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The Chicago Bears are clear-cut winners following the first wave of free agency, where they overhauled their interior offensive line and shored up the defensive trenches along the way.
The Bears retooled the interior offensive line with the additions of guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, as well as center Drew Dalman. They also added Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo to address the defensive trenches. So how does that impact their draft strategy?
General manager Ryan Poles said those veteran additions "opens the whole board for us," which means we could see Chicago go "best player available" rather than just address a specific need. And that's quite clear in these latest round of mock drafts.
We've rounded up the latest 2025 NFL mock drafts, where experts can't seem to agree what direction the Bears are going with the 10th overall pick -- be it offensive line, defensive line, running back, cornerback, you name it.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: "I've gone offensive line for the Bears in both of my previous mock drafts, but that box was checked in free agency. Chicago traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson then signed center Drew Dalman. And while the Bears also added Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett on the defensive front, they could still use someone like Williams coming off the edge. They ranked in the middle of the pack last season in sacks (40) but were 24th in pass rush win rate (36.5%). Williams is a toolsy prospect who can beat blockers with his speed or power. He missed time with an ankle injury early last season but still picked up five sacks. Given a little more time to develop, he could be a really solid NFL edge rusher."
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah: "The overhaul of the offensive line is now complete with a new left tackle in place. Chicago's trio of March O-line acquisitions would be sandwiched between two top-10 picks in Campbell and right tackle Darnell Wright."
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards: "Chicago has made wholesale additions to its roster, which could allow it to make what would have been considered a luxury selection just a few weeks ago. Ashton Jeanty is a net positive in both the run and pass games, which should take pressure off young quarterback Caleb Williams."
Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice: "Despite concerns about his arm length, everything else is there for Campbell to be a solid NFL tackle. With Darnell Wright already in place on the right side, he and Campbell could be the tandem that keeps Caleb Williams upright for years to come."
PFF's John Kosko: "After beefing up their offensive line in free agency, the Bears look for a defensive lineman to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Ezeiruaku posted a 90.0 PFF overall grade in 2024 to pair with 14 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. His 18.2% pass-rush win rate was one of the best in college football, and he should provide the Bears with a badly needed disruptor on the edge."
FOX Sports' Rob Rang: "There isn't a trophy given for winning the offseason, but if there was, GM Ryan Poles and the Bears might be the champs. He lured Ben Johnson from their division rival Detroit Lions to serve as head coach and nabbed several new starters along the line of scrimmage in trades and free agency. As such, the Bears could go in virtually any direction at No. 10 overall. Why not gamble on a three-time All-SEC selection with more tools than the local Home Depot?"
33rd Team's Marcus Mosher: "This feels high for Kenneth Grant, but the board did not fall well here for the Bears. Tyler Warren was also considered, but Grant is the pick as the Bears try to rebuild their defensive line into a powerhouse. Grant has unusual athleticism for a nose tackle and would give them another option to pair with Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter. With every team in the NFC North running the ball well, adding an athletic nose tackle to an already good defense doesn’t seem like the worst idea."
Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling: "The Bears attacked free agency in a big way on both sides of the ball, filling their biggest needs in the trenches and freeing them up to make somewhat of a luxury pick here. Jeanty is one of the few truly elite prospects in this class, regardless of position, and could have a Saquon Barkley-level impact on Chicago's offense."
Draft Network's Ryan Fowler: "As technically elite a corner in the class, Will Johnson would slot in right away on the outside to form a dynamic perimeter trio of him, Jaylon Johnson, and Tyrique Stevenson. You don't pass on a player of Johnson's caliber simply because you are set in your ways with Jaylon Johnson and Stevenson, and his arrival would boost all three levels of the Bears' defense."
Pro Football Network's Marco Enriquez: "The Chicago Bears have made strong moves to reinforce their interior offensive line. However, with Joe Thuney unlikely to have a long-term future in Chicago, they need young talent to protect Caleb Williams. They fill a much-needed hole while adding a player in Will Campbell who should not be falling as far as he has been in recent mocks. There are some concerns about Campbell’s arm length, but it shouldn’t scare away Chicago, which just needs youth and depth. He has strong blocking fundamentals and balanced footwork. His pass protection is solid, but he needs to refine his lateral quickness to handle elite speed rushers. If needed, Campbell could transition to guard, making him a versatile asset for Chicago. He could end up being the heir to Thuney after the 2025 season."
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL mock draft roundup: Experts can't agree what Bears do at 10
Continue reading...
