We are less than two months away from the 2025 NFL Draft. Along with the Chicago Bears, the other 29 teams in the league will be looking to add new, young and athletic talent to their rosters.
Last year, the Bears were the first team to select a prospect in the draft. With the #1 overall draft pick, Chicago announced they were taking USC quarternack Caleb Williams. Despite being the only team in the NFC North division to not to make the playoffs, the Bears looked strong in the first few weeks of the season during the fall.
Chicago is loaded with salary cap space and under the direction of a new head coach, Ben Johnson. The Bears have the 10th overall pick and a pair of early second round selections, in addition to their own third round pick.
With their quarterback of the future secured and position players at receiver, running back and tight end locked up, the Bears needs are rather apparent. Here is a look at our 7-round mock draft for the Chicago Bears.
Round 1, 10th overall pick: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The decision on which side of the ball to focus on here is clear. After giving up the most sacks in 2024 with 68, the Bears have to build the offensive line.
Furthermore, after the Bears had been one of the better rushing teams the past couple of years, they took a significant swan dive in their rushing production. D'Andre Swift was a bust in 2024 for Chicago as they were a bottom-10 team in the run game.
Rumors have already circulated about their focus here. They had expressed interest in signing OG Trey Smith prior to the Kansas City Chiefs using the franchise tag on him.
While more than one of the nine other teams ahead of the Bears also have needs to improve the offensive line, this a relatively deep class this year. Even if Kelvin Banks, Jr. of the Texas Longhorns goes as early as predicted, either LSU's Will Campbell or Ohio State's Josh Simmons would be a fine snag in the first round.
Campbell is perhaps the biggest of the three tackles. He is listed at 6'6'' and 320 pounds. Playing tackle for LSU provided a wealth of experience in big games against high profile match ups.
Having multiple strong seasons for the Tigers in the SEC, Campbell could go immediately after Banks, Jr. Yet, we have seen the Bears take swings in the first round like when they picked players like Mitch Trubisky or Curtis Ennis.
Thus, why we realistically predict that the Chicago Bears take another Buckeye in the first round (Justin Fields, 2021). Simmons ran the fastest 40-yard dash of the trio with a time of 5.15 seconds.
According to NFL Draft Buzz, "Simmons isn't just a good athlete who can move in space - he's a tone-setter who brings legitimate power and finishing ability to pair with his high-end movement skills."
The 6'5'' athlete just wrapped up his senior as an NCAA champion. Simmons immediately provides an upgrade to bolster the front line to not only protect Williams better but to also potentially open up the run game for Swift and Roschon Johnson.
Round 2, 39th overall pick: Dylan Fairchild, OG, Georgia
In 2021, the Bears took offensive tackle Teven Jenkins with the 39th pick. Four years later, Chicago finds themselves drafting at the same position.
At the guard position, the Georgia Bulldogs has a pair of prospects high on the rankings. Both Tate Ratledge and Dylan Fairchild are expected to come off the board early.
Thus, with the 39th overall selection, look for Chicago to name one of these two if available. Just like Simmons, the Bears should favor the package of speed and size, making Fairchild the optimal pick here.
His time on the 40-yard dash was .20 better than Ratledge. The Bulldogs had a solid year in 2024 as they were in title contention almost the entire season.
Fairchild being added, alongside Simmons, gives the Bears a much bigger and faster change to their front line. If first-year head coach Johnson is going to develop Williams into the franchise quarterback many believe he can be, then quarterback protection is a must.
Round 2, 41st overall pick: Jihad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Chicago added a versatile linebacker in free agency last year in Tremaine Edmunds. With multiple years of playoff experience during his time with the Buffalo Bills, he helped make the defense better.
Adding another linebacker here can further strengthen a Bears defense that allowed 21.8 points per game in addition to giving up the 6th most yards on defense (354.3).
Staying with another SEC athlete, Chicago takes linebacker Jihad Campbell with the 41st overall pick. Ranked as the second-best at this position by NFL Draft Buzz, the 6'3'' and 275 pound freshman has tremendous upside and potential.
His time for the 40-yard dash was 4.52 seconds. In 2024, Campbell recorded 119 total tackles, five sacks and forced a pair of fumbles. Edmunds and the rest of the Bears' locker room would welcome a rookie of this caliber to the locker room.
Round 3, 72nd overall pick: Jayden Higgins, WR Iowa State
This pick is perhaps the most important for the rest of the weekend as Chicago is without a fourth round pick. It does have four picks, however, between the last three rounds of the draft.
One could argue between taking a center or wide receiver here, current starter Coleman Shelton could leave the Bears during free agency. The former Los Angeles Ram was a part of the 2022 Super Bowl champions.
With the money to burn, if Coleman and Chicago can strike a deal this spring, taking a wide receiver makes sense here. Look no further than the Midwest as Iowa State Cyclone receiver Jayden Higgins is among the expected third-round pulls in the draft.
The South Miami, Florida, native had a monster year in 2024. With 87 receptions on the season, Higgins racked up 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. The senior wraps up his collegiate football career with a total of 28 scores. He spent his first two seasons with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
Higgins gives Williams another threat downfield with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. If the Bears can keep veteran Keenan Allen, as well, Chicago's wide receiver core becomes significantlly stronger going into the 2025 NFL season.
Round 5, 149th overall pick: Jonah Monheim, C, USC
Having an insurance policy for Coleman is still not a bad idea. What better selection than a center who is already familiar with protecting Campbell than Jonah Monheim.
Just like Bears' current quarterback, Monheim hails from the University of Southern California. The senior Trojan enters the NFL Draft as a potential fifth round pick.
At 6'4'' and a tad over 300 pounds, Williams' former teammate adds another player to improve on one Chicago's glaring gaps: the offensive line.
Round 6, 197th overall pick: Jordan Hancock, S, Ohio State
This selection is courtesy of the trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year that shipped Fields out of the Windy City and to the AFC North.
If the Bears do select Simmons on Day 1, adding his teammate, Jordan Hancock makes sense. He is strong and athletic player in the secondary. He provides depth at safety behind Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker, and Jonathan Owens.
Round 7, 235th overall pick: Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson
With the Bears cutting Gerald Everett, the tight end position is worth a glance, again. Veteran Cole Kmet is the starter but having a running mate or companion in a two-tight end set is a plausible vision for Johnson and his offensive genuis.
Whether its blocking or catching the ball downfield, having a tall target is dangerous weapon. At #235, Chicago takes Jake Briningstool out of the University of Clemson.
In 2024, the Brentwood, Tennessee, native hauled in 49 receptions for 530 yards and seven scores. His average yardage per reception resulted in a first down. There aren't too many NFL-ready tight ends in this year's draft. Chicago could snag a steal taking Briningstool here.
Round 7, 242 overall pick: Marcus Yarns, RB, Delaware
History has shown us before on more than one occasion that a Hall of Fame running back can come out of this round. For instance, the Rams selected Bo Jackson in 1987 and the Atlanta Falcons took Jamal Anderson in 1994 in the seventh round.
If Chicago does look to find an upgrade to their ground attack, selecting Marcus Yarns out of the University of Delaware is very logical.
Yarms accumulated more than 1,100 total yards on offense. He tallied half a dozen rushing touchdowns during his sophomore season. This late in the final round of the draft, taking a running back is a good way to conclude the 2025 NFL Draft.