The Chicago Bears taught us a lesson last year. Stop looking at positional need as the driving force of what they do in the draft. Not a single person had tight end even in the top three of positional needs going into the 2025 draft. That didn’t stop Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson from taking Colston Loveland 10th overall. Yet even now, lots of people are looking at the team’s 25th overall pick through the lens of what their biggest needs are. Growing evidence suggests that it is a mistake.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has dropped hints for weeks that the organization is operating with a different perspective than fans and media. The Bears understand they still have needs at several positions, but they can’t focus solely on filling them. They must stay true to their board. All options must remain open. That is why wide receiver is considerably higher on the list that people are talking about. Biggs seems confident that Chicago will grab one even as early as the 1st round.

The Bears have four picks in the first two days of the draft: Round 1 (No. 25), Round 2 (57), Round 2 (60) and Round 3 (89). We can call those their early selections.

My hunch is they would draft a receiver before a running back. I say that because teams can do well with running backs selected on Day 3, and the Bears certainly did with Kyle Monangai last year.

Here are some positions to keep in mind when wondering about the picks in Rounds 1-3: edge rusher, safety, center, wide receiver, defensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker.

The Chicago Bears have good reasons for this.

For one, their wide receiving corps took a hit this offseason. D.J. Moore, their biggest playmaker over the past three years, was traded to Buffalo due to salary cap problems. Olamide Zaccheaus also left in free agency for Atlanta. Last but not least, kick returner Devin Duvernay departed for Arizona. While the Bears still have Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, the overall depth of the position took a considerable hit over the past month. That is, even with the arrival of veteran Kalif Raymond to fill some of the void.

Then you have the uncertainty at the top. Odunze and Burden are unquestionably talented and have flashed brilliance. The problem is that both have some concerns. Odunze missed much of last season with a lingering foot injury. Burden still suffers from consistency issues that require work to smooth out. After that, you have Jahdae Walker, a former undrafted free agent who had some nice plays as a rookie but is still a work-in-progress. It’s not hard to see why the Bears would prefer adding some insurance to the mix. Here are some names almost certain to be high on their board.

Makai Lemon (USC)

When Amon-Ra St. Brown is dropped as a pro comparison, you immediately know Ben Johnson sits up in his chair. After all, Colston Loveland was compared to Sam LaPorta. Lemon isn’t a speed demon, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s a sharp route-runner who creates space for himself quite often. Yet even when he doesn’t, he has the toughness and strong hands to make catches in tight coverage. His footwork is surprisingly advanced for someone his age, and he doesn’t ignore his duties as a run-blocker. Posting 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season despite middling quarterback play only helps his case.

Germie Bernard (Alabama)

For all the hype Ryan Williams has gotten down in Tuscaloosa since his breakout freshman season, it wasn’t him who Ty Simpson looked for in key situations most of last season. That was Bernard. It isn’t hard to see why. At first, you don’t get overwhelmed by the receiver. He’s 6’1″, 206 lbs, and has good-not-great speed. What separates him from others in this class is his route-running. He has that critical mix of great acceleration, sudden quickness, and the agility to rapidly change directions. Another big selling point is his YAC ability, making him a more versatile weapon for creative offensive minds.

Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)

Plenty of players contributed to the Hoosiers’ national championship run, and Cooper was among the biggest. He is one of those guys where you must get the ball in his hands as often as possible just to see what he does. He has Deebo Samuel skills, mixing the smooth route-running with a rugged, physical style of play. He welcomes contact, can fight through it, and has a keen nose for the end zone. The big issue the Chicago Bears will have to determine is whether he can improve his efforts in run-blocking. That has been a considerable sticking point for several draft evaluators.

Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)

Conversely, Fields might be the best run-blocker in the entire draft. He’s big, strong, and aims to physically dominate on every rep. Yet that isn’t the only selling point. Fields is your quintessential big wide receiver. He understands how to use his size to his advantage, constantly boxing out defenders for tough catches in traffic. His large wingspan allows him to go up and get the ball. He’s somebody who thrives on third down and in the red zone. Teams will knock him for his lack of speed. That isn’t his game. For what the Chicago Bears’ offense likes to do, he would be a great fit.

De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss)

The fact that they already met with him should tell you they’re interested. Stribling is one of those receivers who does everything well. He’s a good route-runner, has legitimate vertical speed, plays his best in big games, and is a competitive blocker. The downside with him is how often he comes up short in contested-catch situations. He has the size to win his share of battles, but doesn’t do so often enough. Drafting him will depend on how much the Bears think they can help with that, or if they’re willing to live with it. There is plenty he can do for an offense. He is an easy player to like on tape.

