ClutchPoints
The Chicago Bears have had a great start to their 2025 NFL offseason. It all started with the Bears hiring Ben Johnson as their head coach, following that move with building a star-studded cast with former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen hired as the defensive coordinator. Free agency is next up for the Bears — where they certainly have their eyes on Chiefs lineman Trey Smith. After free agency, the Bears will be set to hit the 2025 NFL Draft, where they hold the No. 10 pick. With that pick, the Bears are mocked to select LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell, the best player they’ve had at the position in 40 years, per Chad Reuter on NFL.com.
“Chicago lands a legitimate starting left tackle to protect Caleb Williams and move defenders in the run game,” Reuter wrote. “He’ll be the best player they’ve had at that spot since Jimbo Covert, the sixth overall pick of the 1983 NFL Draft.”
For Bears fans who remember Jimbo Covert, he was drafted with the sixth pick in 1983, blocking for one of the best running backs in NFL history: Walter Payton.
In his eight seasons with the Bears, he was an absolute force to be reckoned with, ending his career with two Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pros, a Super Bowl ring, and an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-1980s Team.
Oh, and Covert was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020, making his name immortal in NFL history.
Jimbo Covert was a career member of @ChicagoBears, a two-time First-Team All-Pro and a Super Bowl Champion. #goldjacketspotlight pic.twitter.com/CK1FQk1FQx
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) May 23, 2023
While this could be a lofty projection for Campbell, he has the potential to be the best lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As a true mauler, the LSU product has some parts of his game that compare to Covert, but it’s always tough to expect someone to make the Hall of Fame before they’ve been drafted.
LSU Offensive Tackle Will Campbell might be the most gifted pass protector in the 2025 class but he is not without flaws especially in the run game #BuildingTheBoard
Positives
Light feet allow him mirror and redirect with ease
Expansive pass set range
Marksman with his… pic.twitter.com/6oyYAtUAj1— We are back Ben Johnson (@TommyK_NFLDraft) November 30, 2024
Along with Campbell being compared to Covert, the likelihood of Campbell making it to the 10th pick is quite the stretch. In Reuter’s mock, just two quarterbacks were selected in the top 10 picks, making the possibility that Campbell falls this far even less likely.
If he does, however, the Bears will truly have an offensive line worth getting excited about, especially under their new head coach.
At the start of the 2025 NFL season, Chicago could be trotting out this offensive line:
