Has there ever been an organization more desperate for a turnaround than the Chicago Bears?
We’re talking about a passionate fanbase in a huge market, full of football purists who enjoy everything about the sport. Fans who have waited their whole lives to watch the Bears win a Super Bowl, suffering through poor season after poor season, quarterback after quarterback, and head coach after head coach. It’s seemed like a never-ending cycle.
With that being said, Chicago GM Ryan Poles has put the team in an ideal situation as we head into the 2025 NFL Draft. The tides seem to be turning in the right direction. Second-year QB Caleb Williams has plenty of weapons, a revamped offensive line, and a shiny new offense. They’re likely to add another playmaker or two in the draft as well.
Defensively, the Bears are stout and will likely focus on pass-rusher or interior lineman when they do address that side of the ball. Safety is also not out of the question, or even a cornerback, as many insiders have hinted they could pick the best available come draft time.
Regardless of who they pick, the Chicago Bears need to nail this upcoming draft
Poles, as I alluded to above, has done a pretty good job this offseason of building a solid team. He’s used plenty of money during the free agency period, not just this year but during his whole tenure as general manager. He’s brought in some great veterans and solid young pieces in an attempt to completely overhaul this roster.
However, the writing is still on the wall with his draft selections, including guys like Tyrique Stevenson, Rome Odunze, and Darnell Wright to name a few. A lot of questions will be answered regarding those guys in the upcoming seasons.
Matt Lombardo of Between the Hashmarks named the Chicago Bears as a team that needs to hit a home run in the upcoming NFL Draft. He mentions that the roster is already good, but could become elite with a few more pieces.
By acting aggressively in free agency to fortify both lines of scrimmage with veteran talent, the Bears are now freed to select the best player available throughout the draft, potentially adding multiple possibly game-altering weapons to Williams’ arsenal and give new head coach Ben Johnson the tools he needs to replicate his electrifying results from his time as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator.
Lombardo hit it right on the nose here. In the last few years, Poles has addressed a plethora of needs through free agency, giving the Bears the luxury of selecting who they love the most in the first few rounds. That’s not a feat that many NFL teams can relate to.
He also mentions that to make the most of second-year QB Caleb Williams’ cheap rookie deal, the Bears will need to draft well this year and continue developing the current talent they have, regardless of being the “paper champ” in consecutive years.
If there were offseason Super Bowl rings, the Bears probably would have won one last year and are in the conversation this season, but a solid draft class could propel the Bears significantly closer to pushing for the Lombardi during the coveted window of Williams’ rookie contract.
The time to compete is now. Fans are uneasy, the organization is certainly facing pressure to make a playoff push in 2025. The NFC North is a tough division, but with three wild card spots up for grabs, the excuses are gone.
Who will the Bears likely target in the 2025 NFL Draft to put them “over the hump”?
There are plenty of routes the Bears can go down during the draft. Pick a top-tier running back, continue fortifying the offensive line, or bulk up the defensive line and attempt to rush the passer better.
Trading back for more selections is another very interesting possibility. The Bears have done a lot of wheeling and dealing in the past under Poles, and NFL teams know that. If Chicago can get a haul for the number 10 pick, it’ll certainly be in play.
Lombardo also touched on the fact that Chicago could add some legit difference makers on draft night. Guys that move the needle on the offensive side, where the Bears struggled the most in 2024. The more playmakers the better.
There’s a world where either Ashton Jeanty or Tyler Warren are holding up a Bears jersey alongside Roger Goodell on draft night and one of the top remaining offensive tackles is Halas Hall-bound after Round 2, before Chicago can turn its attention to fortifying its defense.
You can’t go wrong with any of the selections that are rumored. Jeanty would be an immediate sparkplug in the offense and the run game, and Warren would give the Bears a great duo at the tight end position, something new head coach Ben Johnson could be very interested in replicating from his days in Detroit.
We will find out how aggressive Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears will be just a few short days.
NFL analyst has surprising need atop Chicago Bears’ list ahead of NFL Draft
Read MoreFor More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
