Film Study: New Bears Dt Jordan Van Den Berg A Raw Physical Specimen
With the No. 213 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg.
The Bears waited much longer than many expected to take their first (and only) defensive lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they aimed high with physical upside, taking an interior defender with a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletix Score, making him the second-most athletic defensive tackle in NFL Draft history.
A JUCO contributor at Iowa Western to begin his collegiate career, the South African native van den Berg was a backup at Penn State for three years before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final two years of collegiate eligibility.
It was with the Yellowjackets that van den Berg started to come into his own. His elite raw athleticism made him a disruptive run defender, and his physicality and play strength showed up well at the point of attack, too.
As I’ve done since 2019, I put together a thread involving my analysis of each Bears draft selection, sharing some clips that highlight their strengths along the way. This year is certainly no different, so here’s my quick-hit evaluation of the Bears selecting van den Berg in Round 6.
THE NUMBERS
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 310 pounds
RAS: 10.0
2025 PFSN DT Impact Score: 81.7 (24th in the FBS)
2025 tackles: 44
2025 tackles for a loss: 11
2025 sacks: 3
List of accomplishments: 2024 second-team All-ACC, 205 first-team All-ACC
THREAD: The #Bears waited too long to draft a defensive tackle, but Jordan van den Berg is a seamless scheme fit and tremendous value this late.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2026
Jordan van den Berg is a phenomenal athlete at defensive tackle.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2026
The quickness off the line of scrimmage shows up on tape. He times his jumps well off the line of scrimmage and has elite raw quickness for the position. #Bearspic.twitter.com/SjPoPRCy4G
Jordan van den Berg has elite raw strength, as his 35 bench reps at his Pro Day would indicate.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2026
Sturdy anchor at the point of attack, and he carries his 310 pounds well. He has a pretty muscular, lean frame for his size, and the strength shows. #Bearspic.twitter.com/OHGPt6A43O
Though a little raw in terms of his hand usage, Jordan van den Berg has shown encouraging flashes with his elite motor and physical tools.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2026
His quickness, power, and effort allow him to blow up plays, ideally as a 3-technique in the NFL. #Bearspic.twitter.com/ScCTC2ycyn
I tweeted it already, but here’s Jordan van den Berg’s RAS card. He’s a freak athlete at defensive tackle.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2026
I think the #Bears waited way too long to make their first DL pick in this draft. But van den Berg is phenomenal value this late. I’m stoked. pic.twitter.com/m6uCKtOKrF
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