One thing that Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has done a really good job of over the last three years is bringing in good young talent to the roster.
The Bears have a solid foundation of players under 25, like Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Darnell Wright, and Kyle Monanagi, who have the franchise set up for the next five years. Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox ranked all 32 NFL teams' young core players aged 27 or younger, with the Bears ranked second in the league.
"The Chicago Bears didn't go as far in the postseason as the Patriots, but one could easily argue that their future is just as bright. Yes, Caleb Williams' sophomore emergence has a lot to do with that. Williams, who led seven fourth-quarter comebacks in 2025, easily matched the hype he generated in the previous year as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The Bears have several other young stars who look to be core players for the foreseeable future. The list includes former stars on both sides of the ball, like wideout Rome Odunze, tackle Darnell Wright, and cornerback Jaylen Johnson. After parting with veterans like Kevin Byard and Tremaine Edmunds this offseason, Chicago is poised to field an even younger core. If rookies like Dillon Thieneman and Sam Roush contribute early, the Bears could soon become perennial title contenders."
Bears' future is looking brighter than it every has
Knox named the following players on the Bears as the top players that are 27 or younger that are the top ones:
- QB Caleb Williams
- WR Rome Odunze
- TE Colston Loveland
- OT Darnell Wright
- RB D'Andre Swift
- CB Jaylon Johnson
- CB Tyrique Stevenson
- S Coby Bryant
- WR Luther Burden III
Seven of the nine players on that list were drafted by the Bears, with Swift and Bryant being free agent signings in the last three offseasons. While there is more young talent on offense, the defense has a solid secondary that will be together for a while between Johnson, Bryant, and Stevenson.
This list doesn't even include Monangai and Ozzy Trapilo, who have also been great additions from the 2025 draft class. The 2026 draft class could also feature young players ready to step up in Year 1, like first-round pick Dillon Thieneman, who joins Bryant and company in the secondary.
Read more: Bears fans really didn't want to hear 1 word to describe their biggest improvement
One thing is for sure: the Bears are loaded with young talent, and they are here to stay for a long time.
Add us as a preferred source on Google