2025 Bears Offseason Thread

[Tryptamine]

Did they seriously trade down yet again? Is the plan to fill this team with a as many mediocre prospects as possible?

[Rcal10]

I hate this draft aside from the receiver in rd 2. WTF are they doing?

[cwood218]

Bears picked up a 2026 4th ( Rams ) to drop from 5.10 to 6.19.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Just now, cwood218 said:

Bears picked up a 2026 4th ( Rams ) to drop from 5.10 to 6.19.

Seems like a fine deal.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I like the first four picks, Curious if the plan is to move Darnell Wright to the left side. That would make me a bit nervous but otherwise not sure what the plan is for Trapilo. The draft didn’t break their way for RB. Surprised at the lack of an EDGE. 

[Tryptamine]

Well I can say with near certainty we're getting another year of Swift as the lead back which is honestly just a failure when it was the 2nd biggest need going into the draft.

[Soul]

46 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

I find this draft extremely mediocre. I had no issues with #10 and no issues with #39, especially if they really had him that high up their board, but after that it really falls off pretty hard. I didn't dislike Trapilo and I actually liked getting Turner, but I'd have much preferred just taking Ezeiruaku at 41 instead. I wonder if they got snake bit twice with Henderson going at #38 and Skattebo going at #105.

I think that’s what happened.  They thought they’d get Henderson and he went right before.  So they traded 41 back thinking at least one of the EDGE picks would be there, but they were all gone.  I think they should have just kept 41 and picked EDGE.

They’ll never say it though but that seems like a reasonable explanation.  I don’t think they got what they hoped for from this draft

[tfarks]

I like that they essentially recouped their 4th from the Thuney deal. Not so much anything else.

[raw]

There's been 2 players in this draft I've never heard of. Bears have picked them both

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Well I can say with near certainty we're getting another year of Swift as the lead back which is honestly just a failure when it was the 2nd biggest need going into the draft.

You can't fix all the problems in one draft. Would I wanted an upgrade as t RB? I was on the Jeanty bandwagon, but oh well. To me this has been a solid draft with a chance to be really good.

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, Soul said:

I think that’s what happened.  They thought they’d get Henderson and he went right before.  So they traded 41 back thinking at least one of the EDGE picks would be there, but they were all gone.  I think they should have just kept 41 and picked EDGE.

They’ll never say it though but that seems like a reasonable explanation.  I don’t think they got what they hoped for from this draft

That might have happened in rd 4 too, with Skattebo. He went a few picks before their pick and they moved back again. Don’t like this draft, at all. C-

[Hot Sauce]

Not getting the draft hate. The Bears have done well. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

6 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

Not getting the draft hate. The Bears have done well. 

I don't get it either. 

[tfarks]

Think its mainly the RB consternation and the significant trade backs missing out on the best of the rest edge prospects. Are the Bears that comfortable with those rooms or did they truly get sniped multiple times? Even now in the 7th round guys like Damien Martinez and Brashard Smith are going right in front of the Bears. Just to mix things up, a LB barely anyone knew of in round 4. Day 3 felt like it just fizzled out, but it's day 3 and they're trait-based gambles/projects for the most part. 

Overall, I like the draft as a whole and the players they brought in. Again, absolutely love the Loveland pick, and with Ben I think Burden can become an amazing weapon, vertically and with YAC. Think he'll be a how did he fall that far type of guy in not too long. With that trade back, they get a Rob Havenstein like Goliath OT and an explosive player on the d-line who lined up everywhere (played edge well before moving inside). 

[gflore34]

It's disappointing they couldn't address RB, I believe everyone they had targeted was drafted before the Bears had a chance to pick.

[gflore34]

Took a RB, would have preferred Sanders from South Carolina but, Monangai is about as good as could be expected in the 7th round.  Nothing to prevent them from signing a bunch UDFA RB's as well, I know it's not best route to address RB.  And, for it's worth, many ratings had Burden as a late first rounder, for all hand smacking, cheering, etc. that occurred when the Packers picked Golden.  Burden was the higher rated prospect on many boards and mocks, think the Bears may have something.

Edited April 26, 2025 by gflore34

[jersey cubs fan]

Non-plussed by the first pick and hate the LB in 4th but rest is fine. Definitely think they got their guy stolen a few times. OL depth and future should be good. WR/TE rooms are stacked. 
 

pass rush still gonna suck though. 

[gflore34]

20 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Non-plussed by the first pick and hate the LB in 4th but rest is fine. Definitely think they got their guy stolen a few times. OL depth and future should be good. WR/TE rooms are stacked. 
 

pass rush still gonna suck though. 

Don’t have any hope for the pass rush and the LB in the fourth was senseless..  Do have great hope Caleb’ going to cook and the offense will light up the scoreboard.

[UK]

How my draft would have gone...

