The Bears entered the 2025 NFL Draft looking to add to their running back room after the success of new head coach Ben Johnson with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.
Ashton Jeanty was long thought to be Chicago’s desired prospect in the first round. The team even explored trading up from the No. 10 pick to draft him; when that didn’t work out, they went with Colston Loveland. Their selection quieted trade action in the first round, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, as multiple teams were targeting the Michigan tight end in the teens.
The Bears’ search for a running back then moved on to TreVeyon Henderson, who they coveted for his upside on passing downs as a blocker and a receiver, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Henderson was expected to go early in the second round, so Chicago tried to trade up from the 39th overall pick to snag the former Buckeye, potentially with the Titans to No. 35 (via Fowler). Those efforts fell through, and the Patriots took Henderson one pick before the Bears were on the clock.
Chicago then waited until their last selection (Round 7, No. 233) to draft a running back, taking Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. He has some of the pass-protection chops the Bears were looking for and will have a chance to carve out a third-down role as a rookie.
Henderson, meanwhile, will immediately push for touches in the Patriots’ backfield as a contributor in the passing game. His ball security could even help him take over a lead role if Rhamondre Stevenson‘s fumbling woes continue into the 2025 season.