The 2025 Chicago Bears entered the NFL Draft on a momentum high. Their offseason has been stacked with more big-profile moves than anyone. They hired play-calling whiz Ben Johnson as their new head coach. They revamped their offensive line by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing center Drew Dalman.
Thuney is one of the best interior linemen in the game, and getting him was a coup for general manager Ryan Poles. Jackson excelled during his time with the Detroit Lions, where he worked well with Johnson. Dalman has been one of the best centers; he was the focus of Chicago’s free agent plans.
Poles and Johnson have spent the offseason ensuring Caleb Williams’s success. They significantly elevated the team’s weakest point, the offensive line. Could they add to the depth and give Williams the weapons needed to take off in the draft? The results will be disputed for some time.
The hottest NFL Draft rumors involved the Bears’ interest in running back Ashton Jeanty. Many indicated that Poles would trade up if needed. Chicago had a chance to do so, especially after the Cleveland Browns traded down to the fifth selection. A deal didn’t happen, and the Las Vegas Raiders selected Jeanty at six.
The Bears are coming off a last-place finish. Yes, the coaching and free agent moves have strengthened Chicago tremendously, but the franchise is not ready to go all in for an RB. Considering what the Browns got from the Jacksonville Jaguars, a trade with Cleveland likely would have had to include a 2026 first-round pick.
Poles shrewdly decided to stay pat and not recklessly trade away picks to move up. This was the right call, but some will question it. They will insist that the Bears should have made the move up for an elite RB talent.
Chicago saw all the choice offensive line candidates go before ten as well. They likely tried to trade down but couldn’t find a suitable partner. They decided to pick a tight end. Did they select the right one?
Many thought the Bears would select Tyler Warren with the 10th pick. He had a monster season for Penn State, showed many Brock Bowers-like qualities, and appeared to be the last of the elite talents available. Chicago, as would become a draft theme, threw a curveball.
Poles and Johnson selected a TE, but Colston Loveland out of Michigan instead. He played a key role in the Wolverines’ run to the National Championship in 2023, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. His stats fell off in 2024 due to subpar quarterback talent. Scouts had Loveland and Warren nearly even in rankings, but the most recent eye tests screamed Warren.
Bears selected Loveland instead for a few reasons. Chicago’s scouts and coaches saw him as a better fit for them, while Johnson saw him as another Sam LaPorta. They believed Loveland had the highest ceiling, being one of the youngest players in the draft. He was also seen as a better complement to Cole Kmet.
Loveland and Warren figure to both be excellent pro tight ends, so likely splitting hairs here. Warren was the safer pick because his dominance is recent, and it’s easy to picture that carrying into the pros. In Loveland, there needs to be more projection. Will having a better QB and coach who knows how to get players open be enough to unlock his potential?
Loveland and Warren will be compared throughout their careers. The controversy over who should have been picked got intense on draft night. The debate won’t rest any time soon.
Poles and Johnson targeted the Ohio State RB duo, Treveyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, with the first of their two second-round picks. Unfortunately, both were gone by the time the 39th selection came around. RB talents like Kaleb Johnson were still available, as were edge rushers like Mike Green, another key Chicago need.
The Bears astonished many again by selecting wide receiver Luther Burden III. Few saw WR as a need; Johnson saw the opportunity to grab a talent projected to go in the first round. The draft proved to be a dramatic change from the Chicago philosophy of the past. Too often, management would force a need on draft night, leading to countless horrific picks.
This time, despite not having a big TE need, the Bears selected one in the first round. They did likewise with WR in the second round. It indicated a true commitment to the best available player approach. Get as much top-level talent as possible and combine that with superior coaching, and the results will follow.
Ryan Poles did sound work with the rest of the 2nd round, building up the trench depth. He selected massive offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive tackle Shemar Turner. Chicago did well in free agency to improve the starting offensive and defensive lines. Not much existed behind them, Trapilo and Turner will help.
Turner was a good value pick, getting him near the end of the second round; many had him pegged for early second. RB and edge were left unattended, but plentiful options were still available. Poles deserves much credit for what he did in the first two rounds, not making reckless trades to move up and trying to force needs.
What happened in the 4th round, though, does deserve scrutiny. The Bears selected linebacker Rubben Hyppolite II; he was ranked outside the top 300. He has electrifying speed, ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. He fits the prototype of what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen seeks, but did Chicago need to take him this early?
Edge rusher Brydan Swinson, RBs DJ Giddens, Devin Neal, Damien Martinez, and Brashard Smith were all available when the Bears selected Hyppolite II. Edge rusher and RB were much bigger needs than LB, and all the abovementioned players were ranked much higher than Hyppolite II. The biggest area of criticism the Bears deserve is making the Hyppolite II selection when they did.
This was considered one of the deepest RB drafts in years. Chicago waited, figuring that talent would still be on the board. That proved accurate, but Poles and Johnson didn’t make a move. Instead, an RB wasn’t taken until the 7th round, Kyle Monangai. He had impressive production at Rutgers, but his athletic ceiling is limited.
The Bears may pursue a veteran RB like Nick Chubb or J.K. Dobbins. Today, though, the RB room looks thin. DeAndre Swift underperformed, failing to break tackles, struggling in short yardage, and in pass blocking. Roschon Johnson showed some flashes, but not enough to count on as a full-time runner.
The Bears never selected an edge rusher. They are banking heavily on Austin Booker taking a big step forward in his development. They will also need Dayo Obeyingbo to break out in Allen’s scheme fit.
Chicago didn’t need to face the question marks at these positions. Opportunities to address them later in the draft existed. Criticism is deserved for failing to do so. Williams has more weapons to work with, yes, but more could have been done.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
