Just a quick thought dump regarding the Bears 2025 draft group, in a nutshell what I felt once the draft was over and had some time to think, I came to this conclusion, it was absolutely not what I expected and I did not enjoy the Bears picks. Then once I had that settled, I started really try to understand what this group of rookies will offer this Bears team and I didnt come out with some theories.
Colson Loveland is gonna make me not miss Keenan Allen one bit. Allen was focused a lot on last years offense, too much I would argue, but it did give Caleb Williams a nice target more often than not and I can say that Keenan did help in Williams progress as an NFL QB. Allen has lost a step and it shows, so in comes Loveland who really resembles what Allen did for the Bears in 2024, a younger version that brings good route running to separate, can stretch the field, has really good hands and can be a YAC threat, on top of that he can block from the slot.
Luther Burden III is insurance for D.J. Moore. Ben Johnson has poked Moore indirectly in interviews often, when he says he wants his players to play hard even when they dont have the ball, and then goes and drafts a RB type wideout that excels after getting the ball as a YAC monster, that's Moore. So coach Johnson is getting that skill set on top of someone that plays based on his culture one way or another.
Ozzy Trapilo isn't coming for Braxton Jones spot... yet. Trapilo is needed depth, if the Bears need to learn something is that you need depth in the trenches, it's not enough just having a good set of starters, even with one of them getting injured it opens up an opportunity for the opponent to exploit it. Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie can continue to learn the position behind Darnell Wright and Jones.
Shemar Turner shouldn't be a DT. There were other DTs I really considered more talented than Stewart who was talented but inconsistent at Texas A&M as a DT. I read someone mention that he could slim down and play EDGE and that really clicked for me. Texas A&M had three freak athletes in Shemar Stewart, Nic Scourton and Turner, but all three were inconsistent, one more than the other but all seemed to be playing out of their comfort zone. So, if Dennis Allen and the DL coaching staff saw that Turner could be their other EDGE depth piece instead of DT, that would make me feel better about the pick.
Ruben Hyppolite II I just can not. I didn't get the pick, I knew nothing about him, it's the 4th round. So, I started watching games of him from Maryland, finished two of them, I still didn't get the pick. Hyppolite II is going to very possibly be a really good Special Teams player, he may be a good WLB, there is a very small need at LB depth but there is a need, I don't see it though. He is very fast but cant shed blockers, if there is a lane to the QB or RB he can attack and fill it very quickly, bulky but smallish so he doesn't often knock ball carriers back or miss to make the takedown, he is good in coverage in man but takes him a bit to react in zone. So, there is talent but I believe it's going to take some time for him to see the field. Picking him in the 4th is looking very much to be a reach by Ryan Poles and company.
Zah Fraizer is good depth, doesn't hurt to have competition for Tyrique Stevenson. I didn't see any games from Frazier, once I did I got why some experts raved about him, he does come from a smaller conference school but does display skill potential and size. I don't expect him to debunk Stevenson, I prefer him to sit and learn and come in in dime or quarter packages. The Bears have had injurie problems specifically in the secondary so having more bodies here is key.
Luke Newman will be needed depth for the iOL. Again, the Bears organization is doing the right thing in bolstering the OL depth. Newman is versatil, played tackle, guard and center, has come from a smaller conference school then play with Michigan State, he has been climbing the ladder and hopefully will continue to do so.
Kyle Monangai is not a bad runner whatsoever, but the need outweighs the player. Monangai is a very complete player but lacks some skills that are coveted for a starting RB, which is what I expected the Bears to pursue. Monangai has good balance and leg power to kick chugging when getting hit, doesn't shy away from contact and shows it most when pass blocking where he has some very nice highlights where he just lights up incoming defenders, one note that came up is his ball security with no reported fumbles in his college career, can put his foot on the ground and change direction very well , he is small and although he has good speed, he tends to slow down and give defenders a chance to catch up. All of this just to say, he looks to be an excellent 3rd down back, he will push Travis Homer to the edge. Thinking that Monangai can win the starting job just like that is not real in my opinion, I really expect that Ben Johnson saw real starting potential ability in Roshon Johnson to push DeAndre Swift to a change of pace and receiving back with Monangai coming in for 3rd and long duties where he can show his blocking skills. This is real for Monangai, he can start from there and keep growing in this offense.
In conclusion, I really don't have any big issues with the players, but mostly the order of prioritisation and the miss of picking up a S and a NT. Im understanding that Ben Johnson wants to hit the ground running with this offense and with the Bears current defense that did well last year, the trouble started when they lost Andrew Billings at the half of the season, so they got Grady Jarrett to help there, but that's it, if Gervon Dexter can't take another step further next year, the DL can be in trouble again. Offensively they did good with the OL and WRs but they had a chance to solidify the RB position in a deep RB class but just barely made due with Monangai, honestly when Loveland got picked I thought they wanted to run to open the pass, but with the Burton pick it quickly changed my perspective to them wanting to pass to open the run. If the prioritie where made backwards of how they drafted I would may felt better, but I can see the posible plan made with this draft, set the culture, make every player feel uncomfortable, no one is safe, compete, that I can see and it may work.
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