The Chicago Bears rounded out their 2026 NFL Draft class with the selection of defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg. The Georgia Tech product was their third of three picks from Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Let’s get to know the newest defensive lineman on Chicago’s roster by learning about his past and where he projects to go in the future.
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JORDAN VAN DEN BERG (ROUND 6, PICK 213)
Position: Defensive Tackle College: Georgia Tech (2024-25), Penn State (2021-23) Measurables: 6’3″, 310 pounds, 32 1/3″ arms, 9 3/8″ hands Accomplishments: First-team All-ACC (2025), Second-team All-ACC (2024) Jordan van den Berg reacts after a tackle against Syracuse at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesThere was no shortage of external hope (and probably internal, as well) that a defensive lineman would have been added to the mix earlier than the sixth round, but that’s not the way things shook out for the Bears. Instead, Chicago added defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg with their final selection of the draft after packaging Nos. 239, 241 in a trade for No. 213.
MORE: Instant Analysis of the Jordan van den Berg Pick
HIGHLIGHTS
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, NFL PLAYER COMP
via NFL Draft profile
STRENGTHS
Displayed rare blend of quickness, explosiveness and power at pro day. Plays with consistent effort on every snap. Good conversion of weight-room power into functional football strength. Uses active hands to improve his positioning against run blocks. Quick first step creates opportunities to beat guards around the edge. Agility/burst to track and close on QBs/ball-carriers.WEAKNESSES
Needs to improve block take-on consistency. Has shed strength but lack of length can slow the execution. Needs to develop his hand-fighting to unlock more rush potential. Short arms allow sacks/tackles to slip from his grasp on occasion.NFL COMPARISON: N/A
From NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein:
Jordan van den Berg began to hit his stride at Georgia Tech in 2024 after three quiet years as a backup at Penn State. Elite testing numbers at his pro day will send scouts back to the tape for further evaluation. He possesses disruptive first-step quickness and heavy hands to beat blocks. He carries average mass and below-average length. He needs to prove he can take on NFL blockers at the point of attack. The career production looks a little light on paper, but van den Berg appears to possess translatable traits that could entice a team with a one-gapping defensive front to draft him on Day 3.
Here’s what Matt Rooney had to say about the Jordan van den Berg selection over the weekend:
This sounds like a prototypical Dennis Allen defensive tackle. Slightly undersized, but fast, powerful, explosive, and disruptive in the middle of the defensive line. He’ll probably have to add a little size, and his length might give him issues, but his athleticism, motor, and quickness will give him a chance to make an impact at the NFL level.
Of course, as a 6th Rounder, he might need a little time to develop. But the traits and the work ethic appear to be there. He may not be the high-end, top-tier defensive lineman many of us hoped for, but he seems like a very nice selection to round out the Bears’ 2026 NFL Draft class, who will have a chance to make an impact early, and who has plenty of room to grow.
RELATIVE ATHLETIC SCORE
Relative Athletic Score grades player measurements on a 0-10 scale and compares them to their contemporaries. It is a unique way to provide some of these prospects with additional depth and perspective.
Jordan Van den Berg was drafted in round 6 with pick 213 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 2278 DT from 1987 to 2026. t.co/iW4K4xO8ZS pic.twitter.com/jestNjaHJp
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026WHERE HE FITS
Jordan van den Berg’s elite testing numbers at Georgia Tech’s pro day track with Chicago’s push for athleticism throughout the entire 2026 NFL Draft. Despite being a sixth-year senior, who’s only been a starter for the last two seasons after transferring from Penn State to Georgia Tech, van den Berg brings an insanely athletic profile and good size for a three-technique interior defensive lineman to a position group with no shortage of question marks.
Jordan van den Berg (99) rushes the passer against the Temple Owls in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesGrady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Kentavious Street, James Lynch, and Neville Gallimore are among the names ahead of the rookie on the depth chart heading into camp. But none of those names instill a bunch of confidence, making it plausible that van den Berg can earn his way into a rotational role at some point this season.
CHICAGO BEARS 2026 NFL DRAFT CLASS — EVERY PLAYER, EVERY PICK
What he lacks in length, he makes up for it in motor, finishing the 2025 season with three sacks and 42 tackles at Georgia Tech on his way to a First-team All-ACC selection. van den Berg earned a 73.9 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 156th among 887 qualified interior defensive linemen. His pass rush grade and production leave plenty to be desired, but his 79.5 run defense grade at PFF ranked 95th out of 887 qualified interior defensive linemen.
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