Windy City Gridiron
From the minute that head coach Ben Johnson stepped foot into Halas Hall, clear expectations for the 2025 season were laid out. Playoffs are expected, but it will take improvements all over the roster to fulfill that hope. Here are 10 breakout candidates for the Chicago Bears’ upcoming season.
The 2025 NFL regular season is right around the corner as we approach the end of July and the start of training camp for all 32 teams around the league. After an offseason full of big moves and ever-changing rosters, each fan base will head into the season with a renewed sense of optimism. The Chicago Bears and their fans are no different. Following the hiring of a brand new coaching staff, an expensive free agent period, and four draft picks in the Top 62, there’s plenty of reason to believe that things could be different this year.
Every year, teams go from worst to first, or from really bad to being a playoff team. The Bears could be one of those “feel-good” stories this season, but it’ll take vast improvement all over their roster. Here are 10 players who could break out in 2025 and help the Bears reach the postseason for the first time since 2020.
10. WR Luther Burden III
Can a rookie truly be a breakout candidate? Sure, why not! As you’ll see, the further we get down this list, the more we see that Burden is far from the only rookie on this list.
The Bears surprised many when they took Burden at No. 39 during Day 2 of the draft. Many had expected them to make a run at one of the top running backs or maybe even an edge rusher. Instead, they stuck to their board and took a player who drew comparisons to D.J. Moore. Unlike last year when the team traded for Keenan Allen and drafted Rome Odunze, there’s a clear plan in place for how first-year head coach Ben Johnson wants to use his receivers. Speed has been a big focus this offseason, and for anyone who watched the Bears’ offense last season, it’s clear why. This unit needs players who can separate.
Although some might argue that Burden is too similar to a player like Moore, it’s easy to say that having two players with similar skill sets can help keep the defense on their toes. With both players on the field, it will be harder for opposing teams to identify which players are in each role. It’s fair to expect Burden to start as the team’s fourth or fifth option, but it’s also realistic to expect him to become a bigger piece as the season progresses. Don’t be surprised to see Burden finish as the team’s second receiver.
9. CB Josh Blackwell
Call it a gut feeling but I have a feeling that one of Blackwell or Elijah Hicks will be featured as the sixth defensive back when Dennis Allen’s defense goes into their dime packages. Unlike most teams,...
