The 2025 NFL Draft is still 34 days away and until then there will be plenty of speculation as to what the Chicago Bears will do with the 10th overall pick.
Will general manager Ryan Poles continue upgrading the trenches? Could a running back be the move? How about a trade?
For this exercise, let’s consider the latter and speculate what a trade-back scenario could look like for the Bears.
According to Draft experts and NFL scouts, the 2025 Draft doesn’t have many blue-chip prospects. That’s why a trade outside the top 10 could make sense, especially if the Bears feel like they could still acquire an impact player a few slots back.
But first, the Bears need a trade partner, and in this scenario that’s the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins finished 8-9 last season and second in the AFC East. Before missing the playoffs in 2024, they were eliminated in the Wild Card Round in back-to-back seasons. For the Dolphins to remain competitive in their division, the team must add quality players to the offensive line.
Last season, Miami finished 21st in the NFL in rushing yards per game (105.6) – a major drop-off from 2023 when the Dolphins ran for 135.8 rushing yards per game (6th-most). Another offensive lineman would also help Tua Tagovailoa stay on the field. The veteran quarterback played in just 11 games last season due to a concussion and hip sprain.
Using Pro Football Focus’ Mock Draft Simulator and Jimmy Johnson’s Trade Value Model, here is a potential trade scenario.
This is how the first nine picks went in the mock draft using PFF.
1. Titans
Abdul Carter (Penn State) DE
2. Browns
Cam Ward (Miami) QB
3. Giants
Travis Hunter (Colorado) CB/WR
4. Patriots
Armand Membou (Missouri) OT
5. Jaguars
Mason Graham (Michigan) DT
6. Raiders
Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) RB
7. Jets
Mykel Williams (Georgia) DE
8. Panthers
Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) WR
9. Saints
Tyler Warren (Penn State) TE
10. Bears
One of the most notable names still left on the board in this scenario is LSU left tackle Will Campbell. The Bears have already overhauled the interior of the offense line, but in this example, the Bears go in a different direction and wait for someone to call about a trade.
You may be wondering, though, why the Bears wouldn't draft Campbell themselves. It could be a number of reasons. Maybe general manager Ryan Poles likes Braxton Jones. Maybe Campbell's "short arms" are too much of an issue. Maybe Poles will address left tackle later in the draft with a player like Oregon's Josh Conerly. Honestly, who knows.
Sitting at the 11th spot is the San Franciso 49ers. The team needs to consider eventually replacing 36-year-old left tackle and future Hall-of-Famer Trent Williams. Aaron Banks also left a void at left guard when he signed with the Packers in free agency. They could use a player like Campbell.
So could the Dolphins. Left tackle Terron Armstead is considering retirement, and after playing right guard last season, Liam Eichenberg will likely be moving over to the left guard spot with the team signing guard James Daniels. Given the uncertainty of the left side of the line, Campbell becomes an obvious choice to help solve Miami's problems. To ensure the Dolphins end up with Campbell, here is the trade proposal they make to jump the 49ers one spot to select their new offensive lineman.
Bears Receive | Dolphins Receive |
|---|---|
Rd. 1 (13), Rd. 3 (98), Rd. 4 (108) | Rd. 1 (10) |
According to the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, the 10th overall pick is valued at 1,300 points. The Dolphins offer the Bears 13th overall (1,150 points), pick 98 (108 points), and pick 116 (64 points) -- which comes out to 1,322 total points. The Bears win the trade and get two additional picks, bringing the Bears' total to nine: 1 (13), 2 (39), 2 (41), 3 (72), 3 (98), 4 (108), 5 (148), 7 (233) and 7 (240)
With the 13th overall pick, I selected James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound edge rusher finished with 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season in 13 games played. He also had the seventh-highest pass rush win rate against true pass sets among edge rushers in this draft class. Pearce gives the Bears another pass rusher to go along with Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo.
Still, with eight more draft picks, the Bears are well-equipped to address further needs at running back, safety, and offensive and defensive tackle.
The NFL Draft is unpredictable and there will undoubtedly be several moves that nobody saw coming. The Bears trading back could definitely be an option, especially with how the team handled addressing many needs in free agency.