After spending some time digesting the Bears’ draft class and assessing the roster, Aaron Leming gives his thoughts (and grades) on the team’s eight-player group.
Each year, the build-up to the draft is one of the more exciting aspects of the offseason. Analysts and fans spend months watching countless players, assessing fits, and dreaming of what could be. Then in three days, seven rounds fly by in the blink of an eye. The 2025 class was no different.
For the Chicago Bears, this offseason has been about change. It began with hiring a brand-new coaching staff. Then came free agency and a few extensions. Last weekend, the final big piece of the offseason puzzle fell into place when the Bears made their eight selections. Now that most of the acquisition period is behind them, reflecting on their eight-man draft class is next. Although this group wasn’t as “conventional” as many expected, it’s easy to see why general manager Ryan Poles said they simply stayed true to their board and didn’t chase needs. Let’s dive deeper into all eight picks and the thought process behind each player.
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #12 (TE2)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: #11 (TE2)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: #7 (TE2)
Heading into last Thursday night, all rumors pointed to either running back Ashton Jeanty or an offensive tackle. The Bears had to pivot once it became clear that the Top 3 tackles and Jeanty would be off the board in the first nine picks. Although the offense has been the primary focus of this offseason, it would have been easy to justify a pick along the defensive line, namely on the edge. Instead, Chicago went more of an unconventional route with a tight end.
Why It Makes Sense:
As we learned last year, the offense is far from a finished product. The offseason is played out on paper, but when the games start and the lights shine bright, the Bears wilt under the first sign of pressure. With an offensive-minded head coach calling the shots, it always made the most sense for an offense-heavy draft. While some might believe that this is the beginning of the end for veteran tight end Cole Kmet, it has more to do with scheme fit than it is a knock on Kmet. Loveland is an athletic tight end who can line up inline or outside. He can stretch the seam, and as head coach Ben Johnson noted, he shares many of the same traits as Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta.
Assessing The Risks:
Recent history has not been kind to tight ends taken in the Top 10. As Johnson noted in Saturday afternoon’s press conference, tight end is the second most challenging position to learn as a rookie, outside of quarterback on the offensive side of the ball. There’s plenty of risk in a pick like this, and it’s fair to question why they didn’t take Tyler Warren. Fit played a significant role in their decision, and only time will tell if they made the correct choice. For now, it’s up to fans whether or not they want to trust the new coaching staff.
Way Too Early Grade: A-
Round 2 (No. 39 overall) WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #29 (WR4)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: #27 (WR3)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: #35 (WR4)
Heading into Day 2, the Bears were set to have a pair of second-round selections and another early pick in the third round. Defensive end, running back, and offensive line stood out as the most apparent needs. After the Cleveland Browns took Quinshon Judkins at No. 36 and the New England Patriots sniped long-time target TreVeyon Henderson at No. 38, the value at running back wasn’t there. Instead, Chicago stuck true to their board and took another pass catcher.
At the start of last season, Burden was a projected Top 15 talent. After a down year where he saw his production almost cut in half, many started to see flaws in the former top recruit’s game. With so many of the draft’s top receivers clumped together, Burden’s fall was more a product of a numbers game due to perceived fit, rather than a lack of talent. The pick surprised many, but it’s easy to see how the former Mizzou product would have been the top player on their board. This pick would not have happened if either of the Ohio State running backs, namely Henderson, were still on the board.
Why It Makes Sense:
Even if Johnson isn’t looking to recreate his exact offensive personnel from Detroit, speed has been a common theme throughout the opening months of this offseason. Even after adding Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay, improving this group’s depth and overall upside can only help their second-year quarterback. The Bears’ offense was slow and unathletic last year. Part of that was the scheme, but they had two similar receivers playing out of position and struggled to separate for most of the year. Adding someone like Burden gives Caleb Williams another downfield speed threat. It also offers Johnson more opportunities to scheme up a successful screen game.
Assessing The Risks:
Some might argue that, despite their offensive struggles for the past three decades, taking another receiver (considering their other needs) was a gluttonous pick. Last year, many analysts projected the Bears’ receiving group as one of the best in the league. Those projections did not play out in reality, leading to another Bottom 10 offensive performance. On top of that, “too many mouths to feed” can be a real issue at the NFL level. Will Johnson be able to scheme up enough opportunities to keep three top receivers and two tight ends happy? That will be something to watch as the season progresses.
