Jordan van den Berg is starting to look like one of the best value picks in the Bears’ draft.
That’s a big leap for a sixth-round rookie, but the early returns have been hard to ignore. Chicago needed help inside on the defensive line, and van den Berg has already shown enough in training camp and through two preseason games to suggest the Bears may have landed a real difference-maker.
Even in an ugly blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, his performance stood out. The tape gives Chicago a reason to be encouraged, and if this keeps up, a starting job won’t be far off.
Van den Berg opened his preseason in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns with one tackle and one quarterback hit. Most of that work came against third-stringers, but he handled his assignment well and looked comfortable doing it.
He raised the bar in Week 2, where he was the lone bright spot in the 27-9 loss. Per Pro Football Focus, he finished with three tackles, including two solo stops, along with two pressures and two run stops. He also graded as the Bears’ top defensive player at 90.9.
That kind of impact matches the traits that made him intriguing in the first place. His athleticism stood out at Georgia Tech, even if his slow get-off raised some questions. So far in the pros, he’s looked much more explosive, and his strength has made him difficult to handle.
Van den Berg finished his final college season with 11 tackles for a loss, and his instincts have shown up too. He reads plays well, anticipates action quickly, and if the more explosive first step sticks, that pass-rush upside becomes a lot more real.
The timing matters for Chicago. The Bears need more help in the trenches, Grady Jarrett is aging and didn’t have a good first season in the Windy City, and there isn’t much depth next to Gervon Dexter Jr., who remains the team’s only consistent contributor there.
So the question around van den Berg has shifted fast. It’s no longer about whether he’ll make the roster.
It’s about how big a role he can claim. He came into the league as a raw, overlooked developmental prospect.
Now he looks like one of the Bears’ most promising young defensive players.
In Other News...
Bears Fans Have Every Right To Be Mad About This TE Disrespect
ESPNs Mike Clay dropped his tight end rankings and gave the Bears group a spot at No. 6, placing Chicago behind the Raiders, Cardinals, Lions, 49ers and Colts. For a room led by Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, with rookie Sam Roush adding another layer of depth, it felt like the kind of ranking that immediately gets noticed around here, especially when the Bears believe this is one of the more intriguing collections of tight ends in the league.
Lovelands strong playoff showing only adds to the case that this group deserves more respect, while Kmet still looks like a player who could rebound after a quiet offseason stretch of change around him. The Bears have real talent and flexibility at the position, and the debate now is less about whether the group belongs in the conversation than how high it should have been placed in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Left Tackle Battle Could End Badly For Recent Top Pick
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Now the left tackle competition is tightening again as other players return from injury and re-enter the fight for snaps. With the NFL roster deadline coming into view, Amegadjie is suddenly looking like one of the more vulnerable names on the roster, which is not where a recent top pick wants to be heading into the final decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Bears May Need One More Tackle To Protect Caleb Williams
Ozzy Trapilos progress has given the Bears at least a little breathing room up front, with the young lineman recovering ahead of schedule and already getting into individual drills. Even so, Chicago is taking a measured approach with his return, which keeps the conversation alive about whether the offensive line could use another body before the protection picture settles around Caleb Williams.
One name that has surfaced is Dawand Jones, a Browns lineman who could become available if he does not stick on Clevelands roster. Jones brings experience at multiple spots along the line, which makes him an appealing depth possibility for a team looking for insurance, though his recent injury history has been a concern after multiple season-ending setbacks in recent years. [Read more 🡒]