Chicago Bears fans were completely thrown off guard regarding the team selecting Stanford tight end Sam Roush in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It was nothing against Roush's talent level, but with Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet already there, some questioned how much the rookie could do in his first year in the NFL. ESPN NFL analyst Field Yates thinks that Roush is going to be a Day 1 impact player on the Bears in 2026.
"Roush has an assortment of tight end skills, being a premium athlete for his 6-foot-5, 260-pound size," Yates said. "He figures to assume the valuable TE3 role that Durham Smythe played for the Bears last season, along with being a major special teams factor. Roush should see the field plenty considering that Smythe played 25% of Chicago's offensive snaps and 50% of its special teams snaps in 2025."
Field Yates gives Bears fans encouraging analysis on Sam Roush
Every NFL draft analyst saw Roush as the best blocking tight end in the NFL, but he has the ability to be a good receiver as well. Last year with the Cardinal, he had 49 receptions for 545 yards and two touchdowns.
The reality is, Kmet is one foot out the door in Chicago, which could happen either sometime in 2026 or next offseason. Despite that, he will still be used in the passing game with Loveland.
Roush will be a key figure in the running game, helping create more running lanes for the number-three rushing unit in 2025. If he can develop further, he looks like the clear future backup tight end to Loveland.
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Last year, the Bears struggled to get the tight ends going until late in the season, but Kmet and Loveland ended up being massive impact players. If Roush gets enough playing time, the Bears might run more 13 personnel and could legitimately have the best tight end room in the NFL.
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