Now that the Chicago Bears have their head coach and most of their staff figured out, it is time to continue looking ahead at the notable portions of the offseason.
With Ben Johnson at the helm, one can only guess the Bears are bound to fortify their offensive line through free agency and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. The Bears have plenty of cap space to work with and four picks inside the top 72 of the draft in April, so there should be no excuses.
Assuming Chicago is able to get at least one interior starters on the line in free agency, what would happen if the Bears find chips falling one particular direction in the draft? It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities for Johnson and Ryan Poles to do something totally unforeseen.
At least, with Johnson, you've seen proof in how the Detroit Lions have operated. When no one expected them to draft Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round a couple of years ago, the Lions would go on to prove everybody right.
So, how about we try our hand at something more unexpected?
Ryan Poles goes a surprising route in this 3-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft
With the no. 10 overall pick, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty comes to Chicago. Still on the board and one of the most electric players in the league, Johnson cannot pass him up. Yes, fans will be upset the team didn't go offensive line.
But, a weapon like Jeanty could do some marvelous things in a Johnson offense. This is where fans would have to trust that Johnson knows what he's doing. Between Jeanty, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, the offense could be electrifying.
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Speaking of offense and weapons, the Bears trade back into the first round later on to grab a can't-miss prospect at this position.
After trading up with a division rival, ironically enough, Chicago's offense keeps getting richer.
Emeka Egbuka will fit right into this Bears offense where he can execute really anywhere on the field, but the slot is where he is absolutely lethal. With Moore and Odunze on the outside, Egbuka will be freed up more to use space to his advantage, which is an area he excels.
Once again, fans might not be happy that they didn't go offensive line, but trusting Johnson is key here. Also, to reiterate, this assumes free agency has already seen the Bears find at least one starter on the interior.
In Round 2, Chicago gets another interior starter on the offensive line with West Virginia's Wyatt Milum. Finally, fans get the type of prospect they have desired at the top of this draft. This would ideally mean the Bears have four of five spots filled up front, with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright manning the tackle positions.
Finally, the Bears round out Day 2 by selecting one of the better tight ends in this draft which, alongside Kmet, will cause nightmares for defensive coordinators. LSU's Mason Taylor stands 6-foot-5 and has a pro comparison to the likes of Dallas Goedert.
He moves well for his size, can run a variety of routes and is able to beat linebackers on a regular basis. The possibilities with Taylor and Kmet, along with Jeanty, Odunze, Moore and Egbuka would be, quite frankly, endless and downright filthy.