Way Too Early Grade: A
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Round 2 (No. 56 overall) OT Ozzy Trapilo (Boston College)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #77 (OT8)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: #79 (OT7)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: #72 (OT7)
In an ideal world, one of the three top tackles would have fallen to No. 10, and that’s the direction the Bears would have gone in. After all, the talent at a spot like tight end was much better on Day 2 than at tackle. Instead, Will Campbell, Armand Membou, and Kelvin Banks Jr. went within five picks of each other, leaving the Bears to pivot to other options in the opening round.
Chicago wasted very little time in Round 2 with the selection of Trapilo. After initially holding No. 41, they traded down 15 spots with the Buffalo Bills, bypassing plenty of quality edge-rushing and interior offensive line talent. With Aireontae Ersery off the board, trading down and taking Trapilo made sense from a value standpoint. Since the start of the offseason, it’s been clear that left tackle would be a focus for them. Current starter Braxton Jones is heading into the final year of his rookie deal. After suffering a broken leg, his status for the start of training camp is still unclear. Trapilo, coupled with last year’s third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie, should get the first crack at the left tackle job while Jones returns to full health. In an ideal world, one of Amegadjie or Trapilo will take the job and run. More realistically, they’ll provide quality depth during 2025 and be ready to step in immediately if one of the starting tackles gets hurt.
Trapilo’s a very tall player, so his pad level will be a constant concern. The good news is that Johnson is used to working with taller tackles, as Taylor Decker is 6’7 and has been one of the better left tackles in the game under Johnson’s tutelage. He’s a quality athlete, but his change of movement abilities have been called into question with speed rushers. Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn deemed him the most “NFL-ready” offensive tackle in this class, which would be excellent for the Bears. There’s plenty to like with Trapilo, even if he was selected 20 or so picks early.
Why It Makes Sense:
No team can ever have enough talent on the offensive line, right?
Here’s the bigger reality: While the Bears could technically “afford” a new contract for Jones next offseason, are they prepared to pay him upwards of $22-$25 million per year? It would require cost-cutting measures in other areas. It would cost them the flexibility to extend Darnell Wright, while keeping all three current veteran starters on the interior past next season.
Trapilo has played both left and right tackle, although it’s worth noting that his last 24 starts have come on the right side of the line. At worst, the Boston College product should provide a floor as a quality swing tackle. Make no mistake, the Bears have high hopes for Trapilo, and he’ll get a chance to start at some point over the next year or two.
Assessing The Risks:
Similar to last year, the Bears appeared to have “reached” on an offensive tackle, over selecting the best pure offensive lineman on the board. Tate Ratledge, Jared Wilson, and Wyatt Milum are three names that stand out to me as players with similar or higher grades than Trapilo who could become good players at guard. We saw the Bears take a similar approach last season with Amegadjie, despite players like Dominick Puney, Zak Zinter, and Cooper Bebee going in a similar range. Left tackle and tackle depth are precise needs for the future, so it’s hard to criticize this pick too much, but it’s not without risk considering what else was still on the board at 62.
Way Too Early Grade: B
Round 2 (No. 62 overall) DT Shemar Turner (Texas A&M)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #80 (DL5T1)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: #56 (DT6)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150:#89 (DT8)
After three years of failing to bring in difference makers on the interior defensive line under former head coach Matt Eberflus, Dennis Allen’s influence has led to a pair of key acquisitions. It started in free agency with a three-year deal for Grady Jarrett and continued early in the draft with the selection of Turner. The A&M product is an interesting evaluation. After starting as a defensive end, he was asked to add 30 pounds and play as their primary three-technique. His numbers didn’t stand out, but his relentless motor and physical traits caught the Bears’ eye.
Looking at the team’s depth chart, it’s fair to wonder if they’ll ask Turner to drop 15 or so pounds to play off the edge. His best year in college came in 2023 when he had six sacks and 10.5 tackles-for-loss. In Allen’s scheme, he won’t be asked to two-gap nearly as much, which Poles and Johnson pointed out as his downfall during his final college season. Despite being 6’3, his 33 ⅝” arms should give him plenty of value in this new defensive scheme. How they use him will be fascinating, especially when comparing the depth charts at tackle and end.
