The Ben Johnson era in Chicago is off to a promising start - not just in terms of wins, but in how the Bears are building for the long haul. While the team’s on-field success has grabbed headlines, it’s their 2025 draft class that’s quietly laying the foundation for something potentially lasting. According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, the Bears boast the seventh-best rookie class in the league this season - and there’s a strong case to be made that they might deserve even more love.
Let’s break it down.
This was a deep draft for Chicago, and that depth gave them the flexibility to swing big at the top and still take some calculated risks later on. Not every pick has panned out so far - Shemar Turner, Ruben Hyppolite II, Zah Frazier, and Luke Newman haven’t made much of an impact yet.
But when you’ve got volume, you can afford a few misses if your hits are home runs. And that’s exactly what the Bears landed with their top two selections.
Colston Loveland, taken at No. 10 overall, faced some early-season scrutiny. There were questions about whether the Bears reached for him, whether he could separate at the NFL level, and if he could handle the physicality of pro defenses.
Fast-forward to now, and he’s not just silencing the doubters - he’s turning heads across the league. Loveland has emerged as one of the most promising young tight ends in the NFL, showing off a blend of size, route-running savvy, and soft hands that make him a mismatch nightmare.
Then there’s Luther Burden. Early in the season, he was buried on the depth chart behind Olamide Zaccheaus, struggling to find his footing.
But once he got his shot, he made it count. Burden has transformed into a dynamic weapon in this offense - a true playmaker with the ball in his hands.
His ability to stretch the field and create after the catch has brought a new level of explosiveness to Chicago’s passing game.
Ozzy Trapilo’s rookie campaign was more of a rollercoaster. He bounced between flashes of promise and growing pains before an injury landed him on injured reserve.
But context matters here: Trapilo was a college right tackle asked to flip to the left side, one of the toughest transitions an offensive lineman can make. Despite that, he logged meaningful snaps and showed enough to be in the conversation as a starting left tackle next season.
That kind of versatility and upside is hard to find.
Add in running back Kyle Monangai, who’s provided solid contributions and looks like a legitimate piece of the rotation, and the Bears are looking at four real hits from this class - with two of them trending toward star status. That’s how you accelerate a rebuild.
For perspective, the teams ranked just ahead of Chicago - Atlanta at sixth, Carolina at fifth, and New England at fourth - also boast strong draft hauls, each with multiple starters and key contributors. The Giants, ranked third, are buoyed by quarterback Jaxson Dart, while Cleveland and New Orleans round out the top two with impressive depth and potential franchise quarterbacks of their own.
But here’s the thing: if Loveland and Burden continue on their current trajectories, and if Trapilo and Monangai take that next step, it’s not a stretch to argue that Chicago’s class belongs in the top five - maybe even higher. This group didn’t just fill holes; it brought in playmakers who could define the next era of Bears football.
For a franchise that’s been searching for long-term answers on offense, this rookie class might be the most encouraging sign yet that the Bears are finally building something sustainable.