Bears rookie ready to become Grady Jarrett clone Chicago needs him to be

The Chicago Bears selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg with the 213th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While that seems like a long shot to become a great player, there are examples of players taken late who turned into solid players. Grady Jarrett was not taken quite as late, but he was drafted with the 137th overall pick and went on to make an All-Pro team during a strong career. Van den Berg is trying to become like Jarrett in more ways than one.

When asked about a player he studies, he mentioned that Jarrett is someone he has always watched and looked up to as a player he tried to be like.

"I can't wait to absorb all that information from him," Berg said via The Score's Chris Emma.

Recent Chicago Bears draft pick emulates his game from a current Bears player

One of the reasons van den Berg fell so far in the draft is that he is still new to the game of football, and he transferred from a small school to Georgia Tech, so he has limited experience against legitimate college athletes. So, the players he watches, studies, and tries to be like are valuable as he shapes himself into the player he hopes to become.

Jarrett is a smart player to look at. First, they both were later-round picks. Second, they both have similar traits. While van den Berg is a bit taller, but are overall built shorter and more stout. Also, both are explosive from their lower half.

The big difference is that Jarrett is much more refined in his movements. His feet are tighter, quicker, and smoother. Plus, he knows how to win with his hands. While these are things that van den Berg can learn over time, they are not a part of his arsenal right now. However, getting this time to work with Jarrett is what can bring out that late-round flier.

This could also turn around Jarrett's trajectory in Chicago. He was a disappointment last year, and it looks like his great days in Atlanta are behind him. However, he is smart and a team-first player. If he can mentor van den Berg during his last year with the team, and then the rookie becomes an actual hit, a lot of fans will forget about his play on the field and focus more on what he unlocked for Chicago in the future.

This could be a great win for both Jarrett and van den Berg.

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