The Bears 2025 Draft Thread

[justanidiot]

Only want RB if they can move Swift, dont know what he is worth.

The whole first round is slotted, so if you get the same guy at 10 you could get at 20, its millions of dollars difference.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Here's the offensive tackle edition and as usual, only the 10th pick will have multiple names listed.

10a. Will Campbell, LT
10b. Kelvin Banks, Jr, LT
10c. Armand Membou, RT
10d. Josh Simmons, LT

39. Derrick Harmon, DT
41. Quinshon Judkins, RB
72. Jared Ivey, DE/Edge

I'm pretty sure Campbell will be gone before we're on the clock. Likewise Membou. But I still listed Banks Jr ahead of him because Membou, while more highly rated, is a pure RT, and we're already set there. I'd love to elevate Simmons in this list, but I haven't seen enough to confirm he's ready for the start of the season after his surgery. And honestly I'm particularly leery of taking any potential draftee, regardless of position, who's less than a season removed from critical knee surgery.

As for the other picks, I continue to swap 39 & 41 to defense/offense-offense/defense, depending on who's available at those respective slots. Ivey at 72 has fared well when facing his offensive counterparts in the talented SEC. This makes for a good training ground when going to the next level.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

If the draft was based on betting odds:

2025 NFL Mock Draft: Building the top 10 draft picks based on the betting odds

What will the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft look like?

sports.yahoo.com

Whuda thunk, I've been living in Vegas for a decade and never knew there was draft selection betting.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Bears Wire has come up with four potential trade partners, including one involving the Bears trading up (boo, hiss, )

4 potential trade partners for the Bears in 2025 NFL draft

The Chicago Bears could have multiple opportunities to trade up or down in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

bearswire.usatoday.com

1. The Raiders
2. The Colts
3. The Steelers
4. The Texans

I've felt for some time that the Colts and Steelers could be possible candidates for a trade back, and I'll throw in the Seahawks as well. But all were based more on wishful thinking than any sound reasons. I definitely want Jeanty, but with this trade we get spanked in the draft value exchange, plus I just hate the thought of giving up that 41st, not to mention a '26 3rd, even for him. Yeah, we also get their 6th, but big whup. And the Texans? Where did that come from?

 

[justanidiot]

Cambell, small wing span, looks like a Guard in the NFL. Membou has only ever played RT, we have one of those. Banks is on the small size at 6'4" and just barely the correct size. Simmons coming off of ACL. Can we trust him to be healthy? Color me worried. Membou and Cambell I doubt will be there at 10. Maybe Banks and you're not taking Simmons at 10.

Now I'm hearing Sanders may drop out of the first round, which will make for even slimmer pickings at 10. There was a chance if one of the 10 was Sanders. Shocked, color me scared. LB? Small edge? RB reach? The other TE Loveland with Concussion issues (2). No WR's look strong. There are a couple CB and perhaps a Safety? I don't even know where they are going with this pick.

I did see a clip of a beat writer asking Wright if he was given any notice that he might be competing for the left tackle spot this preseason. He really did not answer, but considering what Johnson had at RT in Detroit, I can see why he would not want him moved. I always thought the righty quarterback, you let the kid cut his teeth on the right side so the QB can see the pressure coming, let him get better and then move to the left side. Lefty QB is the opposite.

I would be all in on the Georgia LB Walker if he was there at 10. I know they just resigned Edwards, but Detroit had some pretty good linebackers until they traded for Campbell and he changed that whole defense. The kid is like Roquan without the head case part. Its time we get our next great MLB for the Chicago Bears, Edwards can move outside. Its still a borderline waste, but if they dont reup Edmunds, its gonna be a short time he is backing up.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

I would be all in on the Georgia LB Walker if he was there at 10.

You just might get your wish, that is if he makes it to 10, which is not a given by any stretch. While I still question if he's the right fit for this Dennis Allen defense, there's no questioning his talent. There's a reason he's pretty much a consensus top 10 draft pick.

 

[averagejoe]

Sharing, courtesy of Yahoo Sports....

