Aaron Leming’s Final Chicago Bears Mock Draft (4.0) – Windy City Gridiron
2025-04-23T12:00:00Z
In his final mock draft of the 2025 NFL Draft season, Aaron Leming takes his best swing at projecting what the Chicago Bears could do this weekend.
The 2025 NFL Draft week is finally here, and all 32 teams around the league will look to put the last big impactful touch on their roster before a long three-month layoff before the start of training camp. It’s been a busy offseason for the Chicago Bears from the start. After embarking on almost a month-long journey to replace Matt Eberflus, the roster transformation process has been in full swing since a week before free agency.
With five impact starters added and some additional depth in the mix, their projected seven-man draft class will be the last big piece of their offseason puzzle. For the first time in recent memory, the Bears aren’t going into draft weekend with a laundry list of immediate needs. As general manager Ryan Poles noted, that should allow them to keep their board wide open as the picks unfold. There’s a renewed sense of energy at Halas Hall, and although the team was active in free agency, the draft is where sustained, long-term success is built. Can the Bears come out of draft weekend with a more complete roster? I’ll do my best to get there with my final mock of the 2025 NFL draft season.
Trade No. 1: Bears send #10 (1,300) and #41 (490) to JAX for #5 (1,700) and #107 (80)
1st (#5) RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
I’ve gone back and forth on this first pick quite a bit. Simply put, the Bears are in a tough spot while they let the draft play out in front of them with the first nine picks. In an ideal world, one of the tackles or running back, Ashton Jeanty, falls to them at No. 10. More realistically, Jeanty or a top tackle doesn’t fall that far.
For full transparency, I would not support this trade. While I love Jeanty, the Bears are not one player away, and giving away a highly valuable pick like No. 41 in this type of class is a bad choice. Even so, I’m mocking what I believe could happen and not what I would do.
There’s no denying that Jeanty is a stud. In a draft class short on blue-chip players, the Boise State product is among the few that fit the bill. He’s a runner with outstanding vision and contract balance. He’s an advanced receiver with plenty of nuances to his route tree. He’s the most complete runner in this class, and I don’t think it’s all that close. This would be a massive weapon for the Bears’ offense, but it would come at a big price.
Alternate Selection: OT/OG Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
Trade No. 2: Bears send #39 (510) to IND for #45 (450) and #117 (60)
2nd (#45) DE JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State)
The smartest thing the Bears can do for the rest of the draft is to regain some extra picks, even if they happen to be at the start of Day 3. The next smartest thing they can do is add in the trenches. Although I expect a big focus for the offensive side of the ball, the defense could use another pass rusher in the worst way. Tuimoloau is far from flashy, but the guy produces and is very good against the run. Add in his measurables, and this is precisely the type of player I expect the Bears to target for Dennis Allen’s defense.
This isn’t a great edge-rushing class, but I’d much rather see them take their shot in Round 2 than reach on traits guys like Shemar Stewart or Mykel Williams. Although JTT might never be a consistent 10-plus sack-per-year player, he’s well-rounded and should give them quality production as a DE2 or DE3 for years to come.
Alternate Selection: TE Elijah Arroyo (University of Miami)
3rd (#72) S Andrew Mukuba (Texas)
Speaking of the Bears’ 2026 cap outlook, it’s hard to imagine them having the extra funds to pay big money to either current starter. Kevin Byard is on the wrong side of 30, and while Jaquan Brisker is fun when he’s on the field, his troubling history of concussions makes a long-term deal entirely too risky. The Bears should look for at least one replacement during the draft. Mukuba is slightly undersized and didn’t break out until his final collegiate year, but he did look good for Texas in 2024.
He’s a centerfield-type defensive back with an unreal knack for being around the ball. Instinctually, you’ll be hard-pressed to find much better in this class. His size puts him at a disadvantage against the run, but if he’s your primary free safety, that’s a liability you must be willing to live with. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is a spot for another pass catcher.
Alternate Pick: WR Kyle Williams (Washington State)
4th (#107) DT C.J. West (Indiana)
Going into these two fourth-round selections, defensive tackle, interior offensive line, tight end, and receiver stand out as the most significant remaining needs to check off the list. A tight end would be ideal here, but unless they like a Gunner Helm-type, most of the top names will be long gone by then. Instead, they re-focus their need on the defensive line to a local product. After all, we know how much general manager Ryan Poles loves the storylines that come with players being from the Chicago area.
West is a little undersized and didn’t have eye-popping numbers, but his motor runs hot, and there’s plenty to like about his game. This type of value pick to kick off Day 3 should make the front office happy that they have two additional picks they didn’t go into the draft with. West would immediately slot in as a primary rotational option with Gervon Dexter Sr.
Alternate Pick: TE Gunner Helm (Texas)
4th (#117) iOL Dylan Fairchild (Georgia)
It’s been four picks, and I have yet to address the offense line. In some ways, I’m ashamed I’ve let it get this far, but after missing out on the top tackles, the value didn’t really line up with their immediate needs. Don’t fret, though. Fairchild is an ideal developmental interior piece that could sit for a year and be ready to start in 2026 as a cheaper option.
Fairchild is short on starting experience and not the best athlete, but in the fourth round of a so-so class, this is a good value. He’s a developmental player with the traits to become a plus-starter in time (and with the right development). His aggressive play style and scheme versatility are exactly what teams want on Day 3 in this role.
Alternate Pick: RB Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)
5th (#148) WR Jaylin Lane (Virginia Tech)
Speed has been a clear priority for the offensive skill positions, and Lane would be no different. He ran a blazing 4.34 40-time at the combine, bringing an explosive skill set as a complementary piece. He’s on the smaller side at 5’9 ½, but brings versatility in where he can line up, while also providing special-teams value as a returner. Lane never eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in his five years of college, but he led his teams in receiving in back-to-back years, once at Middle Tennessee and once at Virginia Tech. I’m not convinced Lane will ever be a true “starting” receiver, but he fits the mold of a Ben Johnson slot receiver that can also contribute as a high-value returner.
Alternate Pick: DB Jordan Hancock (Ohio State)
7th (#233) TE Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech)
Alternate Pick: C Jake Majors (Texas)
7th (#240) LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Kentucky)
Linebacker is an underrated need for this team. In an ideal world, they’d take a swing at addressing the issue before the seventh round. Unfortunately, duty calls, leaving them searching for value in other, higher-priority positions. The good news is that they extended T.J. Edwards last week, making this spot a little less of a priority. Dumas-Johnson was a one-year starter at Kentucky, playing primarily Mike linebacker. He led the team in tackles and is a stout run defender. The biggest question will be his sideline-to-sideline ability, but even if he’s a run-stuffing middle linebacker, there could be some value in this pick, especially this late.
Alternate Pick: TE Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech)
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