Why Sam Roush makes even more sense in Ben Johnson's offense

While it was initially a surprise to see the Bears take Stanford tight end Sam Roush with the 69th overall pick, the selection makes a lot more sense when you look at how often Chicago already uses 13 personnel.

Last season, the Bears lined up with one running back, one wide receiver, and three tight ends on 9% of their offensive snaps, which ranked fifth-highest in the NFL. Expect that number to rise even more this season.

Expect the Bears to use more 13 personnel

Don’t be surprised if the Bears push closer to using 13 personnel on nearly 20% of their offensive plays thanks to the versatility of their tight end room. It starts with Colston Loveland, who already looks like one of the NFL’s next star tight ends after hauling in 58 receptions as a rookie. Alongside him is Cole Kmet, another athletic tight end capable of playing in-line or splitting out wide as a receiver.

Then you add Sam Roush into the mix, who I labeled as my top tight end sleeper entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Roush brings another productive receiving option and may already be the best blocker of the group. Last season at Stanford, he tied for the ACC lead among tight ends with 49 receptions and led all conference tight ends with 545 receiving yards despite playing in a struggling passing offense. He also brings a physical edge as a run blocker, something Bears head coach Ben Johnson has already praised, saying, “It didn't matter who he was blocking — could be a big guy, could be a little DB — and he consistently finished through the whistle each and every play.”

With three versatile and productive tight ends, Chicago now has personnel that will create matchup problems for defenses in the passing game while also allowing the offense to operate out of heavier formations that can open more running lanes. What originally looked like a head-scratching pick is starting to look much more logical.

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