Chicago Bears Rookie Forecast 2025

Bears Rookie Forecast 2025

Solid Starter

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan – Round 1

The Bears made it their priority to surround Caleb Williams with more talent this offseason. They added veteran offensive linemen in free agency, and then added two more receiving weapons early in the 2025 NFL Draft. In Detroit, Ben Johnson ran a lot of 12 personnel, and with the addition of Loveland, Johnson can run plays out of that set.

As a receiver, Loveland can do a lot to help his offense. He is a quick route runner with fluid athleticism to get open in the middle of the field. Loveland has the speed to get down the seam and accelerate to find soft spots in zone coverage. With excellent body control and agility, Loveland makes difficult catches using his body to box out defensive backs and make leaping grabs over them. Loveland is a true mismatch weapon as he is too fast and athletic for linebackers; he will burn them in man coverage. Loveland also is too big for defensive backs with his ability to make catches over them. Loveland is a dangerous run-after-the-catch tight end as well, with good moves to dodge tacklers along with size to finish his plays well.

As a blocker, Loveland is disappointing. At his size, he should be a better blocker than he is. There are times when he gets beaten up and pushed around by defenders, and that will be even more of a problem in the NFL. Loveland needs to improve his blocking significantly for the pros. He must get better in pass protection and blocking the C-gap to be a good three-down starter.

The Bears already had a solid tight end with Cole Kmet, and Loveland could give them a dangerous double-tight end offense. Loveland can also work out of the slot and split out wide. He is a dangerous receiving tight end who should be a solid starter in Chicago.

2024: Caleb Williams, QB
2023: Gervon Dexter Sr., DT
2022: Kyler Gordon, CB
2021: Teven Jenkins, OT
2020: Cole Kmet, TE
2019: Riley Ridley, WR
2018: James Daniels, C
2017: Eddie Jackson, S
2016: Jonathan Bullard, DE
2015: Eddie Goldman, DT
2014: Kyle Fuller, CB
2013: Jonathan Bostic, LB

Most Likely To Bust

Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College – Round 2

The Bears wanted to get some competition for left tackle Braxton Jones this offseason, and the selection of Trapilo in the second round could be that player to push Jones. Trapilo is a large tackle, but I think he is better suited to right tackle in the NFL. I think Trapilo has limitations with his quickness and agility on the edge. I think NFL speed rushers could exploit some heavy feet and stiffness with Trapilo. Chicago already has a quality right tackle in Darnell Wright, and I could see Trapilo not becoming a starter as a result. Any player taken in the second round is viewed as a player who should become a starter, and I think Trapilo could fall short of that.

2024: None
2023: Tyrique Stevenson, CB
2022: Velus Jones, WR
2021: None
2020: None
2019: David Montgomery, RB
2018: Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB
2017: Mitch Trubisky, QB
2016: Cody Whitehair, G
2015: Hroniss Grasu, C
2014: Ka’Deem Carey, RB
2013: Kyle Long, G

Potential Boom Pick

Luther Burden, WR, Missouri – Round 2

Burden was a steal for the Bears in the second round, and he was a true first-round talent. For the NFL, Burden is a dynamic receiver who will be a real weapon in the passing game. He is an awesome separator, and cornerbacks really struggle to run with him. Burden is explosive off the line, and his play speed is phenomenal. He is fast through the route with twitchy athleticism to shake corners when he cuts and then accelerates away from them to get open for his quarterback. Burden has serious speed and can challenge defenses vertically. Burden’s route-running is exceptional, and when you add that with his speed and athleticism, he is a nightmare in coverage.

After the catch, Burden is special. He is a very shifty runner who is extremely elusive in the open field. Burden will juke defenders and make even athletic defenders look bad in the open field. Burden has the speed to run away from the defense and a second gear to accelerate when he gets the ball in his hands. Along with being quick, he has a strong running back build with the power to bounce off defensive backs trying to tackle him.

On top of being fast and athletic, Burden is a polished receiver. His ball skills are superb as he goes up with late hands to keep defensive backs unaware on 50-50 passes. Along with putting up his hands late, Burden has very strong hands capable of ripping the ball down and maintaining the catch after getting slapped. Burden is not tall, but he has a strong build and uses it well to gain better position on contested catches.

The fast and shifty receiver is a great fit to run the routes that Amon-Ra St. Brown ran for Ben Johnson in Detroit. Burden will be a real asset to attack slot corners, linebackers, and safeties in the middle of the field. He was a massive steal for Chicago in the second round, and I think he could be a real boom pick for the Bears.

2024: Rome Odunze, WR
2023: Darnell Wright
2022: Jaquan Brisker
2021: Justin Fields
2020: Jaylon Johnson
2019: None
2018: Roquan Smith, LB
2017: Adam Shaheen, TE
2016: Leonard Floyd, LB
2015: Kevin White, WR
2014: Will Sutton, DT
2013: Khaseem Greene, LB

Future Depth Player

I think the Bears landed some future starters in the early rounds with Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, and Shemar Turner. I think Ozzy Trapilo has bust potential as a starting left tackle, and right tackle is already occupied by a quality starter. Still, Trapilo could end up being a backup swing tackle. None of the Bears’ day three picks stand out to me as having the potential to be a solid backup, but Chicago did well in the early rounds, and I think the first draft with Ben Johnson at head coach was a strong class overall.

2024: Kiran Amegadjie, OT
2023: Roschon Johnson, RB
2022: Braxton Jones, OT
2021: Khalil Herbert, RB
2020: Trevis Gipson, DE
2019: Kerrith Whyte, DL
2018: Bilal Nichols, DL
2017: Tarik Cohen, RB
2016: Nick Kwiatkoski, LB
2015: Jeremy Langford, RB
2014: David Fales, QB
2013: Cornelius Washington, DE