Can the Chicago Bears make some noise in the tough NFC North with Ben Johnson taking over as head coach?
A lot of that is going to depend on the maturation and potential breakout of Caleb Williams who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A part of Williams’ challenges as a rookie and the team’s overall struggle was a lack of offensive consistency mainly due to a pour offensive line.
Along with some key additions along the offensive line, the Bears entered the 2025 NFL Draft with the mindset of adding more reinforcements along the offensive line and more playmakers to fit Johnson’s offensive approach and help Williams be a more effective signal caller. It looks like they found players to fit that mode.
In what NFL Mocks considers the top ranked draft class in the NFC North, the Bears have some rookies already making noise in training camp.
Here are 3 rookies to watch for the Chicago Bears:
Colston Loveland
The Bears surprised a bit in selecting Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Considering the team’s other needs, tight end wasn’t considered to be a top need, but with Ben Johnson’s offenses running a lot of two-tight end sets, it makes sense to add another playmaking tight end to the mix.
While Penn State’s Tyler Warren was considered the higher ranked tight end, Loveland is no slouch. A top 10 talent, Loveland will give Caleb Williams another big target on the field. With the success Sam LaPorta had as a rookie playing under Johnson in Detroit, Loveland should have similar success as a more athletic type of tight end will create mismatches in the passing game. Will Loveland force veteran tight end Cole Kmet into more of a second tight end option?
With his athleticism and the chemistry Williams and Loveland are already showing during training camp, it’s a good bet Loveland will be one of the best rookie offensive playmakers in 2025.
Ozzy Trapilo
The Bears also entered the offseason with a focus on upgrading the offensive line. They did that by adding Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman to the mix. Those additions allowed the Bears to add Loveland in the first round. With one of their second-round picks, they may have found their left tackle with the selection of Ozzy Trapilo with the No. 56 overall pick.
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Trapilo, who spent three seasons as a starter at Boston College, brings discipline to the Bears’ offensive line. Along with his size (6-foot-8, 316 pounds), Trapilo is a patient offensive lineman who excels both in pass protection and run protection. As a rookie already creating buzz in training camp, Trapilo should at the very least make an impact early as a swing tackle. There’s a good bet he’ll end up as the starting left tackle.
Kyle Monangai
Another rookie creating buzz in training camp is seventh round pick Kyle Monangai. With second-round picks Shemar Turner and Luther Burden II making a case as potential impact rookies, its hard to ignore the potential of Monangai who was taken with the No. 233 pick out of Rutgers.
In rushing for 2,541 yards the last two seasons, Monangai was one of the best offensive playmakers in the Big 10. If he played for a bigger school, perhaps he would’ve been higher drafted, but fortunately for the Bears he slipped to them in the seventh round. A physical back, Monangai has the chance to secure the RB2 role behind D’Andre Swift who has expressed his excitement of the rookie.
"Real good, really good. Really excited for him," Swift said during the team’s mandatory minicamp back in June. "Very talented, very talented. He's cool, and he's from Jersey. I'm from Philly, he's from Jersey, so close. But he's been really good so far, excited for him."
It sounds like Monangai is already making an impact.