The NFL Draft is a strong resource for teams to either bolster their roster or fill in the holes that exist. For instance, the Chicago Bears saw a glaring need to upgrade the quarterback position and did so with the first overall pick in last year's draft.
With Caleb Williams's name being called first a year ago, the Monsters of the Midway moved on from Justin Fields. Anytime that a high-profile prospect comes in, a veteran or underperforming player could see his days with the team numbered.
The same could be said following this year's draft. The Bears selected eight collegiate players who will now try to make a name for themselves at the pro level.
Which Former Bears Are Unemployed or On Their Way Out?
Marcedes Lewis
Even ahead of last month's draft, the Chicago Bears cut ties with another former Chargers' offensive weapon. Gerald Everett was released since the front office didn't view his contract being worth the production.
For the first time in any season of his career, Everett failed to haul in a touchdown reception. He severely underperformed as he collected just eight catches for 36 yards. Cole Kmet was the favored target at tight end for first-year quarterback Williams.
With the tenth pick of this year's draft, Chicago selected Colston Loveland out of the University of Michigan to complement Kmet. Despite Loveland's questionable health, his selection adds further proof that the Bears have also moved on from Marcedes Lewis.
Keenan Allen
Veteran wideout Keenan Allen is unlikely to come back to Chicago in 2025. The Greensboro, North Carolina native spent 11 seasons with the Chargers (San Diego/Los Angeles) before switching to the NFC last season.
In 2024, Allen recorded his third season in the past eight with fewer than 100 catches. His 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns were a bit below the expectations of him playing alongside DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
Luther Burden III was one of three athletes taken in the second round by the Bears. The wide receiver was a standout for Missouri. Burden had his best collegiate season in 2023 when he tallied more than 1,200 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 86 receptions.
With the Bears taking Burden last month, it makes the second year in a row that Chicago has drafted a receiver in the first or second round of the draft. Odunze was taken in the first round last year along with Williams.
DeMarcus Walker
On the other side of the ball, Chicago's former defensive end DeMarcus Walker is still unsigned. With Dayo Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat slated to be the starters, the Bears have shown little to no interest in bringing the eight-year veteran back.
"The history of the city and in this building, the type of players, the type of coaches, the type of people that have been in this building, it's special. And then to be able to do it in a city like Chicago that loves their football and loves their teams, it's an exciting opportunity.Dayo Odeyingbo, new Bears' defensive end
With all the guys coming in ... we have an opportunity to do something special in a special city and it's exciting. This really wasn't an opportunity I could pass up and it really didn't make the decision hard."
Walker logged seven sacks during his two years with the Bears. He collected seven alone during the 2022 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans.
Chicago didn't add another defensive end in the draft. However, they appear confident with the way the depth chart currently looks. All the more reason to believe that the Bears will pass on Allen, Lewis, and Walker going forward.
Note: As of May 5, safeties Adrian Colbert and Douglas Coleman remain unsigned. The only pick the Bears spent on their secondary was cornerback Zah Frazier out of the University of Texas at San Antonio.