Why It Makes Sense:
The defensive line has been a consistent issue for the Bears following the departure of former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The talent level has declined, and their ability to pressure the quarterback has suffered. Despite the two expensive free agent contracts they handed out on this side of the ball, having a player like Turner with inside-out versatility is invaluable in Allen’s scheme. Pinpointing out how they plan to use him will help clarify this choice. On the surface, Turner appears to be a player who will rotate both on the edge and inside at tackle. Like the offensive line, teams can never have enough healthy players, especially when attrition sets in during a 17-game season.
Assessing The Risks:
Turner was never overly productive at Texas A&M, which could be cause for concern for some. He’s a high-motor player with a nasty streak, but he has cost his team multiple times with dumb penalties. On top of the viral video of him punching an offensive lineman in the groin, he was guilty of seven personal foul penalties over his last two college seasons. The margin for error in the NFL is much smaller, and those types of 15-yard penalties could cost them games. Injuries are also a cause for concern. Although none of his previous issues are expected to follow him long-term, he’s undergone two major surgeries over the past two offseasons, despite not missing much time.
Grade: B-
Round 4 (No. 132 overall) LB Ruben Hyppolite (Maryland)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #401 (LB31)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: N/A (LB35)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: N/A
Credit where credit is due: Poles went into the draft with just two Day 3 picks, including none in the fourth round. He parlayed his first trade-down into an early fourth-round pick, which was traded for an additional Day 3 selection, and ultimately a 2026 fourth-round pick. Any time a general manager can manufacture additional throws at the dart board on Day 3, it’s a win.
Unfortunately, that’s where my praise ends with this selection. There’s no denying that linebacker was a need, despite T.J. Edwards’ two-year extension. Even so, the Bears were responsible for the most significant “reach” according to the consensus board. Outside of NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein (who had a fifth-round grade on Hyppolite), no national draft analyst had a draftable grade on the Maryland product. Considering the other linebackers on the board, there’s no good way of justifying this pick (on paper). Now, Bears fans will just have to hope that the undersized speedster is a diamond in the rough.
Why It Makes Sense:
Linebackers have been a clear need all off-season, especially after they did not tender an offer to Jack Sanborn and allowed him to walk in free agency. Their top two starters are in place for 2025, but the depth behind them is unproven at best. Following Edwards’ two-year extension guaranteeing him money until 2027, there are plenty of reasons to question Tremaine Edmunds’ future in Chicago beyond this season. There have been plenty of successful Day 3 picks on linebackers, but I’m not convinced they picked the right player.
Assessing The Risks:
Poles’ ability to grab a fourth-round pick (after trading their own for the rights to take Austin Booker in last year’s draft) was impressive. Considering the talent on the board at No. 109, they could have easily walked away with five players expected to make an impact in Week 1. Instead, he traded down again, ultimately netting them a 2026 fourth-rounder. The process as a whole was sound, but “reaching” for a player who wasn’t universally seen as a Top 400 player in this class was not. Hyppolite is an undersized player who wowed at his Pro Day with a 4.42 40-yard dash. Outside of that, it’s hard to believe that this isn’t a player they could have drafted closer to Rounds 6 or 7. The Bears knew something that not many other teams did, or their obsession with speed clouded their judgment. Only time will tell how this pick pans out, but it has shades of former general manager Ryan Pace taking Joel Iyegbuniwe in the fourth round a few years back.
Grade: F
Round 5 (No. 148 overall) CB Zah Frazier (UTSA)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #159 (CB18)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: N/A (CB23)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: N/A
Despite cornerback being one of the Bears’ deepest spots on the depth chart, the Bears were not afraid to follow their board when it came to Frazier. It’s rare to see a cornerback that is 6’3 with a 4.37 40-time, yet that’s precisely what Chicago found in the fifth round of this class.
Plenty of speculation surrounds the future of third-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Luckily for the Bears, they’ve also got Terell Smith, who has played well when healthy. Frazier is still relatively new to football, but has an impressive athletic background. He broke onto the scene in 2024 with a six-interception season, although it’s worth noting that they all came in three games.
It’s best to look at Frazier as a “ball of clay” that defensive backs coach Al Harris will get to develop. After all, he was pounding the table for Frazier back in February. Now we’ll see what gains Frazier can make in the coming year or two. This is a purely developmental piece, hoping he can become a player similar to Tariq Woolen.
Why It Makes Sense:
Good defenses typically have quality depth at cornerback. They already had plenty for the Bears, but this is the type of pick teams make with eyes on the future. In a best-case scenario, he can step in early and provide competition for Stevenson and Smith. More realistically, Frazier will use this coaching staff to learn and develop his game into that of a potential starter in a year or two. Physically, he’s got all of the tools. He’s long, fast, and rangy. Despite his size, he has surprisingly fluid hips and overall movement skills. He did struggle against better competition, but with more talent around him, that might not be an issue.
