The Chicago Bears are loaded at a lot of positions on the roster going into the 2026 season, but one group might be a bit too crowded for anyone to have a shot at making it.
Since the NFL Draft, there has not been a lot of debate about what was going to happen at tight end and who would make the team. Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and rookie Sam Roush feel like the clear-cut selections to make the 53-man roster at the end of August.
That doesn't mean the position should go unnoticed, as there are some talented guys in the group. One undrafted free agent might be able to make some noise, but OTAs shut that down big time.
Hayden Large won't make the Bears roster despite being talented
Large had a solid college career despite not having the stats to really show off his great work. He finished his career at Iowa with 14 receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons.
Clearly, Large is more known as a blocking tight end and was one of the strongest players in the NFL Draft at doing that. He helped the Hawkeyes consistently field one of the top rushing attacks in the nation with his run-blocking skills.
He has shown versatility in any offense, as he can line up as a tight end or a fullback. Large has even been praised as a vocal leader in the Iowa locker room, proving that he puts the team over himself.
During OTAs, there wasn't much buzz around most of the tight ends outside of Loveland, Kmet, and Roush. Loveland was making great plays in the passing game; Kmet was shown on trick plays, including 50-yard passes down the field, and Roush was proving his worth in the blocking game.
The Bears have their tight end room set with the top three on the depth chart, but Large has a lot of work to do. He will have to make his biggest mark on special teams and help on kickoff and punt coverages.
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There is a high chance that Large does not make the Bears' 53-man roster, and OTAs reinforced that fact. Large still has an opportunity to show the team that he can do so much as a versatile weapon and potentially be a good fit for the practice squad.
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