With four picks inside the top 75, the Chicago Bears can move up and down the 2025 NFL Draft board as they please. While the team had an aggressive free agency, there are still plenty of areas on the roster Chicago can afford to improve.
Ultimately though, the Bears’ draft will be dictated with their No. 10 overall pick. Whatever position they choose from determines how they approach the later rounds. If they land running back Ashton Jeanty for example, they can focus on offense or defensive line elsewhere. But if Jeanty isn’t there, the Bears will base their strategy around bolstering a different position early while adding a running back in the middle rounds.
However, perhaps Chicago can make it easier on themselves by trading back into the first-round. It would cut into their mid-round draft capital, but the Bears would walk away with two elite players in the 2025 class. To make that happen, Thomas Valentine suggests the franchise ship their No. 39, No. 148 and a 2026 second-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pick No. 19.
“The Bears did an excellent job of upgrading their offensive line in free agency, adding Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in trades and signing Drew Dalman to a three-year deal to turn one of the roster’s weaknesses into a strength,” Valentine said. “The 10th pick allows the Bears to go one step further, potentially adding another offensive lineman or even running back Ashton Jeanty. However, they could also be a candidate to trade back into the first round.”
“It could be to add another pass rusher, a spot of contention on the roster, or to fill out the offensive line with another draft pick, further building the team in Ben Johnson’s vision,” Valentine continued. “The Bears gave up one of their two second-round selections, Pick No. 148, and a 2026 second-rounder to land No. 19 from the Buccaneers in this mock trade.”
Chicago Bears trade back into first round
For the Bears to actually make this trade, two things need to be true. For starters, there must be a player on the board who Chicago has fallen in love with and must add to their roster. Furthermore, the franchise must be convinced that they will be a true playoff contender sooner rather than later.
There is a big difference in the caliber of player you can get from pick No. 19 and No. 39. However, the Bears aren’t looking to be a 2025 flash in the pan. They want to have continued success throughout head coach Ben Johnson’s tenure. To give up both a 2025 and 2026 second-round pick would put a major strain on Chicago’s draft capital.
But maybe a player they didn’t expect to falls to No. 19. In that case, it may be too good of an opportunity to pass up. If the Bears go offense at No. 10, they can then bolster their defense at No. 19. Or, they can choose to double down, fully revamping one side of the ball.
Ultimately, trading back into the first would be a seriously bold move by Chicago. If the team struggles, the picks they give away only become more valuable. Instead, this would be a vote of confidence from the Bears and a true belief that two first round picks in 2025 gets the organization over their playoff hump.
Who Bears could target
It seems unlikely that the Bears would give up so much to move up for a running back. There are numerous candidates for the second-best back in the class. While Chicago may value one more than the other, waiting until pick No. 39 may be more valuable than giving up so many assets to move up.
Instead, moving back into the first round would give the Bears some extra ammunition should they land Jeanty. No one is doubting what the running back brings to the table, he would revolutionize Chicago’s offense. But the Bears are easier off finding a strong running back in the later rounds than an elite offensive/defensive lineman.
To move back to No. 19, Chicago can target a player who may be falling down boards. Offensive lineman Josh Simmons or Josh Conerly Jr fit the bill. Defensively, the Bears can target an athletic specimen like Shemar Stewart and a sack artist like Mike Green. While it’s easy to speculate on names, ultimately the Bears would be landing an impact player.
The cost to acquire an extra first round pick would be steep. But with two first-round picks and a high selection in the third-round, Johnson would have plenty of young talent to build around in year one.
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