Assessing The Risks:
Like most smaller-school projects without much experience, there’s a real chance that Frazier will always have more traits than production. Despite his height and length, he has a slender build and will need to add bulk to his frame to survive at the NFL level. Frazier will be 25 by the end of the season, so he’s not a younger prospect, which could impact his projected timeline and overall expectations. Overall, I’m not sure you can assign much “risk” to a developmental player in the fifth round with these elite traits. In the worst case, he never develops, and he won’t stay on the roster for long. More realistically, he’ll be a bottom-of-the-roster player, unless he grows into a playmaker.
Grade: B+
Round 6 (No. 195) iOL Luke Newman (Michigan State)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #337 (OG21)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: N/A (OG22)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: N/A
It’s been a long time since the Bears have actively drafted and developed offensive linemen outside of the draft’s first two days. Charles Leno Jr. and Jones are the two players who come to mind, but neither has been on the interior. With well-regarded offensive line coach Dan Roushar in the building, hitting on late Day 3 players is a must. On paper, Chicago seems set on the interior for the near future. That’s, of course, assuming that they extend Joe Thuney at some point before the start of the season. Even so, quality depth can never be overlooked.
Newman could become the first player to become a part of the Bears’ new line of thinking. On the surface, many see the fifth-year Senior as a borderline undrafted talent. He doesn’t have the greatest size, but he tested well, and there’s plenty to like about his athletic profile. He spent time at left tackle and left guard, but considering his lack of length, he’s likely to be an interior player at the NFL level. Right now, he’s a better pass blocker than a run blocker, but that’s where this new coaching staff will come in.
Why It Makes Sense:
Drafting and developing interior offensive line talent has not been something the Bears have been good at for as long as I can remember. The best teams in football draft guys, stash and develop, and rely on them when they are ready. Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers are prime examples of that over the last decade. Newman isn’t going to wow anybody with his physical traits, but there’s plenty to like on film. Ideally, Newman will act as the team’s ninth or 10th lineman in his rookie year, with an eye on contributing more in 2026.
Assessing The Risks:
Any time a team takes a player in the final two rounds of a draft, they run the risk of cutting them before the start of Week 1. Newman’s lack of length and struggles against the run will be an issue he must work past. His physical profile fits center better than it does guard, but with some time and the proper coaching, Newman could be a three-spot reserve with starting upside. There’s not a lot of downside here, even if he doesn’t make the roster. These are the inherent risks of any players drafted this late in the process.
Grade: B-
Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Round 7 (No. 233) RB Kyle Monangai (Rutgers)
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #190 (RB20)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: N/A (RB20)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: N/A
In my 10 Bears Takes last week, I predicted that offensive tackle and running back would be addressed within the first three selections for the Bears. I was half right, but if someone had told me that before making that prediction, I would have fully assumed I was wrong about tackle, not running back. Waiting to address running back until Round 7 was explainable in some ways.
I firmly believe that if Jeanty was there at No. 10 or Henderson at No. 39, we’re not having this conversation. From what I’ve been told, the “push” to trade up for Jeanty was overblown, but they did love both the player and the person. Henderson was a long-rumored target for the Bears, but one that they didn’t value enough to trade up for. Ultimately, it felt like a battle between value and bad luck. Sure, they could have taken Kaleb Johnson instead of Turner, but there’s a strong argument that the defensive line talent presented the better value. Bhayshul Tuten felt like another target in the fourth round but went before Chicago picked at No. 109, influencing another trade down.
Instead, they stuck to their board and ultimately landed on Monangai with their final pick of the draft. In terms of overall value, I’d say they did well in getting the Rutgers product. Most draft publications had him as an early Day 3 pick. Ultimately, he was one of a few victims of a historically deep class, which had to push down a few players. Monangai should have a good shot to make the 53-man roster, but I don’t believe his addition will rule them out of the veteran market in the coming months.
Why It Makes Sense:
They needed a running back. It’s as simple as that. Monangai isn’t the biggest or fastest guy on the field, but he runs hard and is a wizard in pass protection. There’s plenty of value in a running back like that, even if his role starts at the bottom of the depth chart. The 22-year-old averaged over five yards per carry over his last two years in college. Ball security shouldn’t be an issue at the next level, but his abilities as a pass catcher still need to be determined. If this class is as deep as many believe, Monangai can carve out a quality role in this offense, even if it is as the more physical back in short-yardage situations.
