Part of the reason the Chicago Bears have struggled to make much headway in the last few years is a generally uninspiring collection of young players brought in by substandard drafting. General manager Ryan Poles had his back against the wall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but it looks like he delivered.
Despite some questions about positional need, Poles' decision to use a first-round pick on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and then a second-round pick on Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III has both come up aces so far.
Pro Football Focus ranked Loveland as the third-best rookie in the NFL. The only two ahead of Loveland, who graded out as the sixth-best tight end in football, were Giants running back Cam Skattebo (by 0.1 points) and his limited sample size in addition to Bills backup Jackson Hawes.
The fun didn't stop there, as Burden ranked eighth on that same list. The only wide receiver above him in the rankings is Panthers Top 10 selection Tetairoa McMillan. Those two are laying the foundation for Caleb Williams' skill position group in emphatic style.
Bears rookies Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III both rank as Top 10 rookies
Loveland has 39 catches for 498 yards and four touchdowns this season, as he has come on strong in the second half and ripped the TE1 role away from veteran Cole Kmet. Loveland is quickly turning into Ben Johnson's next evolution of Lions tight end Sam LaPorta.
Burden, who has 36 catches for 479 yards and one touchdown, has seemingly overcome questions about how he could earn some snaps in a crowded wide receiver room. Taking advantage of some injuries, Burden has shown the explosion and athleticism that made him both a top recruit and one of 2025's top receiver prospects.
Poles' 2025 class goes beyond those two. Second-round offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo is starting to show signs that he could be a fixture on the line for years to come, while seventh-round running back Kyle Monangai has all but forced his way into the starting lineup.
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Poles have made some very questionable picks over the years. Still, if 2025 is any indication of where his front office stands from a talent evaluation point of view, Bears fans should prepare for even more high-quality rookies coming to Chicago every April. Considering where Poles' stock was before this draft, that is quite a tremendous accomplishment.