The first-round of the NFL Draft usually comes with a vast amount of chaos. While there haven’t been any blockbuster trades in 2025 just yet, that isn’t expected to change things. Holding the No. 10 overall pick, the Chicago Bears will be on the edge of their seat for every pick before them.
The Bears have been heavily tied to players such as running back Ashton Jeanty, tight end Tyler Warren and offensive lineman Will Campbell. Of course, they’ll be listening closely to see if their names are called. However, if a player not expected to go gets chosen before Chicago’s pick, general manager Ryan Poles and company are in business. That means a player they didn’t expect will have fallen to their selection.
One team to watch in terms of draft chaos are the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 5 overall pick. They have a new general manager in James Gladstone and new head coach in Liam Coen. There’s a chance they begin their Jaguars tenure with a bit of a shock, via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
“Many mock drafts have pegged the Jaguars to select Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5 overall. As the venerable Lee Corso says, however — not so fast, my friends,” Schefter wrote. “New GM James Gladstone — who has 10 picks to work with, including four in the top 90 — might not be that predictable. As one league executive said recently: “Jacksonville is a wild card — watch.”
“Jaguars coach Liam Coen has long had a soft spot for wide receivers in the draft, and the top-rated wideout in this class, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, has drawn comparisons to … the Bucs’ Mike Evans. Coen, who coached Evans last year, knows how valuable a player like that can be to an offense,” Schefter concluded. “Some have questions McMillan’s passion for football, but others suggest he is misunderstood and that, when he’s on a football field, “he’s an absolute baller.”
How Jaguars affect Chicago Bears
The Jaguars have been heavily connected to defensive tackle Mason Graham throughout the pre-draft process. Seemingly every mock from any analyst has Graham in that spot. Which makes sense based on how bad Jacksonville’s defense was in 2024.
But Coen is a former offensive coordinator. The plan is clearly to build around quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Perhaps Coen taps into his offensive roots and decides to nab a top pass catcher. In that case, the Bears are in luck.
It still seems unlikely that Graham would fall to their pick. But the Las Vegas Raiders would have a decision to make. Like the Bears, they’ve been one of the hottest teams on Ashton Jeanty’s tail. Would they pass up the opportunity to select Graham for a running back; even if it’s Jeanty? Switch out Jeanty for a player like Warren, or Campbell or even offensive lineman Armand Membou, and suddenly each franchise has a tricky decision to make.
One selection could completely change the Bears’ draft strategy, for better or for worse. But if the Jaguars are seriously eyeing a wide receiver with pick No. 5, Chicago could have an opportunity that one one saw coming leading up to the event.
Bears eyeing impact talent
The Bears are far from a complete team. They’re still coming off of a 5-12 season and have the No. 10 pick for a reason. However, the way the franchise operated throughout the offseason gives Poles and company an opportunity to be more versatile in their decision making.
Offensive line was clearly the team’s biggest need after allowing a league-high 68 sacks. So, Chicago traded for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney before signing center Drew Dalman. They’ll need to prove their a strong combination before anything is set in stone. But on paper, the Bears have done a complete 180 on their offensive line.
The same goes for defense, with Chicago signed Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. Rostering Montez Sweat as well, the Bears’ defensive line looks much scarier than at the close of 2024.
Because of how the team is currently built, the Bears aren’t forced to pick from a single position group. Rather than strict need, Chicago can select the best player available. It’s the reason they’ve been tied to Warren so heavily despite having Kmet on the roster. At this stage of the game, the Bears are simply trying to add as much talent to their roster as possible.
That becomes easier if one of their top targets were to fall. Whether it’s offense or defense, Chicago knows whoever they land in the first round must make an immediate difference. They’ll be watching the Jaguars and every team before them closely to see exactly who that player will be.
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