The Chicago Bears saw the clock strike zero in the 24-15 preseason finale win over the Tennessee Titans, which only means one thing: it's time to finalize the 53-man roster.
After a long night of work, Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson got this roster down to just 53 players. Among these 53 players are some of the best talent in the NFL and can make an immediate impact on the team.
Which of the 53 players are the best on the team? Here is a full ranking of every player on the team.
Full ranking of Bears' 53-man roster in 2026
- The Happy to Just Be in Chicago
- The Important Key Reserves
- The Best of the Rest of the Top Half
- The Impact Players
- The Superstars
The Happy to Just Be in Chicago
53. Beau Gardner, LS
No disrespect to all long snappers, but Gardner has more to prove in 2026. As a rookie, he needs to earn his spot in the rankings before he can be considered among the best.
52. Clark Phillips III, CB
Phillips has been banged up, so he's got a lot to prove to the Bears after being apart of the trade with Gervon Dexter. Still, Phillips should made for a good depth piece in the secondary.
51. Hayden Large, TE
Primarily a blocking tight end, Large surprised many by making the team, but he can be a big help in the running game and help on special teams.
50. Jayden Loving, DT
Loving was a surprise to make the team, but he worked his way onto the roster with some great play in the preseason. He should be a bench guy who only plays if injuries happen.
49. Skyler Thomas, S
Thomas got an interception in the preseason and played well in the last two games. He's a depth piece to a position group with a lot of injuries.
48. Keyshaun Elliott, LB
Elliott missed a lot of training camp, so there is some mystery to the rookie. Still, he could help on special teams and learn how to be an NFL linebacker from the sidelines in 2026.
47. Jamree Kromah, DE
Kromah had two sacks in the first preseason game and one more in the last against the Titans. He is an intruging prospect who took advantage of his preseason performance to make the roster.
46. Luke Newman, OG
Newman has been a depth player for awhile and hasn't played much on the field. Still, he has looked good in preseason to help him land on the roster again.
45. Kentavius Street, DT
Street got a roster spot because of the Dexter trade, but he still makes for a good depth piece to the line. He could see some action on defense in 2026.
44. Elijah Hicks, S
Hicks needs to stay healthy and he can be an impact player on this team. More work for him on special teams if he can be 100% for the regular season.
43. Theo Benedet, OT
Benedet is a terrific run blocker, but struggles in pass protection. He makes for a solid depth piece that can start games if he needs to.
42. Roschon Johnson, RB
Johnson sneaked by on the roster after beating out Salvon Ahmed for the RB3 job. While his vision gets questioned, Johnson is a very good power back who can make for a depth piece at the position.
The Important Key Reserves
41. Braxton Jones, LT
Jones has seemed to regress in training camp, which was a surprise after all the offseason hype about him. Still, he is a solid player who can fill in when players get hurt.
40. Case Keenum, QB
Keenum is a long time veteran in this league, but he can still play at his age. He's the perfect third string quarterback who might even be able to start a game or two if needed.
39. Daniel Hardy, DE
Hardy is a great special teams player, but preseason showed his improvement as a pass rusher. Watch for him to potentially get some reps on the defensive line.
38. Josh Blackwell, CB
Blackwell struggled in coverage throughout preseason, but he is an elite special teams player. He can still make a massive impact on this team.
37. Malik Muhammad, CB
Muhammad shows a lot of promise and might be in line to start at nickel with Kyler Gordon hurt. The rookie fourth-round pick might go through some growing pains, but he's got a lot of potential to him.
36. Logan Jones, C
Jones also shows some promise for being the future starting center of this franchise. He will have a year to sit and learn from Garrett Bradbury, which will benefit the rookie second round pick.
35. Jordan McFadden, OG
McFadden doesn't get called on often, but his performance in the NFC Divisional Round last year against the Los Angeles Rams was awesome to watch. He is a great depth piece to the offensive line.
34. Sam Roush, TE
The rookie tight end is more than a blocker, as he was a great receiver for the team in preseason. He will no doubt be the future backup to Colston Loveland once Cole Kmet's contract expires or gets traded.
33. Tyson Bagent, QB
Bagent is a great quarterback who keeps getting better and better in Ben Johnson's offense. He is perfect for being Caleb Williams' backup in Chicago.
32. Zavion Thomas, WR
His 97-yard TD in the Titans preseason game should tell fans what they are getting in Thomas. All speed for him, which makes him a dangerous player on this roster if he plays often.
31. Neville Gallimore, DT
Gallimore has always been a solid backup defensive tackle in this league. That should still be the case with the Bears for him.
The Best of the Rest of the Top Half
30. Xavier Woods, S
Woods stood out in training camp and played well in the short time he's been in Chicago. He's competing for a starting job, but even if he doesn't win it, he's a great backup to have.
29. Cam Lewis, S
Lewis played well in the preseason and was signed for the reason that if the Bears needed someone to step in as a starter, he could do it. Well, that is a reality with Coby Bryant's injury.
28. Jahdae Walker, WR
As an undrafted rookie, Walker didn't play much, but he did catch two touchdowns in the last three weeks of the regular season. His touchdown catch against the Green Bay Packers shows the kind of potential he has to be a great receiver.
