The 2025 NFL draft is just a month away, which means the Chicago Bears are close to putting an exclamation on their offseason. From the hiring of Ben Johnson to the rebuilding of the offensive and defensive lines in free agency, the Bears have turned heads. But winning games doesn't happen until the fall.
General manager Ryan Poles will continue working with his new head coach to overhaul a roster in need of a talent infusion after a disappointing 5-12 season. The Bears found impactful players in last year's draft, with No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Caleb Williams and the No. 9 pick wide receiver Rome Odunze. No one would've predicted the down year the team would have with high expectations, but now they look to use the 2025 NFL draft as an opportunity to put an emphatic stamp on a quick turnaround.
With seven picks in seven rounds, the Bears will have multiple opportunities to continue to add young talent to their rising roster. Here's a look at our latest seven-round mock draft for Chicago:
Round 1, Pick 10: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The rumors continue to swirl linking Ashton Jeanty to Chicago, and it makes more sense now. After adding in the trenches on both sides of the ball, the Bears are in a position to take best player available. Jahmyr Gibbs has had plenty of success in Detroit with David Montgomery, and the Lions picked him 12th overall with Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator. Pairing Jeanty with D’Andre Swift would be a huge boost for the run game.
Round 2, Pick 39: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, University of Oregon
One of the biggest standouts at the scouting combine this year, Josh Conerly Jr. is extremely quick and a physical specimen at offensive tackle. With the Bears already investing in their interior offensive line and Darnell Wright cemented at right tackle, they could bring Conerly in as competition to Braxton Jones, who is recovering from injury and has one more year left on his contract. Conerly may not play right away, but having insurance wouldn't hurt, especially with the unknown talent of Kiran Amegadjie, who didn't show much in a rookie season hampered by injuries.
Round 2, Pick 41: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Chicago continues to shore up their defensive trenches landing another pass rusher. Nic Scourton is raw, but he’s got the size to wreak havoc and wouldn’t be asked to do too much as a rookie with this new look defensive line. Similar to Simmons, Scourton can be a guy the Bears plug in when needed and hope he makes plays for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen who will surely unlock his potential.
Round 3, Pick 72: Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss
After losing Jack Sanborn the Bears took a hit at linebacker depth, and they find his replacement in Chris Paul Jr. He’d be playing behind T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds and could fill in the gap that’s missing at linebacker. Paul has fun athleticism that could help grow into starting talent at the NFL level, but he may take some time to grow into it as a professional.
Round 5, Pick 148: Shemar James, LB, Florida
Many of the holes on the roster have been addressed this offseason but there seems to be a gap at the linebacker position. Despite going with Paul early on, the Bears can't have enough depth at the position, and James may not burst onto the scene, but he'll provide depth. James had a very productive season for the Florida Gators last year, starting 13 games with 64 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. James may not get much playing time as a rookie but could be an interesting player for Dennis Allen to mold.
Round 7, Pick 233: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Cole Kmet, Durham Smythe, and how about a third Fighting Irish tight end in Chicago? Mitchell Evans will have the opportunity to learn from two veterans at the position and, since Chicago has only brought in Smythe this offseason to add to the tight end room, it feels like a position they will shoot for in the draft. Evans won't have too many expectations if selected in the seventh round, but would make for a fun tight end group who all played at Notre Dame.
Round 7, Pick 240: Dean Clark, S, Fresno State
Kevin Byard is the final year of his contract and Jaquan Brisker had serious health concerns missing 12 games with a concussion last year. The work the Bears have done this offseason will allow them to fill holes and depth on the roster, so taking a flier on a safety who could bring depth wouldn’t be a bad idea. Dean Clark tracks more as a free safety at the next level and would have an opportunity to learn from two of the most talented players at the safety position.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 7-round mock draft: Ben Johnson lands top playmaker
