The Chicago Bears are hoping to begin a new era of success under new head coach Ben Johnson next season, but getting there will require them to patch the holes in their current roster during free agency and the 2025 NFL draft.
Their No. 1 priority? Finding better protection for quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Bears will surely look to invest in their offensive line when negotiations for this year’s free-agency period begin on March 10, but they will also need to make use of the draft to build up the unit even if they sign a few pricey veterans.
With that in mind, Athlon Sports has put together its first all-Chicago Bears mock draft of the 2025 NFL offseason with an emphasis on drafting multiple offensive linemen and building a wall in front of Williams to keep him safe.
Here are the results, made using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator.
LSU Tigers offensive tackle Will Campbell.
Scott Kinser/Imagn Images
Round 1, Pick 10: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Philadelphia Eagles showed in the 2025 Super Bowl why it is important to invest significant resources in both the offensive and defensive lines, and with both Abdul Carter and Mason Graham off the board at this point, the Bears invest in an elite pass protector who can help keep Williams upright.
At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Campbell has the size to play left tackle if Chicago wants or needs a replacement for Braxton Jones, but his shorter wingspan has some thinking he might fit better at guard in the NFL — which would work just fine for the Bears, too. Either way, the team needs better offensive linemen, and few in the class have a higher floor than the Jennings Blocking Trophy winner.
Round 2, Pick 39 (via Carolina): Princley Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
Despite the temptation to add another offensive lineman here, the Bears gift new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with a quick and physically imposing edge rusher who can start immediately for their line opposite Montez Sweat.
Umanmielen — who is 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds — brings a compelling blend of speed and power to the table as a pass rusher and has several well-developed moves in his pass-rushing toolkit. For an aggressive defensive play-caller like Allen, he is a dreamboat addition to the Bears’ defensive front.
Round 2, Pick 41: Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona
Savaiinaea was considered two picks earlier, but the Bears circle back for him with the 41st pick and land their second NFL-ready O-lineman in as many days.
The double-dip for Campbell and Savaiinaea works best if the Bears are having doubts about Jones’ long-term future as their left tackle, but Savaiinaea is another prospect who could play either guard or tackle at the next level and will give the Bears lots of versatility as they chart the future of their offensive line. Most importantly, he adds another young building block to the frontlines.
Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker practices at the 2025 Senior Bowl.
Vasha Hunt/Imagn Images
Round 3, Pick 72: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
The Bears could invest in a defensive tackle in free agency, but for the purpose of this mock draft, we’re assuming that they don’t — and that led them to take a chance on a mountain of a man to contribute to their interior.
Walker is a strong interior defender who imposes his will and sheer size (6-foot-7, 340 pounds) on his opponents and does a nice job of clogging up rushing lanes. While he will likely need more refinement at the next level, he supplies necessary young depth behind Gervon Dexter Sr. and Andrew Billings.
Round 5, Pick 149: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami
Even if the Bears sign one or two free-agent wide receivers, they need more depth at the position and seize their chance to get some with Restrepo.
Restrepo is a scrappy slot receiver who excelled at his craft for Miami’s offense, using his adept route-running, footwork and quick-twitch movements to create separation. There are reasonable knocks against his size, standing at just 5-foot-9, but his upside suits the Bears’ top-heavy receiving corps. He could even claim the leading role in the slot for them as their No. 3 receiver.
Round 6, Pick 197 (via Pittsburgh): Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio State
The assumption for this mock draft was that the Bears would find their new starting center in free agency, most likely signing either Atlanta’s Drew Dalman or Indianapolis’ Ryan Kelly. That said, adding a rookie makes sense here.
McLaughlin might not be ready for the start of the 2025 NFL season after tearing his Achilles tendon in late November, but he has a stout build (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) and has drawn praise from his college coaches for his smarts. While his injury comes with risk, it is one the Bears justify taking in the sixth round, especially with a center (assumed to be) on the roster to mold him.
Worst case, McLaughin has — you guessed it — the versatility to play guard.
Clemson Tigers tight end Jake Briningstool.
Ken Ruinard/Imagn Images
Round 7, Pick 235 (via Cincinnati): Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson
Instead of grabbing another wide receiver, the Bears roll the dice on a pass-catching tight end and select Briningstool as a potential No. 2 to Cole Kmet.
Briningstool has good size (6-foot-6, 215 pounds) and an excellent catch radius that saw him haul in 99 combined passes for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Clemson. While it would be far too generous to compare him to Detroit’s Sam LaPorta — whom Johnson knows well — he has the vertical skills to stretch the field for Chicago’s new offense.
Round 7, Pick 242 (via Minnesota): Caleb Rogers, OT, Texas Tech
All right, maybe the Bears drafting four offensive linemen is excessive, but we’re building a wall for Williams here, so stick with us!
Rogers is an athletic offensive lineman who has the potential to play any of the five positions at the NFL level. He also met with the Bears at the Senior Bowl, telling Athlon Sports’ Jordan Sigler that it seemed like “they love me.” That’s enough — at least for now — to think they could take a final-round flier on him.