Shemar Stewart - Edge A&M- 1

Burden (Same) - 2

Tate Ratledge - IOL - UGA - 2

Harold Fannin - TE - BGSU - 2

Carson Vinson - OT - Alabama A&M - 4

Chris Paul Jr LB -  Ole Miss - 5

Rayune Lane S - Navy - 6

Jacoby Merritt - HB - Arizona - 7

[minnesotacubsfan]

I'm more optimistic about the pass rush. I feel Sweat had a down year but can recover, Dexter is solid, and hopefully Obeyingbo has a break out year. That, or blitz the living hell out of the other team.

 

 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Bears draft grades from various publications:
 

CBS B+

One of six teams with a B+ grade, behind ten teams with a grade of A- or better.

Quote

General manager Ryan Poles appears to be in lock-step with new head coach Ben Johnson, as the Bears drafted two matchup nightmares in the first two rounds in Loveland and Burden. Trapilo is an athletic grinder and Turner adds pass-rushing depth -- plus upside -- on the interior of the defensive front, which was needed.
 

The Hyppolite pick felt forced. The Frazier selection made up for it, because he has elite-level upside as an outside, playmaking cornerback. Poles understood the assignment -- foster an even better environment for Caleb Williams, keep the offensive line deep and add pieces to the defense. Smart draft.

The Ringer A-

One of five teams with a grade of A-, behind five teams with a grade of A or better.

Quote

THE BEARS’ TOP PRIORITY EARLY ON IN THIS DRAFT WAS TO ADD TALENT AROUND QUARTERBACK CALEB WILLIAMS. The team grabbed Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with their first pick, ostensibly with visions of turning him into Brian Johnson’s new version of Sam LaPorta. And if you squint, it’s not too hard to picture their second-round selection—Missouri’s Luther Burden III—playing the role of Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle, where his play strength and run-after-the-catch talent can be featured. Chicago added depth and developmental upside with the selection of Boston College tackle Ozzy Trapilo, while their first defensive pick, Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, brings some tenacity and power to the defensive front. Overall, I like that Chicago made Williams’s development a focus—and both Loveland and Burden should be on the field very early on. 

Fox Sports A-

One of six A- grades, behind 3 teams with A grades.

Quote

Given the way that Sam LaPorta helped the Detroit Lions the past two seasons, few know better than new Bears head coach Ben Johnson the immediate impact a playmaking tight end can make. While I was slightly surprised to see Colston Loveland drafted ahead of Tyler Warren, the former is actually a better schematic fit for the Bears given that the club already boasts a quality dual-purpose tight end in Cole Kmet, allowing Loveland to play more of the "big receiver" role. 

I liked the Bears' selection on Thursday, but I loved their picks on Friday. Wide receiver is not a position I expected them to focus on early, but Luther Burden III is the best receiver after the catch in this draft and will make their offense (and special teams) instantly more explosive. Similarly, I like the pro-readiness and nastiness that fellow second-rounders Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner provide. Of the Bears' Day 3 picks, I'm most intrigued by the upside of UTSA cornerback Zah Frazier, who offers many of the traits that have helped Tariq Woolen — another former fifth-round pick — emerge as a starter for the Seahawks. 

 

 

PFF B+

One of nine teams with a grade of B+, behind thirteen teams with a grade of A- or better.

Quote

1 (10): TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

Loveland — This pick shows that first-year head coach Ben Johnson already has his fingerprints on Chicago’s team-building philosophy. Pairing Loveland with Cole Kmet gives the Bearssignificant personnel flexibility. Loveland is a polished receiving tight end and ranked in the 96th percentile in receiving yards per route run at the position this past season. Caleb Williamsnow has plenty of weapons to work with in D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, Kmet and Loveland.

2 (39): WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

Burden — Chicago is doing everything in its power to set Caleb Williams up for success, giving him two pass-catching weapons with their first two selections. Burden wasn’t able to match his 2023 production (1,212 yards and nine touchdowns) last year at Missouri, but he still has a strong case for being the most dangerous wide receiver in this class after the catch (third among Power 4 wide receivers in yards after the catch over the last two seasons).

2 (56): T Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College

Trapilo — Trapilo started at left tackle for Boston College in 2022 before becoming the right tackle in 2023 and 2024. Trapilo brings massive length and size to the position and has NFL bloodlines with his father playing in the NFL. He allowed just two sacks the past two years with an 80.5 pass blocking grade in 2024.

2 (62): Dl Shemar Turner, Texas A&M

Turner — Turner graded better in 2023, which is the same thing that can be said about that entire Texas A&M defensive line. Boasting a 76.6 overall PFF grade in 2023, Turner has positional versatility, as he played all along the defensive spots in college. Turner plays with a high-motor and has active hands, and his 7.9% run-stop rate was a bright spot in 2024.

