Second-Team All-ACC honors. Last season for Stanford, Roush earned 545 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Roush, standing at 267 pounds, put on an impressive NFL Combine performance as well. He was one of just a few players to compete in every single event, running a 4.70, 40-yard dash, and a 38.5 vertical jump. Roush’s vertical jump was the best among tight ends under 265 pounds. While impressive for his ability to get open on the field and for his combine performance, the Bears saw his draft stock much higher because of his blocking skills.
The Bears’ offense relies heavily on multiple tight end sets. They currently have tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland, two reliable weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams. Roush joining the team adds another big body on the field to block for the rushing attack, or a secret weapon for Williams to find in open space. The star quarterback has already stated that Roush impressed in OTAs and that the league has no idea that he’ll have a third star tight end on the field to support him. The former Stanford tight end’s role this season will be to complement both Kmet and Loveland and be more in the trenches. The Bears will have the luxury of one of the most dangerous tight end rooms in the league, and the best part for them is that no one is preparing for one of them just yet.
