What draft experts said about new Bears DT Jordan van den Berg

[ASFN Admin]

The Chicago Bears traded a pair of seventh-round picks to move into the sixth round and select Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg with the 213th overall pick. It was the lone defensive line move by Chicago in the draft.

Van den Berg, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, is an explosive athlete who is a great fit for Dennis Allen's defense. Last season at Georgia Tech, he totaled 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks as a first-team All-ACC selection. Van den Berg, who spent three years at Penn State before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final two seasons, totaled 90 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 56 total quarterback pressures.

The Bears reportedly think very highly of van den Berg, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, as they believe they got a "steal." Fowler also believes "the Bears have plans for him beyond that of a typical sixth-round flier and believe he was one of more gifted defensive tackles in the draft."


Here's what some expert draft analysts had to say about van den Berg during the pre-draft process and what Bears fans can expect to see:

Dane Brugler, The Athletic​

"Jordan van den Berg, who has four brothers, was born and raised in South Africa by his parents (Michael van den Berg and Lisa Hendry). His grandfather (Francois) was a competitive bodybuilder in South Africa, and his grandmother (Joan Rocci) holds several South African swimming records. When Jordan was 10, his family relocated to the Atlanta area. He’d grown up playing rugby in South Africa and hoped to continue playing in the United States. However, his new friends played football, so he made the switch (and also played baseball and basketball). He attended Providence Christian Academy, a private school in Lilburn, Ga., where he became an all-state linebacker as a senior, posting 157 tackles, and set the school record for career tackles.

A no-star recruit, he didn’t have any Division I offers and walked on at Iowa Western Community College in 2020. He added 40 pounds during his first junior college year and moved from linebacker to the defensive line. Despite a left knee injury, he received double-digit FBS offers and signed with Penn State, where he played three seasons as a backup. He transferred to Georgia Tech for his final two seasons and earned All-ACC honors both years.

A “Freaks List” alum, van den Berg is a broad, well-built athlete who has thickness through his arms, legs and core. He bursts off the snap with aggressive hands to push the pocket, although he shows some lower-body stiffness when attempting to move laterally around blocks. He took a positive step forward from his 2024 tape in his ability to recognize and shed blocks against the run. His motor is relentless, and his coaches said he was one of the team’s best leaders because of the example he set. He also brings outstanding personal and football character (he used his NIL money to become a small-business owner and buy a laundromat in the Atlanta area)."

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com​

"Jordan van den Berg began to hit his stride at Georgia Tech in 2024 after three quiet years as a backup at Penn State. Elite testing numbers at his pro day will send scouts back to the tape for further evaluation. He possesses disruptive first-step quickness and heavy hands to beat blocks. He carries average mass and below-average length. He needs to prove he can take on NFL blockers at the point of attack. The career production looks a little light on paper, but van den Berg appears to possess translatable traits that could entice a team with a one-gapping defensive front to draft him on Day 3."

Pro Football Focus​

"Van den Berg did not receive a combine invite but delivered strong pre-draft testing, with quickness and explosiveness that stood out. His pass-rush production remains limited, as he recorded 56 pressures across five seasons, but his work against the run offers value, highlighted by an 81.2 run-defense grade in 2025, which supports a potential role in a defensive line rotation."

Bleacher Report Scouting Department​

Where he wins

• van den Berg earned a perfect 10.00 RAS for his pro day performance, highlighted by a 1.61-second 10-yard split, 36" vertical jump, 4.19-second short shuttle and hitting 35 reps on the bench press. He also has good size for a 3-technique defensive tackle.
• Pretty quick off the ball with a good get-off to be a solid one-gap penetrator.
• When slanting, he combines initial quickness with decent lateral movement skills and the ability to get skinny to slip blocks and get penetration.
• Athleticism helps him break down and work flat down the line of scrimmage to avoid getting too far up the field after getting penetration.
• Has natural strength to hold his gap as a run defender despite having poor technique, even against combo blocks occasionally.
• Plenty of upper-body strength to get extension on blocks when he starts using his hands more frequently. Helps that he has good genes; his grandfather, Fancois van den Berg, was a bodybuilder in South Africa.

Areas of improvement

• van den Berg will be an older rookie after turning 24 in mid-April. He's also a sixth-year senior who played for two Power 4 conference programs and still has significant technique issues.
• First-step footwork is inconsistent, sometimes false-stepping, stepping with the wrong foot or hopping out of his stance.
• Bends at the waist instead of the knees to get low, which can cause him to be off-balance and end up on the ground when taking on blocks.
• Uses his head first when engaging with offensive linemen and often has his head down at the point of contact, leading to no extension and making it impossible to shed blocks.
• Block recognition is late and has subpar gap integrity, leading to him being out of position occasionally, especially against reach or scoop blocks.
• Doesn't use his hands as a pass-rusher either, and lacks leg drive through contact, making his bull rush ineffective.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears select Jordan van den Berg: What the draft experts said

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