Heading into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, no one knows exactly what the Chicago Bears plan to do with their pick at No. 10 overall.
Will they take the best player available? A tight end or defensive lineman? Or will the Bears try to move up for an electrifying running back, who finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up?
These are the questions that general manager Ryan and new head coach Ben Johnson must answer before making their pick at No. 10. That being said, ESPN’s Field Yates dropped his final mock draft with some intel from long-time NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Yates has the Bears taking star Penn State tight end Tyler Warren with the No. 10 pick, but Kiper believes Chicago also could look to address the defensive line or possibly move back.
"This is a fun pick. If Warren is there, I'm betting Chicago jumps at the opportunity to draft him. But don't discount Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams or even Graham if he's still available. I've also heard the Bears would like to trade down if the right player isn't there for them at No. 10."
Most Bears fans likely wouldn’t oppose the team taking Warren or a defensive lineman, given the unit’s struggles last season. However, the fact that Kiper did not mention an offensive tackle is slightly alarming.
This offseason, the Bears have made a concerted effort to bolster the offensive line after Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times last season.
Chicago acquired guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney in trades and signed center Drew Dalman in free agency. Those three guys, plus Darnell Wright, are already an upgrade from what they had last season.
However, Chicago’s left tackle group leaves much to be desired with Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie. If the Bears want to trade down from No. 10, Kelvin Banks Jr. could be a possible option.
Last season, Jones surprisingly fared well, sporting an 80.8 pass blocking grade (17th among 140 eligible tackles) and a 70.2 run blocking grade (35th), per Pro Football Focus. However, he allowed five sacks and was penalized seven times in 719 offensive snaps.
Additionally, Jones is still recovering from ankle surgery, which caused him to miss the last two regular-season games.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters earlier this month that the young offensive lineman will likely miss the start of next month’s offseason activities, but is “on the right track” to make a full recovery.
After seeing how last year played out for the Bears’ offense, the team cannot outright dismiss the idea of taking an offensive tackle in the first round.