Bears selected Stanford TE Sam Roush with the No. 69 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

25 April 2026

A true tight end’s tight end, Roush (6’6/267), does a little bit of everything without one elite trait. He peaked at 49 catches for 545 yards and two scores as a senior. Those two scores make up half of his collegiate touchdowns. The low scoring total could, in part, be explained by Roush’s struggles on contested targets, of which he secured just 47 percent. Roush isn’t a mauling blocker, but he handled his business in the trenches at Stanford and his massive frame will make the NFL transition a bit easier. His elite athletic measurable — highlighted by a 4.7 40 — will also make the leap to pro completion more manageable. Roush simply needs to play to his size more as a blocker and at the catch point. He will begin his career behind Cole Kmet and Coleston Loveland. Roush won’t be a threat to Loveland, but he could take on Kmet’s role as a blocker and TE2 in Chicago after 2026.