If there was one draft pick made by the Chicago Bears this weekend that caught everybody by surprise, it was them taking Stanford tight end Sam Roush in the 3rd round. It made no sense to the people watching. Chicago already has two excellent tight ends in Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. If they wanted a third guy, just wait until the later rounds to grab him or comb the veteran market after the draft. However, head coach Ben Johnson was adamant that Roush was somebody he wanted, so general manager Ryan Poles made the move.
To many, it was one of two things. A wasted pick on an unnecessary luxury, or the start of a broader plan by Johnson. One that would see him phase Kmet out of the offense and insert Roush alongside Loveland long-term. Such an idea was hard to stomach. Kmet is a beloved figure in Chicago and had a good season in 2025. Why look to unload him in the near future like that? Thankfully, Sports Mockery insider Jeff Hughes countered those rumors. He reached out to several friends in the scouting community, asking if Roush replacing Kmet was a possibility. They all answered the same way.
Not happening.
Sam Roush is replacing Smythe, not Kmet.
Some may wonder why the Bears would spend a 3rd round pick on a third tight end. The answer lay in Johnson’s offense. Smythe logged over 300 snaps last season, serving primarily as a blocker with occasional passes thrown his way. He was a true extension of the running game, allowing the team to dabble in “13” personnel with three tight ends on the field. The Bears didn’t draft Roush to be a poor man’s version of Kmet. They drafted him to be an upgraded version of Smythe.
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The best way to think of him is as an extra offensive lineman who is athletic enough to become a weapon in the passing game, depending on the situation. Diversity is the name of the game in the NFL. The more unpredictable you can make the offense, the harder it becomes to defend. That is what Coach Johnson always talks about. Try to make the same plays look different and different plays look the same. When you force the defense to think, you’re already one step ahead of them.
Besides, the Bears’ pick was quickly validated.
After they took Sam Roush with the 69th overall pick, three more tight ends went during the rest of the round. It confirmed that there was a strong likelihood that if the Bears hadn’t picked him, somebody else would’ve. All this talk about him going on day three wasn’t true. The league is shifting offensive philosophy. Blocking tight ends are more useful than ever. Both the Los Angeles Rams and world champion Seattle Seahawks proved that last season. The Bears want to be at the forefront of that trend, which isn’t something they’ve been known for in the past.
More than anything, at least the team has a clear plan in mind for Roush. They didn’t draft him just because they were afraid other teams might. His blocking ability was a perfect fit for this offense. Johnson would waste no time utilizing it, both to help the run game and also free up Loveland for more pass-catching opportunities. He may never become a star, but his value to the offense will be clear the longer you watch him. Every spring run for a big gain and an extra second bought for Caleb Williams in the pocket will pay enormous dividends.