27. Garrett Bradbury, C
While is career shows an average starter in the NFL, Bradbury has been able to do a lot at his position. He's gotten a lot of praise from his teammates with how smart he is and how much control he has on the line.
26. Dayo Odeyingbo, DE
Odeyingbo's season-ending injury was the cherry on top of a cake that did not sit well in 2025 after just one sack in eight games. He's got a lot to prove to the fan base, but he can still get good pressure on the QB.
25. Cairo Santos, K
Santos has his stretches where he is consistent for weeks, but then will have a dud of a game. He has regressed over the last few seasons, but he can be a good kicker still.
24. D'Marco Jackson, LB
Jackson is a great tackler who has some work to do in pass coverage. Still, he will make for a very good rotational linebacker on this defense.
23. Tory Taylor, P
Taylor is a reliable punter who doesn't get enough credit for what he does. He should be able to continue that trend this season.
22. Jordan van den Berg, DT
Gervon Dexter Sr. got traded because van den Berg emerged as a starter after just being a sixth-round pick. The Bears are putting a lot of faith into the rookie, but he has earned it.
21. Austin Booker, DE
Booker's 4.5 sacks in the second half of the season shows that he's got potential to be a starter in this year. The Bears are hoping he can finally take that leap in 2026.
The Impact Players
20. Grady Jarrett, DT
Jarrett was a massive disappointement in 2025, but there is still hope that he can be good. He is the main guy at tackle now, so watch for him to be more impactful at stopping the run.
19. Tyrique Stevenson, CB
Stevenson has a lot to prove, so this might be too high of a ranking, but there is something there with him. In a prove it year, he has a chance to show he can be a starter in this league for a long time.
18. Kalif Raymond, WR
Raymond has shown off his great speed and he knows Ben Johnson's offense so well. He will be a great WR3 in this offense.
17. Cole Kmet, TE
His stats may be going down, but Kmet could be a starter for a lot of NFL teams. He is about as good as they come as a receiver at the position.
16. Ozzy Trapilo, LT
Trapilo emerged as a reliable left tackle that most fans were not expecting and now he is a quick healer from his injury last year. He may not start the 2026 season playing, but he might be back sooner than many expected, which is incredible.
15. Dillon Thieneman, S
Thieneman is unproven in the NFL, but the Bears spent a first-round pick on him for a reason. With Coby Bryant hurt, it's on Thieneman to grow up quickly and be the star defender the city expects him to be.
14. Devin Bush, LB
One of Chicago's biggest signings of the offseason brings speed to the linebacker position. Bush is a solid starter and reliable as he has shown throughout his career.
13. Kyle Monangai, RB
Monangai broke out as a seventh-round pick last year. His 783 yards and five touchdowns showed the kind of future he has in Chicago.
12. Jonah Jackson, OG
Jackson came in last year and was just a steady, consistent starter on the offensive line. It should be more of the same with him in 2026.
11. Coby Bryant, S
It's a shame Bears fans won't get to see Bryant on the field. He's so good at recognizing a play and making sure it doesn't happen. His injury will most likely keep him out for most, if not all, of the season.
The Superstars
11. Luther Burden III, WR
Burden has great speed and will be a deep threat for this Bears offense. Watch for him to be a potential 1,000-yard receiver as well.
9. Rome Odunze, WR
Odunze's foot injury prevented him from having a potential 1,000-yard season. If he stays on the field, that will no doubt happen in 2026.
8. T.J. Edwards, LB
Edwards is a reliable starting linebacker who can make all the tackles. He should be in for a big season as long as he can stay healthy himself.
7. D'Andre Swift, RB
After a career season last year, Swift is back and continues to be the lead back on the team. He might have one more year in Chicago, but he's proven himself to be a number one running back in this league.
6. Colston Loveland, TE
It's Year 2 and Loveland already looks like a superstar in the making. Watch for him to take the leap as a top-five tight end in the NFL.
5. Montez Sweat, DE
Sweat bounced back nicely last year with 10 sacks for the Bears. He is among one of the top defenders on this team and has a chance to keep growing as a borderline elite pass rusher.
4. Jaylon Johnson, CB
It's all about Johnson staying healthy in 2026. If he can do that, he can bring back his 2023 and 2024 form to Chicago and make this secondary scary again.
3. Caleb Williams, QB
Williams has to work on his accuracy, but he is an elite NFL quarterback. His arm strength is impressive to watch, as he can make any throw on the field. Watch for him to be an MVP candidate in 2026 if his development continues to improve.
2. Darnell Wright, RT
What a breakout season from the right tackle, who has been a bright example of what Ryan Poles can do in the draft. Wright was just paid the big money in training camp and hopes to get another All-Pro selection in 2026 with this one being on the first team.
Read more: 6 winners (and 1 loser) from Bears' impressive preseason finale win
1. Joe Thuney, OG
Thuney is one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL and an important piece to this Bears' offense. After winning Protector of the Year award last year, expect more of the same from the future Hall of Famer.
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