Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson remade their team’s roster in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Bears entered the draft Thursday with seven picks, starting with the No. 10 overall selection in the first round, and intrigue about what player they would take quickly circulated.

Would Poles, Johnson and Co. opt for another offensive lineman, after they bolstered that position with three veterans last month in free agency? Would it be an edge rusher who could harass rival quarterbacks in the competitive NFC North? Or, if a talented skill-position player fell the Bears’ way, would they pounce, giving QB Caleb Williams another weapon in Johnson’s high-powered offense?

The answers were no, no and yes, as the Bears picked Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, despite consistent speculation about someone else at the same position — Tyler Warren, whom the Indianapolis Colts eventually took at No. 14 — and chatter about a potential trade up for Ashton Jeanty, who went No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Poles said earlier in the week that he anticipated this year’s draft would be “a little wild,” and he contributed to that atmosphere with a Day 2 trade with the Buffalo Bills. The Bears sent their No. 41 pick, along with a third-rounder (No. 72) and a seventh-rounder (No. 240), to the Bills for two second-round selections (Nos. 56 and 62) and a fourth-round choice (No. 109). Poles made two smaller trades on Day 3, with the Bills and the Los Angeles Rams, as he maneuvered for the prospects he wanted.

After three action-packed days, here are the Bears’ NFL draft results, with details on all eight players they picked, along with analysis from Marquee Sports Network insider Scott Bair.

First round (No. 10 overall):
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

READ BEARS INSIDER SCOTT BAIR’S ANALYSIS ON LOVELAND

Second round (No. 39 overall,
from Panthers):
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

READ BEARS INSIDER SCOTT BAIR’S ANALYSIS ON BURDEN

Second round (No. 56 overall, from Bills):
Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College

READ BEARS INSIDER SCOTT BAIR’S ANALYSIS ON TRAPILO

Second round (No. 62 overall, from Bills):
Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

READ BEARS INSIDER SCOTT BAIR’S ANALYSIS ON TURNER

Fourth round (No. 132 overall, from Bills):
Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland

SCOTT BAIR’S BREAKDOWN

The Bears obviously were looking for speed at linebacker, which makes sense, considering how Dennis Allen prefers the position to play. Chicago’s new defensive coordinator likes guys who can go sideline-to-sideline and occasionally blitz through the interior for quick quarterback pressures. Hyppolite has speed and isn’t afraid to mix it up.

Adding depth to the position was essential, as the Bears entered the draft without a set strongside linebacker on their roster. They also need interior depth.

While we shouldn’t just trust draft analyst rankings, most had Hyppolite being picked far later than the fourth round, and he wasn’t a NFL Scouting Combine invite. He ran great at Maryland’s pro day, though, which might have raised his stock.

Bears assistant college scouting director Francis St. Paul said Hyppolite’s speed and instincts were attractive at this stage of the draft. The Bears envision playing him on the interior and being a factor on special teams.

Fifth round (No. 169 overall, from Bills):
Zah Frazier, CB, Texas-San Antonio

SCOTT BAIR’S BREAKDOWN

It’s clear the Bears are looking to add elite speed on the defense. Frazier ran a blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash, and he also has great height and length, along with the frame and instincts that allowed him to have a monster season at Texas-San Antonio (six interceptions, eight pass breakups).

Bears senior director of player personnel Trey Koziol said the team wants defensive backs “who are long and who can run” in Dennis Allen’s press-heavy scheme. Frazier fits that mold.

The Bears used their first two Day 3 picks on defensive players who run sub-4.4 40s, and they seem to be betting on traits at this stage of the draft. Frazier is an older prospect at 24, but that didn’t scare off the Bears. He’ll compete for time and work to develop in a system that fits his skill set well.

Frazier visited Halas Hall during the pre-draft process and came away impressed by the atmosphere and culture. He left hoping he’d end up in Chicago, and now he’ll have to make good on the Bears’ faith in him. 

Sixth round (No. 195 overall, from Rams):
Luke Newman, Guard, Michigan State

SCOTT BAIR’S BREAKDOWN

The Bears added to their interior depth with this late-round pick. And, yeah, that includes at center.

The Bears were impressed while watching Newman play guard at Michigan State and then at both guard spots and center in the East-West Shrine Game.

Director of college scouting Breck Ackley said Newman’s ability to process calls, snap and quickly get out of his stance prompted the Bears to bring him in for a pre-draft visit. Newman showed his intelligence then, and put himself in favorable position to be drafted. Those Halas Hall visits were important, as the first three Day 3 selections all had them.

The Bears will work Newman at center to see if he can develop there, but he also will be ready for work at guard.

Newman was a standout left tackle at Holy Cross for three seasons, but his decision to transfer to Michigan State and move inside helped set him up for this opportunity. And while his arm length is between 31 and 32 inches — short by NFL standards —  Newman said he has learned to overcome the issue with proper technique he believes will help in the pros.

Seventh round (No. 233 overall,
from Bengals):
Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers

SCOTT BAIR’S BREAKDOWN

The Bears finally added a running back after some bad luck finding one earlier in the draft. It’s tough to expect much from seventh-round picks, who are no lock to make the roster.

Monangai is a shorter back at 5-foot-8, but he’s 211 pounds. He’s the tough runner the Bears were looking to add at an earlier point in draft weekend — someone who welcomes contact and maintains balance while churning out extra yards.

It’s hard to imagine, though not impossible, that Monangai will solve the Bears’ need for another running back. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he won’t really need it for what he’s asked to do.

Monangai adds some heft to the Bears’ running back room and a different style than D’Andre Swift, but he’s a willing blocker who could be impactful on early downs. The Bears need all that.

Monangai was incredibly productive at Rutgers despite being a lower-ranked recruit, so he could defy his draft position and be a productive pro. Time will tell.