Overview
- Chicago chose Elliott with pick No. 166 on Saturday using a selection acquired from the Panthers in a Day 3 swap tied to their move up for cornerback Malik Muhammad.
- Elliott transferred from New Mexico State to Arizona State, wore the green-dot helmet that carries play calls from coaches, and posted 98 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in 2025.
- The 6-foot-1, 231-pound linebacker logged 38 college starts and tested at a 4.58-second 40-yard dash with a 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot-5 broad jump.
- Bears scout Reese Hicks called him a high-end intangible player, and team expectations point to early special-teams work as he competes for depth at middle (Mike) or strong-side (Sam) linebacker in a veteran room.
- Scouts like his physical, downhill style and blitz value but note limited range in coverage, with several draft boards grading him higher than Round 5 and framing the pick as value for Chicago.