Jay Cutler threw a pair of touchdowns, Greg Olsen cleared 100 receiving yards, and Matt Forte was the picture of stability (28 touches for 134 yards).
It was a great time to be a Bears fan. It was January of 2010.
That was the last time this franchise won a playoff game, but there is optimism in the Windy City these days with Caleb Williams locked in as their franchise quarterback. Did they take a nice step forward in the 2025 NFL Draft? We take a look at the picks they made and what you can expect from the preps at the professional level.
Looking for all 32 teams’ draft grades? Head to our 2025 NFL Draft Grades for All 32 Teams Tracker to see how we’ve graded other drafts.
Overall Bears Draft Grade: B
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears’ front office hit the offensive side of the ball early and often in this draft. This didn’t come as a major surprise since new head coach Ben Johnson is offensive-minded. The Bears’ offense struggled during Caleb Williams’ rookie season, and they made it a point to put more talent around him heading into Year 2.
Colston Loveland bolsters Chicago’s passing attack and has the tools to be an instant upgrade over Cole Kmet. Johnson worked his magic with Sam LaPorta in Detroit, and it would be unsurprising to see him have similar success with the explosive Loveland.
Speaking of explosiveness, Luther Burden III offers plenty of it. The former Missouri star was one of the most dangerous playmakers in this class, and he could be a dynamic WR3 behind D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze in this offense.
After a strong free agency that bolstered their interior offensive line, Chicago added an athletic offensive tackle with starter upside. Ozzy Trapilo profiles as insurance for Braxton Jones in the short term, but he could eventually replace him.
Shemar Turner and Zah Frazier were good value picks in Rounds 2 and 5, respectively. The Turner selection further reinforces the Bears’ plan to solidify the interior of the defensive line. He offers long-term upside and immediate depth behind Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr.
Frazier doesn’t come from a Power 5 program, but the cornerback checks a lot of the boxes that teams covet – size, speed, ball production, and scheme versatility. He was easily their best Day 3 pick, as the others come with question marks about their potential at the next level.
All in all, the Bears got better in certain spots, but they didn’t leave the back end of the draft with a ton of value.
Grades for Every Bears Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 10
Colston Loveland, TE | Michigan
Grade: A+
NFL defenses learned over the past two seasons never to doubt Ben Johnson in possession of a game-breaking tight end. They’ll continue to learn the hard way now, as Johnson and Ryan Poles added Colston Loveland to their aerial attack with Caleb Williams.
Loveland can be Johnson’s new version of Sam LaPorta. He’ll have to stay healthy, of course. But his medicals didn’t scare the Bears away from him at 10th overall, and provided that he stays healthy, he’s a true X-factor with all-encompassing alignment versatility and dynamism in the pass game.
At 6’6”, 250 pounds, Loveland’s calling card is his alien ability as a separator at the tight end position. He’s endlessly efficient and fluid in and out of breaks, with a full route tree, explosive RAC ability, and smooth catch-point instincts. Yes, the Bears have Cole Kmet – but Loveland is a different, and much less common, type of player. That’s where his value lies for an emerging Chicago squad.
- Round 2, Pick 39
Luther Burden III, WR | Missouri
Grade: B
Head Coach Ben Johnson is loading up on weapons in Chicago. In Round 1, he added Colston Loveland as his X-factor at TE, and in Round 2, he brought in Luther Burden III as a potential value deal. Burden is one of the most talented WRs in the draft, and Johnson is the perfect coordinator to scheme him opportunities – but how his usage will come to fruition remains to be seen.
There’s a chance Burden’s role could overlap with Loveland’s, as Loveland will likely be utilized as a big-slot target alongside D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. Nevertheless, Burden profiles as a dynamic WR3 who can be a short-range outlet and a vertical threat all in one, and he has additional upside left to unearth.
- Round 2, Pick 56
Ozzy Trapilo, OT | Boston College
Grade: B+
The Bears got off to a strong start in the 2025 NFL Draft, adding two dynamic weapons in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. Now, at last, they’re returning to the offensive line, to get high-quality insurance for Braxton Jones at left tackle. At 56th overall, Boston College’s Ozzy Trapilo is the pick.
Trapilo is more of a natural right tackle. At 6’8”, 330 pounds, his size profile is more fitting there, and he has much more experience on the right side. Because of this, any move to the left side involves some projection.
But as a player, Trapilo is massive, athletic for his size, flexible in recovery and with power absorption, and can overwhelm and drive defenders off the ball. Trapilo quietly profiles as a long-term starter; at the very least, he’s a stellar swing tackle early on.
- Round 2, Pick 62
Shemar Turner, DT | Texas A&M
Grade: A-
After prioritizing the offense with their first three picks, the Bears pivoted to defense at the 62nd overall selection. They could’ve taken a safety to hedge for future uncertainty at the position, but defensive tackle depth and long-term upside were also an underrated need. They approached that problem with a unique solution in Shemar Turner.
At 6’3”, 290 pounds, with 33” arms, Turner is a narrow, compact DT with an appealing blend of efficient mass, natural leverage, and proportional length. He routinely wins the pad level battle, can channel incredible power with his burst and length, and has the agility and motor to offset gaps and disrupt.
His motor can sometimes lead to recklessness, but he has all the tools to become a dynamic and versatile presence alongside Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter.
- Round 4, Pick 132
Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland
Grade: D
The Bears already have a strong linebacker duo in Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, but they lack depth behind them. However, this pick feels like a reach. The Maryland product wasn’t super productive in college, and he doesn’t flash the high-level instincts to compensate for that.
Hyppolite does have 46 career starts over five collegiate seasons, so he comes with experience. However, for a player who saw the field quite a bit, he has more than a few holes in his game. Where he jumps off the screen is through his athleticism. He showed off his speed at his Pro Day, a trait that helps him in pursuit. But he’s still a work in progress in coverage and as a pass rusher.
- Round 5, Pick 169
Zah Frazier, CB | UTSA
Grade: B+ - Round 6, Pick 195
Luke Newman, G | Michigan State
Grade: D - Round 7, Pick 233
Kyle Monangai, RB | Rutgers
Grade: A+