Tyson Bagent arrived as an undrafted free agent from Division II in 2023. He was an extremely rare success story because he beat out a more established veteran for the backup job with the Chicago Bears and even started four games that season, winning two of them. The longer he was in the locker room, the more he endeared himself to the team brass. That is why, before the 2025 season, they locked Bagent up to a three-year contract extension. It was a considerable surprise. Many thought the quarterback would be eager to become a free agent and go hunting for an opportunity to start.

Instead, he opted to stay put, loving his place in Chicago. Then the trade rumors surfaced. Teams were interested in Bagent’s availability, feeling he might be a worthwhile gamble in the absence of many options in the upcoming draft. Bears general manager Ryan Poles admitted he’d been receiving calls. Bagent was finally asked about the situation on the CHGO Bears podcast. Again, he surprisingly didn’t seem overly tickled about the idea of leaving for another team, instead showing great appreciation for head coach Ben Johnson’s comments about him.

“I would say all of that noise during the combine stuff was not necessarily expected,” Bagent said, via CHGO Bears. “But, as far as this NFL thing has been, you can’t expect… everything is unexpected. It was nice to hear my bosses talk [about] me that way. But, as far as my thoughts behind it, the only thing I need to do is stay ready. For right now, that seems to be to be the best quarterback I can be for the Bears for another season.”

If that weren’t clear enough, Bagent hammered the point home a short time later.

“He loves me and nobody loves Ben Johnson more than Tyson Bagent,” Bagent added. “I’ll lay that on the line right now. I appreciate him and what he’s done and what I’m positive he’ll continue to do at the helm of the Bears.”

Tyson Bagent doesn’t seem eager to leave Ben Johnson.

The primary reasoning for signing his contract extension last year was that he wanted a chance to stay with the new Bears head coach and keep learning. It appears that stance hasn’t changed. While his competitive streak and desire to play remain as high as ever, Bagent likes where he is. Johnson’s influence is clearly strong, and the two synergize as well as any head coach and quarterback in the business. It harks back to the relationship Don Shula had with longtime backup Don Strock. It always felt like Strock could start somewhere, but he opted to stay with Shula.

Maybe that is where Tyson Bagent is at. He would love to start, but part of him feels he’s more appreciated in Chicago, even if it’s in a backup role. Sometimes people just stay where they feel wanted. It is clear that the Bears love the makeup of their quarterback room. Bagent and Caleb Williams have a strong relationship, with Case Keenum serving as a great mentor to both. Besides, it feels like only a matter of time before Williams’ play style gives Bagent his opportunity to play. He wants it to be in this offense.

What you’re seeing is rare in the NFL these days.

Most of the time, young players stuck in a backup role are all too eager to earn playing time. If they sense they won’t get it with their original team, they will leave for somewhere else. We’re seeing it with the transfer portal in college and free agency in the pros. Tyson Bagent choosing to stay put is not normal. It represents a surprising degree of loyalty and awareness. The young quarterback isn’t naive either. He knows that there would be a strong probability that any other team he joins won’t have the same coaching or roster, lowering his odds of having success.

Bagent may feel he is not ready yet. Some quarterbacks don’t mature into legitimate starters until later in their careers. We just saw that with Sam Darnold. It was also true of former backups like Kurt Warner and Rich Gannon. Sometimes, guys need time to mature and learn the game before taking their opportunity. Getting traded to a desperate quarterback-needy team probably wouldn’t have been the best outcome for Bagent.

This time of year is when the Chicago Bears go silent. They are in the final stages of collecting information for the NFL draft. Pro days must be attended and private visits must be conducted. Once that is done, Bears general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson, the scouts, and coaching staff will all huddle together to form the team’s draft board. Direct information on this never comes out for obvious reasons. However, you’ll often find interesting breadcrumbs to follow about which names to watch.

Colston Loveland popped up around this time last year, though nobody paid much attention to it at first. He obviously wasn’t the only one mentioned. However, when insiders with local ties to the team start dropping names, it would be wise to listen. There is a good chance they’ve been hearing things. Sure enough, Adam Jahns of CHGO delivered an interesting update. In his latest column, he answered several questions about the Bears’ draft plans next month. In the process, the insider dropped several names who appear to be in play.

To me, the question isn’t whether a “blue” player will fall. It’s if the Bears’ second tier of players – “red” on their draft board – is large enough to reach the No. 25 pick. It’s a group that could include safeties Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren…

…What I will say is that it will be disappointing if the Bears leave the draft without a defensive end that fits what Dennis Allen wants for his front. It’s a deep class that the Bears need to take advantage of this offseason.

Here are five defensive ends to study as the draft approaches: Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State), Malachi Lawrence (Central Florida), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), TJ Parker (Clemson) and Zion Young (Missouri).

The Chicago Bears are clearly doing their homework on defense.