In Sean Payton's last 15 drafts (2 with Denver and 13 with the Saints), he has aggressively traded UP 24 times.

One of Denver's needs is RB. This could really shake things up if he tries to get ahead of Las Vegas.

 

[averagejoe]

Sorry, 25 times.

 

[justanidiot]

Sharing, courtesy of Yahoo Sports....

In Sean Payton's last 15 drafts (2 with Denver and 13 with the Saints), he has aggressively traded UP 24 times.

One of Denver's needs is RB. This could really shake things up if he tries to get ahead of Las Vegas.

Love the reference to Payton to go back to Pace was the secretary to the secretary when he was hired as our GM.

Are we all wondering how much power Ben Johnson got with his position?

What do you think are some signs that happen Thursday that might show who is actually the last voice in the room now? Will it be who the camera is centered on in the bears draft room? The actual position of Johnson in the room? That is part of what makes this year more interesting to me.

 

[justanidiot]

You just might get your wish, that is if he makes it to 10, which is not a given by any stretch. While I still question if he's the right fit for this Dennis Allen defense, there's no questioning his talent. There's a reason he's pretty much a consensus top 10 draft pick.

Its not really a wish, it all stemmed when the calls were made to basically push Kmet off to the side and draft Warren. It was the same way that Everett was signed, like Homer for familiarity to the fubar system they tried to run last year, along with Everett getting on the field for the first snap last year. I think Everett ended up with 36 yards last year, with the bears probably with the least targeted tight end in nfl history last year.

Just feel we need to prove that they actually will target one pass catching tight end this year before we get 2.

Yeah, it always goes back to new coaches ignoring what we have to get their guys. Everfluke had to have his Edmunds here. Waldron had to have his guys here, and at least alot of what I have heard from Johnson thru the press has been recognizing what he already has here.

We all know Kyler Gordon will be on the field alot, and its to remove a linebacker, but if its down to a second Tight end or second MLB, I prefer my bears defense.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Ok, here it is, the truly FINAL final mock - I can almost here the cheers of relief. But I'm going with who I think will still be on the board at the time we're on the clock.

10. Kelvin Banks, Jr LT, Texas, 6'5/315
39. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio St, 5'10/202
41. Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio St, 6'3/334
72. Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio St, 6'4/260

I know, I know....three Buckeyes in four picks - not gonna happen. But I really was reviewing the players, not the school, and it's truly a coincidence that 3/4 of these picks are from the same alma mater. And it's not like I'm a Buckeyes fan, if anything I lean toward Notre Dame. But again, it's about the talent and who's available when we're on the clock. Plus, can't say it hurts that I choose players from the school that won the college championship.

Banks Jr is my 2nd-3rd choice. Campbell's a sure goner and likely so is Armand Membou. But even if the latter is available, I might still lean toward Banks, mainly because he's a true left tackle, and who could also slip in as guard if/when needed. We're still not sure if Jones will be 100% ready by the time it gets real and even if he is, there's also the possibility of the Bears not extending him, so this could be his final year. Banks will have a full season to get fully acclimated if/when that happens.

Henderson might be my most wishful thinking pick of the four, as there's a good chance he'll be off the board by 39. Still, I'm seeing a bunch of recent mocks with him being there for the taking. He's pretty much considered the 3rd best and some argue the 2nd best RB in the draft. If he's there, grab him.

I mainly went with Williams due to his being considered the best run stopper in the draft. Yes, getting after the QB is a quality that ranks very high too. But last year our run D was pretty bad, especially after we lost Andrew Billings. Plus even after signing Grady Jarrett, we remain thin, depth-wise. Williams is a load and a disruptor.

Sawyer is my 3rd round pick as an edge, but it's possible I'm thinking more along the lines here of positional need instead of true BPA. Even if Poles sticks with a DE/Edge, he might have another player at that position in mind. But players at other spots could also be under consideration. Still, I like Sawyer's hustle and his leadership. I'd be damn skippy if we landed him at 72.