4 (132): LB Ruben Hyppolite II, Maryland

Hyppolite — Hyppolite îs a fast but undersized linebacker. He logged 425 career special teams snaps, and that is likely where he will feature for the Bears.

5 (169): CB Zah Frazier, UTSA

Frazier — Frazier enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, posting an 85.9 PFF overall grade in his first season as a full-time starter in college. He was tested 38 times in coverage, allowing just 18 catches while picking off six balls and forcing eight incompletions.

6 (195): G Luke Newman, Michigan State

Newman — After two FCS All-American seasons at Holy Cross, Newman was able to make a smooth transition to the Big Ten. Despite the jump in competition, Newman was up to the challenge, as he didn’t have a single game where his PFF grade went below 60.0.

7 (233): RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

Monangai — Monangai almost seeks out defenders in his run style, gaining 862 rush yards after contact in 2024. In 2023, Monangai earned an excellent 92.5 PFF overall grade, though he came back down to earth in 2024 with a 77.3 mark.

Washington Post B+

One of seven B+ grades, behind one team with an A grade.

Quote

This was all about the team’s offensive-minded first-year coach, Ben Johnson, and its second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams. The Bears had four picks in the opening two rounds and devoted the first three of them to their offense, with first-round tight end Colston Loveland and the second-round duo of wide receiver Luther Burden III and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo. It’s debatable whether the Bears should have taken Loveland over fellow tight end Tyler Warren, but both are well regarded. Burden represented great second-round value. Second-round defensive tackle Shemar Turner also should help considerably. This draft class is a sizable step in the proper direction.

NFL.com B+

One of nine teams with a grade of B+, behind sixteen (!) teams with a grade of A- or better.

Quote

• Loveland is a talented player, but we'll see over the next couple of years whether fellow tight end Tyler Warren, who went four picks later, would have been the better selection at No. 10. I expect Burden to be a stud in Chicago, where he’ll team up with DJ Mooreand Rome Odunze. The Trapilo and Turner picks addressed needs, even if the team might have jumped the board a bit for them.
• Hyppolite was picked a bit earlier than I expected, but he has the quickness and toughness to make an impact on special teams defense. Frazier's a bit of a project in the fifth round, but he did intercept six passes last season. Newman could contribute at guard or tackle. Monangai could prove to be the best value of all these picks.

Yahoo B

One of eight teams with a grade of B. Behind thirteen teams with a grade of B+ or above.

Quote

Ben Johnson’s fingerprints were all over this draft for the Bears. Adding tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and tackle Ozzy Trapilo were clear moves to try and improve Chicago's offensive roster after last year’s disaster performance in Caleb Williams’ first year as the starting quarterback. Trapilo is a bit of a project and Burden might need a bit of refinement in his transition to the league, but if they hit their ceilings they could end up being strong, positive players for the Bears. Their offensive Round 2 picks are a bit risky, but not indefensible. Shemar Turner was a nice depth pick for the defensive line, but it felt early for him.

 

Edited April 27, 2025 by Bobson Dugnutt

[BigbadB]

I wonder if Ian Wheeler might be their diamond in the rough at RB. He has a great preseason last year before his injury. They obviously have some competition for Swift and Johnson in camp even if it isn't guys that were available to draft earlier. I will say that the end result is a bit sad considering RB and EDGE were supposedly deep talent pools. 

I'm not as down on Swift as most of the fanbase seems to be. Fixing the line is going to improve the running game. He has great hands and running after the catch in the open hasn't been a problem for him. Burden III seems like a guy who could get some backfield touches as well. This could be a very explosive offense.

I think the defensive line will be decent enough. DT should be rock solid with plenty of depth to rotate and keep guys fresh. Interested to see what Dennis Allen can do with these guys.

[CubinNY]

8 hours ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Bears draft grades from various publications:
 

CBS A-
The Ringer A-

Walter Football A-
PFF B+
Washington Post B+

NSBB posters D-

[BigbadB]

Here is the list of UDFA's the Bears signed so far.

• Major Burns, S, LSU 
• Power Echols, LB, North Carolina
• J.P. Richardson, WR, TCU 
• Luke Elkin, LS, Iowa 
• Jonathan Kim, K, Michigan State
• Xavier Carlton, EDGE, Cal
• Jahdae Walker, WR, Texas A&M 
• Tysheem Johnson, S, Oregon
• Jereme Robinson, DE, Kansas 

The WR room is going to be pretty full in camp this year. Moore, Odunze, Zaccheaus, Burden, Duvernay, Scott, Boykin, Nsimba Webster,  Collin Johnson, John Jackson, Maurice Alexander, Samori Toure, JP Richardson and Jahdae Walker. ESPN doesn't have Johnson or Webster on the roster, but NFL.com does.

[jersey cubs fan]

A long snapper from Iowa must have a lot of experience