That is hardly surprising. That unit ranked 29th in the league last season. If they hadn’t secured 30 takeaways, it would’ve been one of the worst defenses of the past decade. Poles and the coaching staff knew going into this offseason that major changes were needed. Tremaine Edmunds was released. Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson were all allowed to leave in free agency. The only notable additions have been safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush. No edge rushers have been added, and one safety spot remains unaddressed. This would explain Jahns’ list of names.

Thieneman and McNeil-Warren both have that dual-threat capability defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers, able to play down along the line of scrimmage or drop into coverage. As for the defensive ends, all six of them have the size and length Allen typically prefers at the position. Pinpointing the one they want will depend on which of them has the right blend of pass rush and run-stopping ability. Let’s run through each of the names to determine why the Bears are interested.

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Checks every box imaginable. He has size and blew up the combine with his athletic testing numbers. It shows on film too, pulling down eight interceptions. Thieneman also isn’t afraid to stick his nose into traffic around the line of scrimmage, making physical plays against ball carriers. He has a high football IQ and the instincts to go along with it. If you’re looking for one of those versatile safeties who can play multiple roles, this is the guy.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Charles Tillman built his legacy on an uncanny instinct for forcing turnovers, particularly forced fumbles. McNeil-Warren has that same knack, forcing nine fumbles in his time at Toledo. That doesn’t include the five interceptions as well. Ball skills aside, the big safety is your classic enforcer type. He roams the line of scrimmage, hunting ball carriers, making good tackles. He’ll also make receivers pay for coming over the middle.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

More of a throwback type of player. Dennis-Sutton is a big, tough, and powerful defensive end whose calling card is setting the edge against the run. There are some reservations about his pass-rush potential, given his lack of burst or ability to bend the edge. Still, he was consistently productive the past two seasons, with 8.5 sacks in 2024 and 2025. He has a future in the NFL, but much will depend on how technically proficient he becomes.

Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Probably the most naturally gifted pass rusher mentioned in this list. Despite having typical defensive end size, his burst and closing speed feel like those of a smaller player. On top of that, he demonstrates a deep bag of pass rush skills that he deploys to beat blockers. Most pass rushers his age aren’t this advanced. The concern with him is an inability to set the edge against the run, which is something pretty important in this defense.

Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois

It’s been a long time since the Chicago Bears took somebody in their own backyard in the 1st round. Jacas is well-deserving. He is a tough, rugged player with power and a violent streak that goes from snap to snap. His wrestling background shows in his ability to fight through blocks, and he’s a good enough athlete to win the edge. The problem is that he’s predictable, which will get him into trouble at the pro level.

T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Parker seemed destined to hit the top of the draft after his stellar 2024 season with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss. That is why his five sacks and nine tackles for a loss last year were such a disappointment. The defensive end has everything. He’s big and boasts knock-back power. The issue has been his solid, not great, athleticism and a bland pass-rush move set. Smart tackles won’t worry about him until that changes.

Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

If you’re looking for the prototypical guy for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, that is probably Young. Big, long, and powerful. He sets the edge really well against the run. His pass rush had lagged behind until last year, when he piled up a ton of pressures, along with 6.5 sacks. Young has the physical tools to be one of the most well-rounded players at his position, but not until he becomes less predictable as a rusher.

The Chicago Bears are using a tried-and-true strategy to get a new stadium built after more than 50 years at Soldier Field: threaten to leave the state. It is something many teams in past decades have done. That is because it works. Local governments don’t want to draw the ire of fans from those teams and risk losing public support for future elections. So they eventually work out a deal that gives the owners what they want. That is why the McCaskeys decided to open the door to a possible move to Indiana.

Plenty of fans aren’t happy about the idea. Almost everybody in the state government isn’t. The Bears have been an Illinois institution since their inception in 1920. Their leaving for Indiana would be ten times worse than the Giants’ leaving New York for New Jersey. It seems this public standoff has now drawn the attention of the federal government as well. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, multiple members of the House of Representatives are pushing a bill that would prevent pro sports owners from leaving a state without first giving the local community a chance to buy the team.

A new bill in Congress would prevent sports teams from relocating without first providing local interests with a chance to buy the team. While it seems unlikely in the current political climate that the bill will become law, it has direct relevance to the Bears.

Currently, the Bears are leveraging Indiana against Illinois in the effort to build a new domed stadium. Under the “Home Team Act,” the Indiana option would evaporate.

During a Thursday press conference, co-sponsor Greg Casar, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, called it a “keep-the-Bears-in-Chicago” bill.

It’s strange how the Chicago Bears are the ones to trigger this.

After all, they’re not the first team to utilize this tactic, even in the past year. The Kansas City Chiefs had already used it against the state of Missouri regarding the situation with Arrowhead Stadium. They received offers from neighboring Kansas across the river. When Missouri refused to meet the necessary demands, the Chiefs reached an agreement with Kansas to place their new stadium there. The government made no move to act on that. Yet when the Bears consider an offer from Indiana, suddenly it’s a problem for the national government to fix. Senator Bernie Sanders is spearheading the push.

