The Chicago Bears have been quietly combing through the quarterback ranks of the 2026 NFL draft class. While it is never a bad idea to stay plugged into that position every year, the timing is hard to ignore. Trade buzz has hovered around Tyson Bagent since the offseason began. Some feel it’s only a matter of time before the backup gets traded. That is partly why the Bears opted to re-sign Case Keenum to a significant pay raise. They’re prepared for the possibility. However, they would need more depth and appear on the hunt for it. By the sound of things, running back Kyle Monangai may have given them a tip.
Multiple draft insiders reported the Bears plan to host Athan Kaliakmanis at their local pro day ahead of the draft. The Antioch native started at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers in 2024. He and Monangai were teammates that season and had a good season. The team went 7-6, beat Washington, and made a bowl game. Kaliakmanis had his best all-around season in 2025, throwing for 3,124 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with four rushing touchdowns. Teams appear taken by his mixture of size, pocket poise, and strong timing as a passer.
Kyle Monangai knows the crucial details about Kaliakmanis
The tape shows most of the physical attributes. While he doesn’t have the strongest arm and streaky accuracy, he understands how to play in a true pro-style offense. These are attributes head coach Ben Johnson can work with. What the Bears want to know is how he is as a leader. What’s his work ethic like? Does he understand the game at a fundamental level? These are questions Kyle Monangai can answer better than most, having spent a year in the locker room with him.
Considering the Bears are paying close attention to him, it seems the running back told them what they wanted to hear. Current projections have Kaliakmanis as a likely undrafted free agent. However, the growing interest in him from multiple NFL teams suggests he could be drafted late, perhaps in the 7th round. The Bears have two picks in that range. They could reserve one to bring him aboard if he has a productive workout and interview. He seems like the sort of project who could yield interesting results down the line.
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| Year | Player | College | Overall Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Moses Moreno | Colorado State | 232nd |
| 1991 | Paul Justin | Arizona State | 190th |
| 1989 | Brent Snyder | Utah State | 192nd |
| 1972 | Jim Fassel | Long Beach State | 167th |
The Bears are finally embracing a proven strategy.
Plenty of teams have said they aim to draft a quarterback every year. In reality, few of them have actually followed through on such a strategy. One team that sort of pioneered it in the Super Bowl era was the Green Bay Packers. Between 1992 and 2002, the organization drafted eight quarterbacks. Among them were future NFL stars like Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselbeck, and Aaron Brooks. All three were eventually traded to other teams, fetching the Packers seven additional 1st-round draft picks, three 3rd-round picks, and a 5th-round pick.
New England deployed a similar strategy. During Tom Brady’s long tenure as the starter from 2001 to 2019, the Patriots drafted ten quarterbacks. Two of them, Matt Cassel and Jimmy Garoppolo, fetched 2nd round picks when traded a few years later. There is a method to the madness for the Bears. Adding a steady stream of young quarterbacks will both keep their depth strong and also give them some potential trade currency down the line. Kaliakmanis could fit into that category.
