Bears rookie linebacker faces difficult path to meaningful snaps in 2026

With the Chicago Bears moving from the NFL draft to integrating the rookie class into the NFL, it is a good time to go through the expectations for the entire rookie class. What should Bears fans expect from Keyshaun Elliott as a rookie?

Chicago Bears' expectations for rookie linebacker Keyshaun Elliott

There have been 162 linebackers drafted between picks 100 and 200 since 2010. That is a big sample, but it gives us a clear look into what players tend to do as rookies in this draft range. Overall, the group averaged 29 tackles as a rookie.

However, there are plenty of misses in that group. Only 53 players of the 162 turned into legitimate long-term starters. Still, that list includes Kwon Alexander, Telvin Smith, Matt Milano, Foye Oluokun, and Ernest Jones. There are some strong hits in this group.

To get lumped into the better list of players drafted in this range, the expectation would be closer to 53 tackles and six games started. It is fair to note that some names, such as Ja’Whaun Bentley, Tahir Whitehead, and Gerald Hodges, did not play early and turned into quality starters.

However, the most consistent and best long-term starters were able to get on the field early despite their draft status. Some of the best guys like Olokum, Smith, and Alexander all were over 90 tackles as rookies. Even players such as Ernest Jones and Matt Milano had 50 tackles or more.

Whether Elliott hits the expected stats might come down to whether he ends up as the fourth linebacker in the mix. Injuries played a role last year, but they had four linebackers with at least 43 tackles.

Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards led the way with 112 and 67 tackles. Noah Sewell had 59, and then Jackson had 43. On the current Bears, it would likely be Bush and Edwards at the top. Both Jackson and Sewell are back, but if Elliott could beat out one of those players, it would likely ensure he gets on the field long enough to hit the thresholds that are expected from him. Considering Edwards is not fully healthy the stats from last year should be repeatable if not beatable from the fourth linebacker.

If he struggles to beat out Sewell, he is not going to hit the expectations, and there might not be much to see from the fifth-round pick moving forward. That is a fair baseline.

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