Windy City Gridiron
After spending some time digesting the Bears’ draft class and assessing the roster, Aaron Leming gives his thoughts (and grades) on the team’s eight-player group.
Each year, the build-up to the draft is one of the more exciting aspects of the offseason. Analysts and fans spend months watching countless players, assessing fits, and dreaming of what could be. Then in three days, seven rounds fly by in the blink of an eye. The 2025 class was no different.
For the Chicago Bears, this offseason has been about change. It began with hiring a brand-new coaching staff. Then came free agency and a few extensions. Last weekend, the final big piece of the offseason puzzle fell into place when the Bears made their eight selections. Now that most of the acquisition period is behind them, reflecting on their eight-man draft class is next. Although this group wasn’t as “conventional” as many expected, it’s easy to see why general manager Ryan Poles said they simply stayed true to their board and didn’t chase needs. Let’s dive deeper into all eight picks and the thought process behind each player.
Arif Hasan’s Consensus Board: #12 (TE2)
Dane Brugler’s Top 100: #11 (TE2)
Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150: #7 (TE2)
Heading into last Thursday night, all rumors pointed to either running back Ashton Jeanty or an offensive tackle. The Bears had to pivot once it became clear that the Top 3 tackles and Jeanty would be off the board in the first nine picks. Although the offense has been the primary focus of this offseason, it would have been easy to justify a pick along the defensive line, namely on the edge. Instead, Chicago went more of an unconventional route with a tight end.
Why It Makes Sense:
As we learned last year, the offense is far from a finished product. The offseason is played out on paper, but when the games start and the lights shine bright, the Bears wilt under the first sign of pressure. With an offensive-minded head coach calling the shots, it always made the most sense for an offense-heavy draft. While some might believe that this is the beginning of the end for veteran tight end Cole Kmet, it has more to do with scheme fit than it is a knock on Kmet. Loveland is an athletic tight end who can line up inline or outside. He can stretch the seam, and as head coach Ben Johnson noted, he shares many of the same traits as Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta.
Assessing The Risks:
Recent history has not been kind to tight ends taken in the Top 10. As Johnson noted in Saturday afternoon’s press conference, tight end is the second most challenging position to learn as a rookie, outside of quarterback on the offensive side of the ball. There’s plenty of risk in a pick like this, and it’s fair to question why they didn’t take Tyler Warren. Fit...
