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The Chicago Bears looked poised to start the Caleb Williams era 5-2 before Jayden Daniels' stunning Hail Mary in Chicago's Week 7 showdown with the Washington Commanders.
That defeat sent the Bears into a downward spiral. Chicago endured a 10-game losing streak during which it fired its head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Williams ended up being sacked a league-high 68 times, which prompted major changes to the Bears' organization and roster during the offseason.
Chicago made wholesale changes to its interior offensive line during NFL free agency as new head coach Ben Johnson looks to replicate the formula for success he enjoyed with the Detroit Lions. The Bears also added to the trenches on defense in an effort to improve their pass-rushing efficacy.
Despite these upgrades, the Bears still have some work to do in the 2025 NFL draft to get themselves back on a winning trajectory. They will likely continue addressing the weaknesses they targeted in free agency while also adding depth and talent at some other positions, like running back.
Here's a look at what the Bears could do with their seven selections in the 2025 NFL draft.
2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Will Shedeur Sanders, Ashton Jeanty go in top five?
The Bears spent the 2025 NFL offseason adding talent to their interior offensive line, trading for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney while signing center Drew Dalman to a big-money deal. They could still stand to add some tackle talent to compete with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, who allowed a combined 11 sacks last season.
Campbell is a powerful, steady run blocker who held his own as a three-year starting left tackle in the SEC. The LSU product's length (33 inch arms) is a minor concern, but the 6-foot-6, 319 pounder's tape strong tape speaks for itself. He can be given a chance to remain outside at tackle or eventually kick inside to guard if his length becomes an issue. Chicago would first try him outside but could view him as a successor for Thuney if that doesn't pan out.
The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency but still need more of a boost to their pass rush across from Montez Sweat, who had a team-high 5.5 sacks last year. Adding Tuimoloau would give Chicago a good three-man rotation at the position.
Tuimoloau was productive in his final season at Ohio State, racking up 12.5 sacks, 6.5 of which came during the team's four College Football Playoff games. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound prospect is a power-based rusher which makes him an ideal long-term partner across from the longer, more athletic Sweat.
D'Andre Swift's first season in Chicago was a disappointment. He failed to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards and averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry. Swift may have better success behind an improved offensive line, but the Bears could stand to upgrade the position or at least find a quality partner for him
Henderson is a home-run threat who averaged a career-high 7.1 yards per carry during his final season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes star is a proven, three-down back (77 catches across four seasons) and twice went for over 1,000 yards as part of Ohio State's strong committee of backs. He could end up being Chicago's version of Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived under the tutelage of Johnson in Detroit.
NFL DRAFT RB RANKINGS: Ashton Jeanty tops deep class at position
Cole Kmet has been a solid top tight end for the Bears, but they don't have much receiving talent beyond him, as veteran Durham Smythe is more of a blocker.
Arroyo is coming off a career-best season during which he made 35 catches for 590 yards and seven touchdowns after logging just 11 catches in his first three seasons. The Miami product battled nagging knee injuries early in his college career, which explains why he is a one-year wonder.
While that could cause Arroyo to slip in the draft, 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight ends with great receiving skills aren't exactly common. Add in that he appeared to get healthier as last season progressed and Arroyo may convince a team like the Bears to take a chance on him during Day 2 of the draft.
Kevin Byard enjoyed a strong first season in Chicago but he is set to be a free agent following the 2025 campaign, which will be his age-32 season. As such, the Bears could stand to add young depth and a potential successor behind the veteran.
Moore started in four of his five seasons at Alabama and was generally productive in pass coverage, totaling seven interceptions and 25 pass defenses during his five college seasons. The 5-foot-11, 196-pound safety isn't as strong in run support, but he could develop into a better-rounded safety at the professional level.
The Bears had success developing a similar Alabama safety prospect, Eddie Jackson, into a 100-game starter for the team after selecting him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Perhaps that history will cause Chicago to gravitate toward Moore.
The Bears could stand to add linebacker depth after seeing Jack Sanborn leave the team in free agency. Martin is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds but has good burst and explosiveness to go along with stellar per-game production over his final two seasons with the Cowboys.
Martin played just five games during the 2024 college season because of a knee injury but still racked up 47 tackles, eight TFL and a sack in those games. In 2023, he recorded the sixth-most tackles in the FBS with 140 while leading his team in TFL (16) and sacks (six). At the very least, he should be a great special teams player at the NFL level.
The Bears signed Olamide Zaccheaus to replace Keenan Allen as their No. 3 receiver. Chicago could still stand to add some depth to its receiving corps while searching for a speed weapon to pair with Williams.
Enter Smith, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL combine and averaged a whopping 19.9 yards per reception during his five years at Georgia. He had a career-best 48 catches, 817 yards and four touchdowns last season but will need to cut down on his drops (10 with a 17.2% drop rate in 2024, per Pro Football Focus) to carve out a role as a rotational speed threat in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bears mock draft: Chicago builds around Caleb Williams, lands star RB
Continue reading...
