The 2025 NFL draft is in the books, where the Chicago Bears welcomed eight new rookies to the roster.
The Bears added a pair of playmakers in tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III with their first two selections. Chicago also shored up the trenches with the second-round selections of offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive tackle Shemar Turner. They also found some potential late-round gems with linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, cornerback Zah Frazier, guard Luke Newman and running back Kyle Monangai on Day 3.
Chicago is slated to hold their rookie minicamp on May 9, where we’ll get a first glimpse at the newcomers before the offseason program kicks into high gear.
While we’ll be glad to give mock drafts a rest for the foreseeable future, there were some way-too-early 2026 mock drafts that surfaced after the 2025 draft. We rounded those up, where experts make their first picks for Chicago — where edge rusher and running back were the popular selections.
ESPN: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (17th overall)
ESPN’s Jordan Reid: “The Bears didn’t address running back until the seventh round last week (Kyle Monangai), so they could be seeking D’Andre Swift’s successor in 2026. Their 4.0 yards per rush tied for third worst in the NFL last season. Love was electric for the Irish in 2024, averaging 6.9 yards per carry (10th best in the FBS) en route to 1,125 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. He also had 237 receiving yards. He’s an explosive strider, and his body control allows him to fit his 6-foot, 206-pound frame through coin-slot-sized running lanes.”
The Athletic: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami (17th overall)
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: “Bain burst onto the scene as a true freshman two years ago for the Hurricanes and should again be among the ACC’s top defensive players in 2025, if he stays healthy.”
CBS Sports: Charles Jagusah, OG, Notre Dame (17th overall)
CBS Sports‘ Josh Edwards: “Chicago invested heavily in its offensive line this offseason, but Joe Thuney is scheduled to hit free agency a year from now. Jagusah gives them a cheaper, cost-controlled starter coming off what many hope would be a breakout year for Caleb Williams.”
Pro Football Focus: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (16th overall)
PFF’s Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman: “The Bears surprisingly waited until the seventh round of this year’s draft before selecting a running back. They dive into next year’s class earlier with the selection of Jeremiyah Love from nearby Notre Dame. Love’s 91.8 PFF rushing grade tied him for fifth in the nation last season. His 6.8 yards per carry tied him with Ashton Jeanty for seventh. Notre Dame’s quarterback situation is in flux, so Love could be in for a massive season in South Bend.”
Bleacher Report: CB Malik Muhammad, Texas (16th overall)
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski: “It’s been a busy offseason in Chicago as the Bears are currently projected to have five new starters on offense and two on defense. Moving forward, the new setup gives the front office some flexibility to take a luxury pick in the first round of next year’s draft. It will be hard-pressed to pass up on Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad based on his performance last season. “The Longhorns may have lost a first-round cornerback in Jahdae Barron, but they’re still in a great spot with Muhammad returning for his junior season,” Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema and Max Chadwick wrote. “Only three returning Power Four corners have been more valuable than him over the last two seasons, according to our WAA metric. He has 17 forced incompletions in that span despite only being targeted on 12.1% of his coverage snaps.” Plus, Tyrique Stevenson hasn’t been much more than average during his two seasons and will be entering a contract year in 2026.”
33rd Team: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (17th overall)
33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs: “Bain Jr. wasn’t quite the same version of himself in 2024 as a freshman star in 2023. But he’s a powerful, explosive presence that would be a welcome addition to the Bears’ front. There’s no such thing as too many good pass rushers, and Bain Jr. showcased just how disruptive he could be with nearly 50 pressures as a freshman.”
Athlon Sports: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (16th overall)
Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling: “Chicago added some promising talent in this year’s draft, but one thing they failed to find was a young edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat. After missing the first four games of the 2024 season, Bain finished the year strong, and he’s got all the measurables to make a big jump in 2025 that could land him in the first round.”
Pro Football Network: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon (16th overall)
Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante: “The Chicago Bears have a few options at left tackle moving forward. They could extend Braxton Jones, or turn to Ozzy Trapilo or Kiran Amegadjie. But if they feel uneasy about the position after 2025, left tackle becomes a realistic Round 1 priority. Isaiah World excelled at Nevada and now brings his game to Oregon. At 6’8″, he’s a massive, mobile lineman who posted an 82.3 pass-blocking grade last season, per PFF. His upside is undeniable.”
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