Assessing The Risks:
There aren’t many risks involved with a late seventh-round pick, especially at the running back position. The worst case is that he doesn’t make the final 53-man roster. There are minimal financial ramifications, and it’s hard to imagine this team relying too much on a late-round pick out of the gate. There’s much more to gain than to lose with the selection of Monangai.
Grade: B+
2025 Chicago Bears Draft Class Overview
Round 1 (No. 10 overall) TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)
Round 2 (No. 39 overall) (From Carolina Panthers): WR Luther Burden II (Missouri)
Round 2 (No. 56 overall) (From Buffalo Bills): OT Ozzy Trapilo (Boston College)
Round 2 (No. 62 overall) (From Buffalo Bills): DT Shemar Turner (Texas A&M)
Round 4 (No. 132 overall) (From Buffalo Bills): LB Ruben Hyppolite II (Maryland)
Round 5 (No. 169 overall) (From Buffalo Bills): CB Zah Frazier (UTSA)
Round 6 (No. 195 overall) (From Los Angeles Rams): iOL Luke Newman (Michigan State)
Round 7 (No. 233 overall) (From Cincinnati Bengals): RB Kyle Monangai (Rutgers)
Draft Day Trades:
- Bears send No. 41, No. 72, and No. 240 to the Bills for No. 56, No. 62, and No. 109
- Bears send No. 109 to the Bills for No. 132 and No. 169
- Bears send No. 148 to the Rams for No. 195 and a 2026 4th-round pick
Heading into the weekend, the Bears simply needed to get better. After an active free agency, the team was able to head into the draft with most options open. Teams always talk about going “Best Player Available” but they rarely do. In my estimation, that’s exactly what Chicago was able to accomplish.
Of their eight selections, at least three should be sizable contributors in Year 1. Loveland should split time with Kmet at tight end in one tight end sets, but I assume by the end of the year, Loveland will be their TE1. Burden’s role appears to be a little more in limbo. Health will play a big part, but I expect something similar to how Johnson used Jameson Williams early in his career. He can be a deep threat downfield and be a factor in the screen game. Considering the competition at left tackle, Trapilo’s immediate future might be the most ambiguous. There are also questions about which side he’ll ultimately end up on. Either way, I expect him to get a fair shot to break camp as one of the team’s starters, even if Jones is healthy. This needs to be about the future and not just 2025. Turner is the final name of their early picks that should contribute early. The bigger question for him is what they envision as his primary role. He comes out of college as a defensive tackle, but spent most of his collegiate career as an edge rusher. Allen likes versatility, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him playing all of the defensive line.
Other names like Hyppolite, Frazier, and Newman should compete for reserve roles in Year 1. Hyppolite’s speed could be a value, especially on special teams. Frazier is a raw player who will take time to develop. Luckily for the Bears, they have plenty of depth at cornerback. Newman is another developmental piece. Despite spending most of his time at tackle in college, it’ll be interesting to see if he’s seen more as a center or guard.
Despite being a seventh-round pick, Monangai’s role will be fun to monitor. There’s a good chance he goes into camp as RB4, maybe RB5, but his ability as a pass protector could earn him snaps early on. Don’t be surprised to see him used as a short-yardage back and on third down.
In total, this was an unconventional class. While they addressed some of their remaining needs, they also spent valuable draft capital in areas where they already have established starters. While this might be a weird feeling for most Bears fans, good teams tend to “backfill” positions and add additional depth early in the draft because their rosters are better all-around.
Not addressing edge rusher or safety is a gamble, but they only had a limited number of premium selections at their disposal. Luckily for them, multiple veteran options are still available at their remaining positions of need. It’ll just be a matter of how much they want each positional group to play out during the offseason program. It’s clear that Poles missed on a few targets that went right before their various selections. Adding two additional Day 3 selections and a 2026 fourth-round pick was a big plus, too.
Overall, the Bears “got better” (as every team in the draft does) and added needed talent. Even if Loveland and Burden are seen as luxury picks, they’ll ultimately help the development of their second-year quarterback. Drafting and developing a pair of offensive linemen is never a bad idea. The commitment to the offense was clear, but it was also good to see them add some talent to the defensive side of the ball.