That defeat sent the Bears into a downward spiral. Chicago endured a 10-game losing streak during which it fired its head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Williams ended up being sacked a league-high 68 times, which prompted major changes to the Bears' organization and roster during the offseason.
Chicago made wholesale changes to its interior offensive line during NFL free agency as new head coach Ben Johnson looks to replicate the formula for success he enjoyed with the Detroit Lions. The Bears also added to the trenches on defense in an effort to improve their pass-rushing efficacy.
Despite these upgrades, the Bears still have some work to do in the 2025 NFL draft to get themselves back on a winning trajectory. They will likely continue addressing the weaknesses they targeted in free agency while also adding depth and talent at some other positions, like running back.
Here's a look at what the Bears could do with their seven selections in the 2025 NFL draft.
2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Will Shedeur Sanders, Ashton Jeanty go in top five?
Chicago Bears 7-round mock draft
Round 1, Pick 10: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Bears spent the 2025 NFL offseason adding talent to their interior offensive line, trading for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney while signing center Drew Dalman to a big-money deal. They could still stand to add some tackle talent to compete with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, who allowed a combined 11 sacks last season.
Campbell is a powerful, steady run blocker who held his own as a three-year starting left tackle in the SEC. The LSU product's length (33 inch arms) is a minor concern, but the 6-foot-6, 319 pounder's tape strong tape speaks for itself. He can be given a chance to remain outside at tackle or eventually kick inside to guard if his length becomes an issue. Chicago would first try him outside but could view him as a successor for Thuney if that doesn't pan out.
Round 2, Pick 39: J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency but still need more of a boost to their pass rush across from Montez Sweat, who had a team-high 5.5 sacks last year. Adding Tuimoloau would give Chicago a good three-man rotation at the position.
Tuimoloau was productive in his final season at Ohio State, racking up 12.5 sacks, 6.5 of which came during the team's four College Football Playoff games. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound prospect is a power-based rusher which makes him an ideal long-term partner across from the longer, more athletic Sweat.
Round 2, Pick 41: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
D'Andre Swift's first season in Chicago was a disappointment. He failed to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards and averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry. Swift may have better success behind an improved offensive line, but the Bears could stand to upgrade the position or at least find a quality partner for him
Henderson is a home-run threat who averaged a career-high 7.1 yards per carry during his final season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes star is a proven, three-down back (77 catches across four seasons) and twice went for over 1,000 yards as part of Ohio State's strong committee of backs. He could end up being Chicago's version of Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived under the tutelage of Johnson in Detroit.
NFL DRAFT RB RANKINGS: Ashton Jeanty tops deep class at position
Round 3, Pick 72: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (FL)
Cole Kmet has been a solid top tight end for the Bears, but they don't have much receiving talent beyond him, as veteran Durham Smythe is more of a blocker.
Arroyo is coming off a career-best season during which he made 35 catches for 590 yards and seven touchdowns after logging just 11 catches in his first three seasons. The Miami product battled nagging knee injuries early in his college career, which explains why he is a one-year wonder.
While that could cause Arroyo to slip in the draft, 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight ends with great receiving skills aren't exactly common. Add in that he appeared to get healthier as last season progressed and Arroyo may convince a team like the Bears to take a chance on him during Day 2 of the draft.
Round 5, Pick 148: Malachi Moore, S, Alabama
Kevin Byard enjoyed a strong first season in Chicago but he is set to be a free agent following the 2025 campaign, which will be his age-32 season. As such, the Bears could stand to add young depth and a potential successor behind the veteran.
Moore started in four of his five seasons at Alabama and was generally productive in pass coverage, totaling seven interceptions and 25 pass defenses during his five college seasons. The 5-foot-11, 196-pound safety isn't as strong in run support, but he could develop into a better-rounded safety at the professional level.
The Bears had success developing a similar Alabama safety prospect, Eddie Jackson, into a 100-game starter for the team after selecting him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Perhaps that history will cause Chicago to gravitate toward Moore.
Round 7, Pick 223: Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State
The Bears could stand to add linebacker depth after seeing Jack Sanborn leave the team in free agency. Martin is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds but has good burst and explosiveness to go along with stellar per-game production over his final two seasons with the Cowboys.
Martin played just five games during the 2024 college season because of a knee injury but still racked up 47 tackles, eight TFL and a sack in those games. In 2023, he recorded the sixth-most tackles in the FBS with 140 while leading his team in TFL (16) and sacks (six). At the very least, he should be a great special teams player at the NFL level.
Round 7, Pick 240: Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
The Bears signed Olamide Zaccheaus to replace Keenan Allen as their No. 3 receiver. Chicago could still stand to add some depth to its receiving corps while searching for a speed weapon to pair with Williams.
Enter Smith, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL combine and averaged a whopping 19.9 yards per reception during his five years at Georgia. He had a career-best 48 catches, 817 yards and four touchdowns last season but will need to cut down on his drops (10 with a 17.2% drop rate in 2024, per Pro Football Focus) to carve out a role as a rotational speed threat in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bears mock draft: Chicago builds around Caleb Williams, lands star RB
Continue reading...
