Bears traded up up with the Bills to select Georgia Tech DT Jordan van den Berg with the No. 213 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

25 April 2026

Van den Berg (6’3/310) played linebacker in high school and then defensive end at Iowa Western Community College in the spring of 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the fall season. He moved to defensive tackle upon transferring to Penn State, where he would spend three seasons as a reserve. Van den Berg finally earned a starting role after transferring to Georgia Tech. He exploded in his second season as a Yellojacket, logging 11 TFLs and three sacks. Even after earning First Team-Team All-ACC honors, van den Berg was not extended an invite to the 2026 NFL Combine. At his Pro Day, van den Berg ran a 4.94 40 with a 9’11” broad jump and a 36” vertical. He also clocked a 4.19-second short shuttle and 35 bench press reps, meaning he would have logged a top-two mark in four different drills at the NFL Combine. All in, his 10.00 RAS is the second-best of all time, trailing only Eagles DT Jordan Davis. Van den Berg looks the part of an elite athlete on tape, beating linemen with an array of power and finesse moves. Already 24 years old, van den Berg may be entering the NFL as a complete product, but his blend of athleticism and 2025 production points to a potential starter in the pros. The Bears acquired the No. 213 overall pick from the Bills in exchange for the Nos. 239 and 241 overall picks.