Nobody is talking about Bears rookie (but he could surprise fans in August)

Bear Goggles On · Jul 22, 2026 13:00 · 3 min read

Nobody is talking about Bears rookie (but he could surprise fans in August) — Chicago Bears tight end Sam Roush | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Chicago Bears fans should keep an eye on Sam Roush this offseason. He has the ability to prove he deserves more opportunities than originally expected.

As we approach training camp, Chicago Bears fans have their eyes set on Caleb Williams, Luther Burden, and, of course, Colston Loveland.

Fans focusing on these three offensive players makes sense. Williams is looking to build on his second year in Ben Johnson's system. Many are hoping Burden can become the team's true WR1 over Rome Odunze with DJ Moore now in Buffalo. And Loveland was recently featured by the NFLPA as a rising star.

However, we must also be excited for the Chicago Bears' 2026 rookie draft class. With a deep tight end room, not many fans are putting much stock in third-round pick Sam Roush. Roush was the last of the Bears' rookie class to sign his contract and is ready for training camp.

Can Sam Roush push to be the Chicago Bears TE2 this season?

Despite being third on the depth chart, many fans may be overlooking the Stanford tight end. They may recall doing so when analyzing the 2026 Draft class and thinking about which players the Bears should target. However, now that he is on the roster, fans should be excited to see how Ben Johnson utilizes him.

This August, fans should expect to see Roush stand out not only in camp but also in the preseason. The hope here is that he can prove himself enough to see more touches in the regular season. Fans should not expect him to shine right away. Even Colston Loveland took a few weeks to get things going last year. I do think Roush could push Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson into a situation where Cole Kmet becomes more expendable at the end of the year.

When we look at what Roush brings to the table, he is not just a Y tight end who was brought into Chicago to play in-line and block. He is extremely athletic. He proved that with his 9.94 RAS score this offseason—making him one of the most athletic tight ends in this draft class.

That said, being athletic is not always correlated with success at the NFL level. What fans should love about Roush is that he improved every single year he was at Stanford. As a four-year starter, he compiled 119 receptions and 1,200 yards receiving in 34 starts. Over 500 of those yards came in his Senior season in 2025. His statistical downside is his touchdowns, with a grand total of four. Do not let that sway your opinion on the rookie, though. Stanford's offense was mostly anemic, and that directly impacted Roush.

It's been said that fans should not look at Roush as just a Y tight end, but it is extremely important for him to carry over his exceptional blocking skills to the NFL. This should allow him to see additional playing time early. It also opens things up for Loveland and Kmet. Not to mention, this gives Ben Johnson the ability to run 13-personnel more than he did last season.

Overall, Roush brings intelligence, toughness, versatility, and athleticism to the NFL. He was selected within the top 70, which indicates that the Chicago Bears value him more than his collegiate production. Bears fans should keep an eye on him this offseason. They should fully expect him to push Kmet for playing time by the second half of the season.