Like all Chicago Bears fans, quarterback Caleb Williams will be glued to the television during the 2025 NFL Draft. How the Bears decide to utilize their picks will alter Williams’ Chicago career forever.
The team has spent all offseason building their offense around the quarterback. They hired an offensive-minded head coach in Ben Johnson. Then, Chicago added three new offensive linemen in guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney alongside center Drew Dalman. But with four picks inside the top-75 in the 2025 draft, the Bears have an even greater opportunity to spark their offensive revival.
While Williams didn’t get into specifics, he made his draft wishes clear. Whether it’s offense or defense, the quarterback wants the Bears to land the best player available, via Mike Pendleton of USA Today.
“I think we’ll be going for the best player we can get,” Williams said. “You always want to be in that position, that’s something I’ve learned about. When you draft, you want to be in a position to take the best player and I think right now we’re in position to get the best guy that we think is needed for the team.”
“The group that we have right now is amazing, the holes that we filled in free agency and all of that, it’s time where at the draft, you get to draft the best players,” Williams concluded.
Chicago Bears alter draft strategy
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, it was clear that offensive line was the Bears’ biggest weakness. So, targeting a player across the line with their No. 10 overall pick seemed inevitable. But then general manager Ryan Poles and company decided to go a different route.
Thuney, Jackson and Dalman will all make the Bears stronger on the field, but they also all the Bears to be a bit more flexible in how they draft. They’re no longer forced into selecting an offensive lineman due to need. And while they can still double down at the position of course, passing on offensive line in the first-round isn’t a glaring issue as it seemed in Week 17.
The same could be said on the defensive side of the ball. Chicago signed defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to nearly $100 million worth of contracts. Coming off of a 40 sack campaign, the Bears surely want to add a bit more juice. But they don’t have to go defense based on their earlier additions.
The Bears are not a complete team; they’re coming off of a 5-12 season after all. But they’re aggressive offseason allows them to follow Williams’ guidance and truly target the best player on the board.
Building around Caleb Williams
If Chicago were to target offense at No. 10, there are three main position groups the Bears appear to be targeting: offensive line, running back and tight end.
While Braxton Jones is in place, he is set to be a free agent after the season. Furthermore, injury problems have been a major concern, putting him on the hot seat. A player like Will Campbell or Armand Membou would give Jones immediate competition and the Bears an offensive lineman they can build around.
Ashton Jeanty has been arguably the player most connected to the Bears leading up to the draft. But there’s a chance he isn’t available at No. 10. If the Heisman runner-up does make it to their pick however, the opportunity may be too good for Johnson to pass up.
Then, there’s Tyler Warren. While the Bears already have Cole Kmet, Johnson was known to use plenty of 12 packages during his time with the Detroit Lions. After winning the John Mackey award in 2024, Warren would give the Bears another elite playmaker in the pass game.
This could all be a moot point as Chicago could always go defense in the first-round. But even if they do, the Bears will certainly be giving Williams some extra help at some point in the draft.
Ben Johnson’s under center plan for Caleb Williams will create more explosivity for the quarterback
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