CHICAGO -- The Bears concluded the draft after making eight picks, including the No. 10 selection on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
Let's take a closer look at each of Chicago's selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 10: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
My take: The Bears got their tight end, just not the one many were expecting to be the first taken at the position. Chicago went with Loveland over Penn State's Tyler Warren because the "alignment" from coaching -- Loveland and Bears tight ends coach Jim Dray both played for Jim Harbaugh in college -- to scouting "was the best fit for us," senior director of player personnel Jeff King said. Ben Johnson's offenses run a lot of 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE), so adding a tight end with a top-10 pick foreshadows significant usage for Loveland as a playmaker in the passing game.
Will he start as a rookie? Loveland said Johnson compared him to Detroit's Sam LaPorta and can see the former Michigan tight end doing a lot of the same things in the Bears' offense. LaPorta played the seventh-most snaps on the Lions' offense (over 83%) and scored 10 touchdowns as a rookie, so that points to Loveland being on the field a lot this season. And the Bears want to make clear that the addition of Loveland doesn't mean they're eyeing less from veteran tight end Cole Kmet. Chicago was intrigued by the mismatches it can create with its two tight ends and the creativity this will allow Johnson to tap into when designing plays.
What we're hearing about Loveland: The 21-year-old had surgery in January to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder after sustaining the injury in September 2024. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who operated on Loveland, sent a letter to all 32 teams ahead of the draft informing them that the tight end should be cleared by training camp. King expressed a similar sentiment and said the team feels good about where Loveland is in his rehabilitation process. "Obviously we're not going to risk anything here early, but we should be good to go by training camp," King said.
Round 2, No. 39: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
My take: The final pick from the Bears' 2023 trade with the Panthers (that netted Carolina QB Bryce Young) was spent on another weapon for Ben Johnson's offense. Chicago added an explosive slot receiver in Burden, who was at his best while fighting through traffic (11 contested catches over the past two seasons on passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield, tied for third most in the FBS) to generate his production. The Missouri product is the new WR3 in the Bears' offense behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and a potential option on punt return.
What we're hearing about Burden: In 2023, Burden had 1,212 receiving yards -- one more than Marvin Harrison Jr., who went fourth overall in last year's draft. Burden's production dipped significantly (676 receiving yards, 25 fewer catches and six TDs in 12 games) last season, but the Bears aren't concerned. "It was just a byproduct of what they were doing there," Bears director of college scouting Breck Ackley said. "It was the same offense, same coordinator, the same quarterback. But the thing was, you still saw the flashes of the same skill set. So for us, that's what really matters."
Round 2, No. 56: Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College
My take: Chicago moved out of the 41st pick and accumulated two more second-round picks (Nos. 56 and 62) and a fourth-rounder in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. The first of those picks was used for depth along the offensive line. Trapilo is a big tackle, measuring just over 6-foot-8 at the combine (second tallest of any player) and has 36 starts at left and right tackle throughout his five-year career at Boston College, including 1,467 snaps at right tackle over the past two seasons. While the Bears' right tackle spot is set with Darnell Wright, the left tackle position is in flux with Braxton Jones recovering from ankle surgery and Kiran Amegadjie lacking experience. Trapilo should provide competition there in training camp and could see an early path toward becoming the Bears' swing tackle.
Key stat: Trapilo brings a high level of discipline to Chicago. Over three seasons as a starter, the offensive tackle was flagged for just five penalties. Out of 146 FBS offensive linemen with at least 2,000 snaps (since 2022), that is tied for the 14th fewest (the average in that group is 11.5 total penalties).
Round 2, No. 62: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
My take: Even after spending big in free agency, pass rush was a major need for the Bears' defense after not having a single player rank inside the top 38 in pressures last season. Turner is a versatile defensive lineman who was one of five FBS players with 200+ snaps at all five possible D-line positions over the past four years. He projects as a 3-technique defensive tackle but played more than half of his snaps at both right and left defensive end in 2023. Trey Koziol, the Bears director of player personnel, used words like "high energy" and "relentless" to describe Turner's style of play. That fits the profile of the attacking style Dennis Allen wants from his players in the trenches.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? General manager Ryan Poles said he wants waves of pass rushers, so Turner should begin his career as part of the rotation on the interior of the D-line with Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr. and Andrew Billings. Turner is a better run stopper than pass rusher right now (10 sacks over four seasons at Texas A&M) but will have more opportunities to grow his skill set, given the Aggies' two-gap defense didn't allow for any defensive lineman's pass-rush production to jump off the page.
What's next: The Bears have three remaining picks at Nos. 109 (4th round), 148 (5th) and 233 (7th). Chicago opted not to draft a running back the night four more came off the board and still needs to bolster its backfield. Safety and linebacker depth are also positions of need on Saturday.
Round 4, No. 132: Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland
My take: Adding a running back was a Day 3 priority for the Bears until an early run in the fourth round (Bhayshul Tuten to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cam Skattebo to the New York Giants) necessitated a trade back from No. 109 to 132. Chicago then added linebacker and special teams depth with Hyppolite, who started 51 games over five seasons at Maryland and notched a career-high 66 tackles in 2024. Chicago is impressed with the 4.42-second 40-yard dash time that Hyppolite clocked at his pro day (he was not invited to the NFL combine) and believe he can play either middle or weakside linebacker.
Round 5: No. 148: Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA
My take: Frazier's college career began in 2019 and culminated in 2024 with his only season as a starter at UTSA. He's an older prospect who turns 25 in October, but the Bears say they're more than willing to take a shot and develop a player who has all the traits they covet at cornerback: Height (6-3), length and speed (4.36 second 40-yard dash). Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants defensive backs who are long and can run to fit in his press-heavy scheme. While Chicago's secondary is set at corner with Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon, Frazier will come in and compete as depth and for a role on special teams.
No. 195: Luke Newman, OL, Michigan State
My take: The Bears used their sixth-round selection to add guard depth. Newman spent the first four years of his college career playing left tackle at Holy Cross before transferring to Michigan State, where he started 12 games at left guard in 2024. His ability to hold his own against a higher level of competition, namely Michigan defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, helped him land on the Bears radar last season. Coaches at the East-West Shrine Bowl played him at all three spots on the interior, and it was the reps Newman took at center that Bears college scouting director Breck Ackley said made the 6-foot-3 lineman stand out.
Round 7, No. 233 (from Cincinnati): Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
My take: Chicago spent its eighth and final pick on a running back, which was among their top needs entering the draft. Monangai was a first-team All-Big Ten selection while leading Rutgers and the conference in rushing in each of the past two seasons (2,541 rushing yards in 2023-24). He brings physicality to the Bears backfield in the way he runs and with his pass blocking. Monangai, whose calling card is ball security, is accustomed to carrying a load, recording 256 carries in 2024. Over five seasons at Rutgers, Monangai boasts zero career fumbles. His 669 rushes since 2021 are the most of any FBS player in that span with zero fumbles.