The Chicago Bears have a big decision ahead of them with the 25th overall pick. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have built real momentum after their 2025 class performed well. If they can put together another good group, the team will be primed for a serious playoff push. The tricky part is determining two things: who will be available and who the Bears will take. That first part is tough because there is no telling what other teams might do. There are always surprises. As for the second? That is somewhat easier.
Given the information we have available before the scouting combine, here is a rundown of all the names connected to the Bears at #25 over the past month. I will remove the ones they are unlikely to take, explain why, and then provide the ones with the best odds of hearing their name called.
Chicago Bears options out because they’ll likely be taken earlier
- EDGE Keldric Faulk (Auburn)
- OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)
- DT Peter Woods (Clemson)
Faulk is a rare breed with great size, long arms, and athleticism. His dominant flashes on tape make it highly unlikely he drops far enough. It is the same for athletic tackles who can pass protect. Freeling proved that countless times for Georgia. Woods has the best odds of dropping, but he’s such an athletic specimen with accompanying power that it’s hard to imagine a team not taking a calculated risk on him despite the consistency issues. We saw it with Walter Nolen last year.
Out because of age issues
- EDGE Akheem Mesidor (Miami)
- EDGE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)
Mesidor was dominant for most of last season for the Hurricanes. Make no mistake. He’d be a top 10 pick if he were two years younger. Unfortunately, he will turn 25 this season. NFL teams are reluctant to invest 1st round picks in players who may not have a long shelf life. That includes the Bears. In the past three years, only one 1st-round pick by Poles was over 21 years old. Howell turns 24 this year as well. The Bears don’t mind taking swings on such players, but not until day two at the earliest.
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| Draft Year | Player | Age at Draft |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Darnell Wright (OT) | 21 |
| 2024 | Caleb Williams (QB) | 22 |
| 2024 | Rome Odunze (WR) | 21 |
| 2025 | Colston Loveland (TE) | 21 |
Out because of health issues
- OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
- OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)
- S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)
Mauigoa is plenty tough, but it’s worth noting he had bilateral shoulder surgery in college, which repaired both shoulder joints. That is a red flag for his longevity in the NFL. Iheanachor had foot surgery and experienced elbow issues as well. Not ideal for a player who needs both to function at a high level. As for McNeil-Warren, he’s reportedly dealt with shoulder problems. Considering the physical style he plays with, that might be something that pops up more than once in the pros.
Top five most likely Chicago Bears targets at 25th pick
5. LB Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas)
Allen’s defense didn’t take off in New Orleans until linebacker Demario Davis arrived. His mixture of intelligence, athleticism, tackling, and blitzing prowess made him the perfect weapon for Allen. When you look through the options in this draft class and ask who is most like Davis? That is Hill. He’s big, athletic, intelligent, handles coverage well, and collected 17 sacks as a blitzer across three seasons for the Longhorns. He’s been compared to Bobby Wagner in draft circles, who played the same style of game. The problem is he doesn’t play what Poles would call a “premium” position. That is the main reason he’s at the bottom of the list.
4. S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)
Never let this important piece of information become ignored. The Bears have four safeties coming out of contract next month. Four. That includes both of their starters, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. They don’t have the money to bring everybody back. A far likelier approach will be to retain one and then hunt for a replacement early in the draft. Thieneman is often called the quarterback of the defense. He knows how to get teammates lined up, has the size to make tackles, and is opportunistic in coverage. His versatility allows him to play almost anywhere. Allen loves utility pieces like that. Still, Chicago hasn’t taken a 1st round safety since 1990. It’s also not a premium position either. That makes it difficult to see this happening.
3. EDGE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)
Up until now, most projections have the Illini standout going in the 2nd round. Yet when you watch the tape, see the athleticism and power combined with his production, it’s not hard to imagine him jumping into the 1st round. Unlike many pass rushers who explode during one year, Jacas saw his steadily grow over time. He was better each year. That is usually a surefire sign that a player is ready for the NFL. His explosiveness and strength would be two big assets. The primary concern is his size. At 6’3″ and 260 lbs, he’s on the average side for a defensive end. Allen almost never deploys undersized edge rushers unless they are elite athletes. So this one is a tricky sell based on his track record as a coach.
2. DT Caleb Banks (Florida)
Think about this. Would you draft a player who is almost an exact replica of Gervon Dexter but a little more explosive with the 25th pick? That is the situation the Chicago Bears will face with Banks. His size, length, and power all mirror Dexter to a surprising degree. It looked like he was destined for a massive breakout after notching 4.5 sacks in 2024. Unfortunately, an injury derailed his season last year after just three games. Still, he showed all those qualities, including a considerable burst, at the Senior Bowl, dominating drills. Allen loves size and power up front. Banks checks all of the boxes. He’s still more projection than polished right now, so there is a risk factor involved. Otherwise, he’d be the obvious choice.
1. EDGE Zion Young (Missouri)
From a physical standpoint, he’s the real deal at 6’5″ and 262 lbs. His arms have the desired length, and there is no doubt about his power base. He showcased it for everybody at the Senior Bowl. Last season was a major breakout for Young, racking up 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss. He totaled 55 pressures overall, making it clear he was a nightmare to block. If you look at body type and playing style, Young closely resembles guys like Cameron Jordan and Trey Hendrickson. Both were outstanding players for Allen in New Orleans. Everything lines up: health, age (21), position, body type, talent level, and play on film. If Young is available at 25th overall, everything points to him being the Bears’ pick.
