Ryan Poles walked into the 2025 NFL Draft with pressure piled on him from every direction. Three seasons of mixed results, a 5-12 disaster in 2024, and the firing of Matt Eberflus left the franchise in a place where everyone demanded answers. Caleb Williams needed a supporting cast. Ben Johnson needed personnel that matched his vision. Fans needed a reason to believe again. Fourteen weeks into the 2025 season, this rookie class is the reason Chicago is 9-4 and back in the playoff picture.
What Poles delivered is more than a good draft. It is a complete shift in roster direction, talent development, and long-term team building.
Kyle Monangai: The Seventh Round Steal No One Saw Coming
Monangai was pick 233. The league shrugged. The Bears did not. They saw a runner who played like a veteran. Vision. Balance. Football IQ. A complete game that did not rely on long speed. Through 13 games, he has 648 rushing yards on 135 carries, five touchdowns, and 4.8 yards per rush. He ranks near the top of all rookie backs in efficiency and outruns players drafted multiple rounds ahead of him.
He stepped up in Chicago’s five game winning streak. He delivered hard yards late in games. He protected Caleb in pressure situations. He added receiving value with 97 yards on 11 catches. He plays with the type of reliability that keeps offensive drives alive.
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Monangai is not only a late round steal. He is one of the biggest value picks in the entire 2025 class.
Colston Loveland: A Top 10 Pick Playing Like He Belonged There
Drafting a tight end at 10 raised questions. The Bears already had Cole Kmet. They had holes elsewhere. But Poles and Johnson saw a player who fit exactly what this offense needed. Loveland is a matchup problem with advanced route running and strong blocking ability.
Through 12 games he has 35 catches, 435 yards, four touchdowns, and averages 13.1 yards per catch. He ranks ninth among all tight ends in receiving grade. His blocking has been strong enough to keep him on the field in every package.
When Caleb targets him, the passer rating sits at 125.8. His ability to win the middle of the field has turned Chicago’s passing offense into a more layered attack.
Loveland is tracking toward one of the best rookie tight end seasons since Kyle Pitts, Sam LaPorta, and Brock Bowers.
Luther Burden III: The Slot Weapon Chicago Needed
Burden fell to pick 39 because of injuries. Chicago took the chance. That chance paid off. Burden brings run-after-catch ability and short area quickness that fits perfectly in Johnson’s system.
He has 30 catches on 40 targets for 395 yards, one touchdown, and a 75 percent catch rate. He leads the Bears in yards after catch and passer rating when targeted. He has moved the chains 16 times and created 11 plays of 15 yards or more.
When Rome Odunze missed time, Burden stepped up with key performances. He handled pressure moments, created separation, and delivered the type of production Chicago lacked from the slot for years.
Ozzy Trapilo: The Rookie Tackle Who Stabilized the Line
Chicago spent heavy money in free agency on Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. But left tackle was still a concern entering the season. Trapilo lost the job in camp but kept working. Once Theo Benedet went down, the Bears turned to the rookie and he delivered.
In his first start against Pittsburgh, he allowed one pressure on 41 pass block snaps. He shut down a defense that led the league in pass rush wins. He followed that up with steady outings against Green Bay and others.
Trapilo gives Caleb protection on the blindside and offers a long term answer at one of the toughest positions in football.
Why This Draft Worked: Alignment, Fit, and Football Intelligence
This draft class is the product of Poles and Johnson working together with one vision. They targeted players who fit the offense and defense. They valued character, toughness, and football IQ. They drafted players who could help right away.
Chicago needed immediate contributors. They got four. Chicago needed rookies who matched Caleb’s timeline. They got four. Chicago needed value late on Day 3. They hit the jackpot with Monangai.
This was not Poles drafting raw traits. This was Poles drafting players who could thrive in Ben Johnson’s system.
What This Means for Chicago’s Future
The Bears have their quarterback. Now they have the draft class to elevate him. Loveland gives Caleb a strong tight end pairing with Kmet. Burden creates easy completions and explosive plays. Trapilo strengthens the line. Monangai brings physicality to the run game.
All of them are on rookie deals through Caleb’s window. That gives Chicago the freedom to spend elsewhere and build a complete roster.
This class signals the shift from rebuilding to competing. The Bears earned their first winning season since 2018. They upset the defending Super Bowl champs. They found identity on offense.
The rookies are not depth pieces. They are core pieces.
The Final Verdict
Poles needed this draft. He delivered the best class of his career. Four rookies stepped in and changed the direction of the team. Chicago is 9-4 because the building blocks fit together now.
The franchise is no longer hoping to be competitive. It is competitive.
The 2025 draft class did not save Poles. It validated his long term plan.
And for the first time in years, the future at Halas Hall feels stable, dangerous, and headed the right direction.
