For the first time in three years, the Bears enter the draft somewhere other than the top.

And somehow, starting over in Chicago has never been quite this exciting.

Anticipation for a pairing of 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with new head coach Ben Johnson has the Bears expecting a jump out of the NFC North cellar. But the Bears have been here before.

Chicago was a trendy playoff pick in 2024, before rookie quarterback Williams was under constant pressure behind a leaky offensive line. Still, he delivered a reasonably strong debut season despite working with multiple offensive coordinators and head coaches in the span of five months.

General manager Ryan Poles paid a record sum to hire Johnson away from the Detroit Lions and kept the account active in free agency with an overhaul of the offensive line and a hefty deal to pick up former Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

Poles said last month that the flurry of moves allow the front office to select the “best player available” at No. 10 overall.

Team needs
Left tackle
Braxton Jones is a replacement-level starter. Caleb Williams isn’t a replacement-level quarterback. The Bears signed center Drew Dalman and acquired a pair of veteran guards, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, to shore up the line.

Pass rusher
This is arguably the deepest position in the 2025 draft. Always willing to deal for a blue-chip player, Ryan Poles might move mountains to be in position to select Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter. If not, he’ll have plentiful speed options available at 10 and possibly into the second round. For three consecutive seasons, the Bears’ individual sacks leader finished with fewer than 6.5.

Running back
Already familiar with shifty starter D’Andre Swift, the Bears might chase a more consistent power back than current backup Roschon Johnson.

Safety
Johnson publicly described how he coached the Lions to pick apart current Bears starting safety Jaquan Brisker, a second-round pick in 2022. Warning or teachable moment? Brisker is entering a contract year.

Best prospect fits
OT Armand Membou, Missouri
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia
DE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 7
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 10, 10
2: 7, 39 (from Carolina Panthers)
2: 9, 41
3: 8, 72
5: 10, 148
7: 17, 233 (from Cincinnati Bengals)
7: 24, 240 (from Cleveland Browns)

History Lesson
–RT Darnell Wright (Tennessee) was drafted 10th overall by the Bears in 2023.
–This is the sixth time since 2015 the Bears have at least one top-10 pick.
–Every player the Bears drafted in the first two rounds in 2022-24 was a starter last season.

–Field Level Media