The Chicago Bears’ 2025 rookie class didn’t just take the field this season - a few of them made real noise, showing flashes of what could be the foundation for a promising young core. From immediate impact players to those still waiting for their shot, this group gave Bears fans plenty to think about heading into the offseason.
Let’s start with the headliner: Colston Loveland, the Bears’ first-round pick, didn’t waste time proving he belonged. The rookie tight end led the team in receiving yards with 713 - not just a solid debut, but a statement.
His ability to stretch the field and work the seams gave Chicago’s offense a new dimension. For a young player at a position that often takes time to develop, Loveland looked like he’d been doing this for years.
Right behind him in the rookie impact rankings is Luther Burden III, the second-round wideout who brought versatility and toughness to the receiving corps. With 652 yards on 47 catches, Burden finished fourth on the team in receiving, showing off strong hands and the kind of after-the-catch ability that keeps drives alive. He wasn’t just padding stats - he was making plays in key moments.
Up front, Ozzy Trapilo turned into a critical piece of the offensive line. The rookie lineman stepped into a starting role and held it down for most of the season, logging 11 starts at left tackle and one at right tackle.
Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a torn patellar tendon in the wild-card win over Green Bay - a tough blow, especially considering how steady he’d been protecting the edge. Still, his performance before the injury gives the Bears something to build on up front.
In the backfield, Kyle Monangai emerged as a valuable complement to lead back D’Andre Swift. The seventh-round pick ran for 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries - a rugged, productive season for a rookie who wasn’t even expected to see the field much early on. Monangai brought a physical edge to the run game, giving the Bears a reliable option to wear down defenses.
On the defensive side, things were more uneven for the rookie class. Shemar Turner, a second-round pick, showed promise early but saw his season cut short by a torn ACL in Week 8 against Baltimore.
He played just 74 defensive snaps before the injury, but the flashes were there. The Bears will be hoping for a full recovery and a bigger role in 2026.
Ruben Hyppolite II, a fourth-round linebacker, and Luke Newman, a sixth-round offensive lineman, saw limited action. Hyppolite played 31 defensive snaps, while Newman logged 25 at guard. Both remain developmental pieces, and their roles could grow depending on how the offseason shakes out.
Then there’s Zah Frazier, the first-round cornerback out of UTSA who didn’t see the field at all in 2025. Frazier missed training camp due to personal reasons and didn’t play a single snap in the preseason or regular season. With the Bears battling injuries at corner throughout the year, there could have been opportunities, but Frazier wasn’t available.
General manager Ryan Poles addressed Frazier’s status heading into 2026.
“I had a good conversation with him,” Poles said. “He'll be back going into this offseason like everybody else.
He feels like he's in a really good place to develop and move forward. Definitely a setback.
He's got a mountain to climb just for missing so much ball he needed to play. That'll be up to him to be able to get himself in the right position to compete for a roster spot.”
There’s no sugarcoating it - Frazier has work to do. He was a one-year starter at UTSA and comes into 2026 with limited reps and no NFL experience.
At 25 years old (he’ll turn 26 next October), he’s older than most rookies, which adds urgency to his development. But the Bears still believe in his potential - and now it’s on him to show he can translate that into production on the field.
As a whole, the 2025 class gave Chicago a mix of immediate contributors and long-term projects. Loveland, Burden, Trapilo, and Monangai look like pieces the Bears can build around. Now, the question becomes: who takes the next step in 2026 - and can Frazier finally get on the field and join that group?