Intel: Ben Johnson Has Set A Team-Wide Directive For The 2026 NFL Draft
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson may not hold the title of general manager, but many insiders have indicated he might as well. The widespread belief is that he has the final say on personnel decisions for this franchise. While general manager Ryan Poles still controls the scouting department and front office, no free-agent signing, trade, or draft pick will occur without Johnson’s approval. It also makes sense that he would set the parameters for how he wants the Bears to be constructed moving forward.
According to the latest intel gathered by Sports Mockery from the scouting combine, Johnson has installed a directive for the entire team this spring. They are to focus on one thing above all: speed.
Chicago was one of the slower teams in the NFL this past season, offensively and defensively. They ranked 23rd among teams with a combined 40-yard dash average. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were 11th. The Philadelphia Eagles, who won in 2024, were 4th. Speed doesn’t equal championships by itself, but it isn’t a coincidence that winning teams are often littered with it.
Ben Johnson prioritizing speed is nothing new.
It’s been part of his track record since his time as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins. As tight ends coach with Miami in 2015, they signed Jordan Cameron as a free agent, noted for his 4.59 speed at 265 lbs. He shifted to wide receivers coach a year later and helped the Dolphins add Jakeem Grant (4.38). Yet it was in Detroit where that approach came fully to light. Between 2022 and 2023, as their offensive coordinator, the Lions added wide receiver Jameson Williams (4.25), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (4.36), and tight end Sam LaPorta (4.59).
Speed doesn’t win games by itself, but it does increase the margin of error for your team. One big play on offense can change the momentum of a game. Having a fast defense allows them to mitigate damage when tackles are missed or long passes are connected. Late Las Vegas Raiders owner Al Davis was easily the most obsessed person with speed, maybe in NFL history. Why? He explained.
“You can’t teach speed… everything else in the game can be taught, but speed is a gift from God.”
The Bears will have no shortage of options to choose from.
One thing about this year’s scouting combine is that it featured a healthy share of players with legitimate speed. Many of them are in positions where the Bears have needs. Edge rusher? Linebacker? Safety? All delivered impressive times. You can bet Ben Johnson also wants more juice at running back and wide receiver. No problems there, either. The only question is who among the many names might interest them the most. Here is a list of the top five runners at every position.
| Position | Rank | Player | School | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide Receiver | 1 | Brenen Thompson | Mississippi State | 4.26s |
| 2 | Zavion Thomas | LSU | 4.28s | |
| 3 | Deion Burks | Oklahoma | 4.30s | |
| 4 | Jeff Caldwell | Cincinnati | 4.31s | |
| 5 | Bryce Lance | NDSU | 4.34s | |
| Safety | 1 | Lorenzo Styles Jr. | Ohio State | 4.27s |
| 2 | Robert Spears-Jennings | Oklahoma | 4.32s | |
| 3 | Treydan Stukes | Arizona State | 4.34s | |
| 4 | Dillon Thieneman | Oregon | 4.35s | |
| 5 | Jalon Kilgore | South Carolina | 4.40s | |
| Cornerback | 1 | Toriano Pride Jr. | Missouri | 4.32s |
| 2 | Daylen Everette | Georgia | 4.38s | |
| 3 | Chris Johnson | San Diego State | 4.40s | |
| T-4 | Tacario Davis | Washington | 4.41s | |
| T-4 | Domani Jackson | Alabama | 4.41s | |
| Running Back | 1 | Mike Washington Jr. | Arkansas | 4.33s |
| 2 | Jeremiyah Love | Notre Dame | 4.36s | |
| 3 | Demond Claiborne | Wake Forest | 4.37s | |
| 4 | Jam Miller | Alabama | 4.42s | |
| 5 | Eli Heidenreich | Navy | 4.44s | |
| Linebacker | 1 | Sonny Styles | Ohio State | 4.46s |
| 2 | Kalen Elarms-Orr | TCU | 4.47s | |
| 3 | Anthony Hill Jr. | Texas | 4.51s | |
| T-4 | Kyle Louis | Pittsburgh | 4.53s | |
| T-4 | Namdi Obiazor | TCU | 4.53s | |
| Edge Rusher | 1 | Arvell Reese | Ohio State | 4.46s |
| 2 | David Bailey | Texas Tech | 4.50s | |
| 3 | Malachi Lawrence | UCF | 4.52s | |
| 4 | Trey Moore | Texas | 4.54s | |
| 5 | Cashius Howell | Texas A&M | 4.59s | |
| Defensive Tackle | 1 | Zane Durant | Penn State | 4.75s |
| 2 | Kaleb Proctor | SE Louisiana | 4.79s | |
| 3 | Gracen Halton | Oklahoma | 4.82s | |
| 4 | DeMonte Capehart | Clemson | 4.85s | |
| 5 | David Gusta | Kentucky | 4.88s |
We already saw glimpses of this strategy last year. Colston Loveland and Luther Burden were both considered among the fastest players at their respective positions in the 2025 class. Dennis Allen openly said they (the Bears) got some speed when they drafted linebacker Ruben Hyppolite. It is a focal point that will carry over into this April’s draft. Knowing this could make it easier to pinpoint who the team selects with the 25th overall pick.
Likely Bears targets are starting to separate themselves.
At this stage, it remains uncertain who will even be on the board for the Bears when they go on the clock. The combine tends to cause a considerable shift in where players were projected to where they actually land. However, we can at least compile a list of names who:
- A. Have a reasonable chance of being available at #25
- B. Checked the speed box for their respective position
| Player | Position (School) | Height | Weight | 40-Yard Dash | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | Arm Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Thieneman | S (Oregon) | 6′ 0″ | 201 lbs | 4.35s | 41″ | 10′ 5″ | 31 ⅜” |
| Anthony Hill Jr. | LB (Texas) | 6′ 2″ | 238 lbs | 4.51s | 37″ | 10′ 5″ | 32 ⅜” |
| Malachi Lawrence | EDGE (UCF) | 6′ 4″ | 253 lbs | 4.52s | 40″ | 10′ 10″ | 33 ⅝” |
| Zane Durant | DT (Penn State) | 6′ 1 ⅛” | 290 lbs | 4.76s | 33.5″ | 9′ 4″ | 31 ⅞” |
| Max Iheanachor | OT (Arizona St) | 6′ 6″ | 325 lbs | 4.91s | 30.5″ | 9’7″ | 33 ⅞” |
All of those players have the right mix of strong game tape and athletic testing that Johnson would be looking for. It comes down to how much positional value matters to the Bears’ head coach. He’s stated more than once that he is only interested in drafting good football players. They’ll sort out the rest later. This could mean the door is wide open to go in almost any direction. They need speed everywhere. Just pinpoint the best player who has it and take them. Don’t overthink it.