Honestly, this is the least excited I’ve been about an NFL Draft in a long time. Why? Probably because 1) this is something of a "meh" draft, and 2) the Bears haven’t selected this low in the first round since 2011. The player I’m most excited about is Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, but unfortunately, he is very much out of the Bears’ reach. My excitement level will presumably rise on Thursday night once the Raiders go on the clock and once I have my first slice of pizza. Let’s have a look at the Bears’ draft needs, position by position:

Nope.

It looks like the Bears are going to run it back with RB D’Andre Swift and RB Kyle Monangai this season. But with Swift potentially gone after the season, there’s a chance that Chicago takes a tailback at some point in this draft, but likely not until at least Day 2. Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price could be an intriguing option if he falls to one of the Bears’ two second-rounders, but he didn’t catch the ball much in college and had some ball-security issues. Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. obviously turned heads at the Combine by running the fastest 40 (4.33) of any tailback, but he can run a bit stiff and upright at times. It’s unlikely that he’ll fall to Chicago’s third-rounder at #89 overall, but he’d be an exciting player in this offense.

Adding here would be more of a luxury pick than a priority. The Bears just traded D.J. Moore, and HC Ben Johnson said last month that he wants WR Luther Burden to get the ball as much as possible going forward. If Chicago does get a wideout, it would probably be either a speedster who can take the top off the defense or a savvy route-runner who can make the tough catch over the middle on third down.

I think Alabama’s Germie Bernard would be a good fit as a guy who can fit the latter prototype and is a good blocker as well (which Johnson loves). Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields is an interesting prospect at 6-4 218 who didn’t run a great 40 but is quicker than you think, can go up and get it, and blocks well. If Johnson is willing to play Burden in the slot a decent amount, Fields could be an outside receiver along with WR Rome Odunze in three-wide sets.

With TE Colston Loveland coming off a stellar rookie season and TE Cole Kmet still a reliable second option, there isn’t much need here.

LT Braxton Jones would probably start at left tackle if the season started today, and the Bears would probably like to do better there. T Theo Benedet and T Jedrick Wills Jr. are options as well. No one knows when T Ozzy Trapilo will return from his major knee injury. If the Bears look here at #25 overall, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor is the guy who interests me the most. He brings rare size and athleticism at 6-7 352, but is he a better fit at guard in the NFL? Will he be there at #25? I’m not sure. Utah’s Caleb Lomu is another possibility at #25, though he was only a two-year starter and needs to get stronger. There’s a pretty good chance the Bears take a center at some point, with C Garrett Bradbury likely only a stopgap option there.

Tackle and edge are both needs here, but this isn’t a great D-tackle class, and the edges who could still be there at #25 all have some question marks. Clemson’s Peter Woods is a name who has been mocked often to Chicago, but he didn’t produce much in his final college season. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is good at stuffing the run but hasn’t shown much as a pass rusher. Florida’s Caleb Banks has an injury history that makes me nervous. Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter is a possibility in the second round and would be a fun pick after the goofy looks he gave the camera at the Combine.

At edge, DC Dennis Allen tends to like bigger players. Auburn’s Keldric Faulk (6-6 276) has great size but had a disappointing final college season. Is he more of an edge or a tackle? Maybe he could be both. Missouri’s Zion Young (6-6 262) could be the best fit for the Bears at #25 on paper after a productive senior season, but he was arrested and charged with DWI in December and was charged with assault after a postgame fight with Michigan players while at Michigan State in 2022. Young brings high energy and intensity and can set the edge against the run as well. If GM Ryan Poles is willing to gamble on him, I think there’s a high chance that Young is the pick. Keep an eye on Illinois’ Gabe Jacas in the second round. He has a high motor and finished his career second in Illinois history in sacks. Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton is another Day 2 possibility with good size at 6-6 256.

After signing LB Devin Bush to replace Tremaine Edmunds, the need here is relatively low.

As they say, you can never have enough good corners, but the Bears are pretty set here unless they want to take someone to challenge CB Tyrique Stevenson or provide depth in case CB Kyler Gordon gets injured again.

After signing Coby Bryant as a free agent, the Bears need to find his tag team partner. For me, Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman is that guy, a safety with good range who diagnoses quickly and can make plays all over the field. If he’s there at #25, he would be my pick, but many mock drafts have him going to the rival Vikings at #18. I think there’s a pretty good chance the Bears would have to trade up to get him. If they can’t get him, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could be a nice consolation prize. He brings great size at 6-4 201, though he needs to clean up his tackling.

More to come after the draft!

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