One thing the Chicago Bears have done well over the last few years is draft some great young talent to build the roster around.
That has been especially seen with the offense, thanks to the addition of multiple players in the early rounds of the draft. Chicago has focused on making sure the future is bright on offense, with this season being the first where the defense is starting to get a bit more attention.
There are five players on the Bears who the team has selected over the last three years who should be considered pieces of the team that need to be on the roster for years to come if they want to be successful. Here's a look at the five most important ones.
5 players Bears need to have apart of their future plans beyond 2026
Luther Burden III, WR
The Bears have something special in Burden, as he has already shown off the breakaway speed that he possesses on the field. It was not the best start for him, with multiple games featuring negative yards, but by the end he was one of the top receivers on the team, one of the four to finish over 650 yards on the year. Burden got a ton of buzz around him at OTAs, leaving many to believe 2026 is going to be the year he proves that he's the future at wide receiver for the Bears.
Dillon Thieneman, S
There are not many from the Bears' defense who are considered pieces that must be on the roster no matter what, but even without playing a down, Thieneman is so important to the franchise's future. His versatility is something Bears fans have not seen in a defender in a long time, and he will play a different role, wearing many hats on defense. Thieneman's potential is through the roof, and he needs to be here for a long time.
Colston Loveland, TE
Loveland was so impressive last year despite a slow start, finishing with 713 yards and six touchdowns, both team-leading totals. He became Caleb Williams' favorite target in the passing game, which could be very important for the future. The Bears have a lot of young pass catchers, and each of them plays their own role, especially Loveland.
Kyle Monangai, RB
No one saw Monangai coming, but he lowered his head and racked up 783 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season after being selected in the seventh round. D'Andre Swift has an uncertain future with the Bears, but Monangai might end up being the number one back after the 2026 season. Chicago will make sure to keep this back around for a long time, as he helped propel this running game to new heights.
Read more: Bears' most promising player is obvious (but improvement is needed
Caleb Williams, QB
Of course, Williams has to be included on this list as he is on the verge of becoming a megastar in the NFL. After breaking the franchise record for passing yards and leading the Bears to the playoffs, Williams saw himself on the cover of Madden 27 and is already being talked about for a new contract extension soon. He's being considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, so a future without Williams is a gloomy one for the Bears.
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