“The American people are sick and tired of billionaires threatening to move the sports teams they own to different states unless they get hundreds of millions in corporate welfare to build new stadiums,” Sanders said in a press release. “In my view, professional sports teams should be owned and controlled by the fans who love them, not by the multibillionaire oligarchs who are getting even richer by charging outrageous prices and getting taxpayers to pick up their extravagant costs. You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to take your family to a football game. You shouldn’t have to fear that a multibillionaire will move your favorite team to a different city if taxpayers refuse to subsidize it. The Home Team Act is a very modest piece of legislation that begins to address this problem. I am proud to support it.”

While it’s fair to say Congress has more important matters to address than the Chicago Bears leaving for Indiana, the fact is, they aren’t wrong about this. Too many times in the past several years have loyal, passionate fans of a prominent team been jilted because the owners wanted to move to a place where they could better line their own pockets. That is why Stan Kroenke moved the Rams to Los Angeles. The Khans have been toying with the idea of moving the Jaguars to London for the same reasons.

There is little chance this bill gains any legs.

For one, the government is dealing with far too many other matters, both internally and externally. You have the current TSA crisis in airports and the ongoing war in Iran. It is almost impossible for this bill to get the votes needed to pass the House or the Senate. Besides, even if it did, the situation with the Chicago Bears is almost certain to be resolved before it passes. Current signs point to a deal happening in the near future. The Illinois legislature is nearing a vote on the megaprojects bill. If it passes, the team will receive the infrastructure and property tax assistance they need to start building in Arlington Heights.

If they delay the vote again or it falls short of the necessary support, most believe the Bears will accept the offer from Indiana. They already have designs on a location in Hammond just over the border. Indiana has passed the necessary legislation to give the Bears infrastructure and property tax incentives. All they need to do is say yes. It would be shocking if construction doesn’t begin by the end of this year. This government initiative falls into the category of ‘too little, too late’.

For the past three months, Chicago Bears fans have operated under the assumption that the team was leaning toward one direction for its 1st-round pick in the upcoming draft. They need help on defense after its 29th overall finish in 2025. That was before multiple starters left the team in free agency. Tremaine Edmunds, Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are all gone. That isn’t even counting the loss of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Chris Williams, and Dominique Robinson as depth options. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has a ton of work to do on that side of the ball.

However, given his recent actions, you might wonder whether the defense is truly his priority heading into the draft. Earlier this week, he was at Alabama’s pro day. The top-rated Crimson Tide prospect this year? That would be left tackle Kadyn Proctor. Then on Friday, Poles surfaced again, this time at Arizona State. Their second-highest-rated draft prospect this year, behind wide receiver Jordyn Tyson? That would be right tackle Max Iheanachor. Neither program offers a defensive prospect who is considered a 1st-round talent this year.

While Poles may have been there to watch multiple guys, the tackles were the biggest draws.

One must remember Ryan Poles is acting on behalf of Ben Johnson.

While the Bears’ general manager still runs the front office and scouting department, the new head coach has significant say on personnel decisions. Put simply, no 1st round pick is made without a green light from him. In other words, if he wants to go after a left tackle, that is what the Bears will do. The position remains unsettled. Ozzy Trapilo looked well on his way to filling it last season before tearing his patellar tendon in the wild card win over Green Bay.

Chicago did bring back Braxton Jones and signed Jedrick Wills in free agency, but nobody would consider them mortal locks for the job. Jones ended last season on Injured Reserve and was never really healthy. Wills missed all of last season recovering from major surgery to realign his knee. Neither can be called trustworthy, especially given Johnson’s high standards. If Ryan Poles feels there will be an opportunity to land a legitimate left tackle option with the 25th pick, he must be prepared to take it.

The Bears might be playing the board.

It isn’t so much that they’re fixated on a left tackle in this draft. It is more they might already see the writing on the wall. Ryan Poles and Johnson likely get the sense that their defensive line options won’t be the best when the Bears go on the clock. David Bailey, Rueben Bain, and Peter Woods are all expected to be picked long before #25. There is a strong possibility that the same will be true for Akheem Mesidor, Keldric Faulk, and Zion Young. If that happens, it feels inadvisable for the Bears to reach for a defensive lineman.

Conversely, there is a reasonable chance that one of Proctor or Iheanachor will still be on the board when they pick. Johnson loves big and athletic tackles. Both fit the profile, along with a nasty disposition. While left tackle might not be the top need in many people’s minds, it is still a premium position. If the Bears feel one of those players can be a fixture on the offensive line for a decade, they have every right to take them. Securing Caleb Williams’ future will always be the priority.