The 2025 NFL Draft marked another key checkpoint for general manager Ryan Poles and new head coach Ben Johnson as they continued shaping a young roster built around quarterback Caleb Williams.
Chicago came into the draft focused on finding long-term offensive playmakers, adding versatility in the trenches, and reinforcing its defensive depth with high-upside athletes.
Through the first half of the 2025 season, the class has provided a little of everything -- immediate contributions, steady rotational help, and future building blocks on both sides of the ball.
Here’s a pick-by-pick look at how each selection has fit into Chicago’s plans:
Round 1, Pick 10: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Chicago’s selection of Colston Loveland 10th overall underscored how much Ben Johnson values tight ends as centerpiece weapons in his system -- just take a peek at the role Sam LaPorta had in Detroit.
The Michigan product was viewed as one of the most complete tight ends in the class last spring, a player with the athleticism and hands to win vertically, and the blocking ability to stay on the field to remain impactful on all three downs.
Loveland’s rookie year hasn’t been entirely smooth, missing early time, but he’s shown flashes of exactly why Chicago invested top-10 capital. Through five games, he’s caught eight passes for 78 yards, including multiple chain-moving grabs in crucial situations.
What’s most encouraging is how he fits alongside Cole Kmet, both in the short and long term.
Johnson’s offense thrives on multiplicity --12-personnel (two TE) looks that force defenses to declare their fronts, creating mismatches. Loveland’s route savvy and ability to flex out wide allow Chicago to disguise run and pass intentions.
The Bears view him not just as a complementary piece to Kmet, but as a long-term offensive pillar who can grow with Williams for years to come.
Round 2, Pick 39: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Dynamic. Explosive. Electric with the ball in his hands. Those were the notes on Burden entering the draft-- and through seven games, he’s lived up to that billing in spurts.
The former Missouri standout has flashed his first-round caliber skill set, with breakout performances against both Dallas and Washington where his after-the-catch creativity remained on full display.
He's already commanding designed touches in Johnson’s offense -- jet sweeps, screens, quick outs -- plays meant to get him in space where his contact balance and short-area burst can take over.
While consistency and timing in the route game are still developing, the Bears internally have been pleased with his early production. He's slowly becoming a go-to option for Williams when plays break down, and his chemistry with the young quarterback continues to grow weekly.
With DJ Moore and Rome Odunze mentoring him, Burden has a clear path to becoming a highly impactful player for a long time in the Windy City.
Round 2, Pick 56: Ozzie Trapilo, OL, Boston College
Trapilo represented another investment in trench stability for Chicago -- a steady, technically sound lineman from Boston College’s well-regarded pipeline. Already logging a de facto start early in the year (Week 4), Trapilo has proven capable of holding his own at tackle when injuries forced lineup shuffling.
His combination of size, hand placement, and patience in pass sets fits what Chicago wants in its offensive identity.
The Bears project him as a long-term swing tackle with the potential to settle into a starting role once he gains more experience.
Round 2, Pick 62: Shemar Turner, DL, Texas A&M
Turner, the final of three second-round selections, has eased into the defensive rotation. The 290-pound lineman from Texas A&M has appeared in four games, flashing the quickness and heavy hands that made him a disruptive force in college.
Turner has worked primarily as a rotational 3-technique behind Gervon Dexter Sr. and Andrew Billings, giving Chicago flexibility to rotate fresh bodies along the defensive front.
Should he continue to refine his pad level and anchor, the Bears could have another impactful interior defender waiting in the wings.
Round 4, Pick 132: Ruben Hyppolite, LB, Maryland
Hyppolite’s selection in the fourth round raised a few eyebrows, but his athletic traits and leadership intangibles made him a target for Chicago’s defensive staff.
A former team captain at Maryland, he’s been used as a hybrid linebacker who can flow sideline to sideline and contribute immediately on special teams.
Hyppolite’s role has primarily been rotational -- logging situational snaps on defense and playing nearly every phase on special teams in the first three weeks of the season. The Bears love his speed and two-phase versatility.
Round 5, Pick 169: Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
One of the most intriguing athletes of the class, Frazier drew pre-draft comparisons to Seahawks corner Riq Woolen due to his blend of size, length, and explosive testing numbers as another prospect out of Jeff Traylor's program at UTSA.
Unfortunately, Bears fans will have to wait to see him in action.
Frazier was placed on the non-football injury list before training camp for personal reasons and will miss the entire 2025 season. Even so, the organization remains optimistic about his long-term upside.
If he develops his technique to match his raw traits, Chicago could have a diamond in the rough waiting to debut in 2026.
Round 6, Pick 195: Luke Newman, G, Michigan State
A gritty, dependable interior lineman, Newman has operated as a reserve guard and emergency swing piece on game days. While he hasn’t logged starting snaps yet, his positional flexibility and strength profile make him a trusted depth option for Ben Johnson’s offense.
Round 7, Pick 233: Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
Every draft seems to produce one late-round gem -- and for the Bears, Monangai has been an excellent find.
The former Rutgers standout has been heavily involved through the first six games, emerging as a reliable complement to DeAndre Swift.
Monangai has totaled 162 rushing yards and a touchdown on 35 carries, adding six receptions for 61 yards. He's a fun ballplayer to study operating with a low pad level, balance, and a natural feel for navigating traffic -- the kind of sturdy, decisive style that translates immediately to the NFL.
In what was a deep 2025 running back class, finding a player this productive at pick 233 was a win for the brass in Chicago.
The Bears’ 2025 class has quietly given the roster a substantial foundational boost. Loveland and Burden headline the group as playmakers with true difference-making potential, while Trapilo and Turner reinforce depth and youth in the trenches. Hyppolite and Newman strengthen the middle layers of the roster, and Monangai’s emergence gives Chicago a valuable backfield contributor for the future.
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Ryan Poles’ draft strategy continues to blend premium investment in dynamic offensive talent with developmental upside across the board. If early returns are any indication, the 2025 class could become a defining piece of Chicago’s next competitive window.