The Bears retooled the interior offensive line with the additions of guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, as well as center Drew Dalman. They also added Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo to address the defensive trenches. So how does that impact their draft strategy?
General manager Ryan Poles said those veteran additions "opens the whole board for us," which means we could see Chicago go "best player available" rather than just address a specific need. And that's quite clear in these latest round of mock drafts.
We've rounded up the latest 2025 NFL mock drafts, where experts can't seem to agree what direction the Bears are going with the 10th overall pick -- be it offensive line, defensive line, running back, cornerback, you name it.
ESPN: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: "I've gone offensive line for the Bears in both of my previous mock drafts, but that box was checked in free agency. Chicago traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson then signed center Drew Dalman. And while the Bears also added Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett on the defensive front, they could still use someone like Williams coming off the edge. They ranked in the middle of the pack last season in sacks (40) but were 24th in pass rush win rate (36.5%). Williams is a toolsy prospect who can beat blockers with his speed or power. He missed time with an ankle injury early last season but still picked up five sacks. Given a little more time to develop, he could be a really solid NFL edge rusher."
NFL.com: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah: "The overhaul of the offensive line is now complete with a new left tackle in place. Chicago's trio of March O-line acquisitions would be sandwiched between two top-10 picks in Campbell and right tackle Darnell Wright."
CBS Sports: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards: "Chicago has made wholesale additions to its roster, which could allow it to make what would have been considered a luxury selection just a few weeks ago. Ashton Jeanty is a net positive in both the run and pass games, which should take pressure off young quarterback Caleb Williams."
Yahoo! Sports: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Yahoo! Sports' Nate Tice: "Despite concerns about his arm length, everything else is there for Campbell to be a solid NFL tackle. With Darnell Wright already in place on the right side, he and Campbell could be the tandem that keeps Caleb Williams upright for years to come."
Pro Football Focus: Donovan Ezeiruaka, EDGE, Boston College
PFF's John Kosko: "After beefing up their offensive line in free agency, the Bears look for a defensive lineman to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Ezeiruaku posted a 90.0 PFF overall grade in 2024 to pair with 14 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. His 18.2% pass-rush win rate was one of the best in college football, and he should provide the Bears with a badly needed disruptor on the edge."
FOX Sports: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
FOX Sports' Rob Rang: "There isn't a trophy given for winning the offseason, but if there was, GM Ryan Poles and the Bears might be the champs. He lured Ben Johnson from their division rival Detroit Lions to serve as head coach and nabbed several new starters along the line of scrimmage in trades and free agency. As such, the Bears could go in virtually any direction at No. 10 overall. Why not gamble on a three-time All-SEC selection with more tools than the local Home Depot?"
33rd Team: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
33rd Team's Marcus Mosher: "This feels high for Kenneth Grant, but the board did not fall well here for the Bears. Tyler Warren was also considered, but Grant is the pick as the Bears try to rebuild their defensive line into a powerhouse. Grant has unusual athleticism for a nose tackle and would give them another option to pair with Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter. With every team in the NFC North running the ball well, adding an athletic nose tackle to an already good defense doesn’t seem like the worst idea."
Athlon Sports: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling: "The Bears attacked free agency in a big way on both sides of the ball, filling their biggest needs in the trenches and freeing them up to make somewhat of a luxury pick here. Jeanty is one of the few truly elite prospects in this class, regardless of position, and could have a Saquon Barkley-level impact on Chicago's offense."
Draft Network: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Draft Network's Ryan Fowler: "As technically elite a corner in the class, Will Johnson would slot in right away on the outside to form a dynamic perimeter trio of him, Jaylon Johnson, and Tyrique Stevenson. You don't pass on a player of Johnson's caliber simply because you are set in your ways with Jaylon Johnson and Stevenson, and his arrival would boost all three levels of the Bears' defense."
Pro Football Network: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Pro Football Network's Marco Enriquez: "The Chicago Bears have made strong moves to reinforce their interior offensive line. However, with Joe Thuney unlikely to have a long-term future in Chicago, they need young talent to protect Caleb Williams. They fill a much-needed hole while adding a player in Will Campbell who should not be falling as far as he has been in recent mocks. There are some concerns about Campbell’s arm length, but it shouldn’t scare away Chicago, which just needs youth and depth. He has strong blocking fundamentals and balanced footwork. His pass protection is solid, but he needs to refine his lateral quickness to handle elite speed rushers. If needed, Campbell could transition to guard, making him a versatile asset for Chicago. He could end up being the heir to Thuney after the 2025 season."
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL mock draft roundup: Experts can't agree what Bears do at 10
Continue reading...
