Chicago Bears rookie outlook: Can 6th-round pick Luke Newman be a versatile backup on the offensive line?

Chicago Tribune

15-07-2025

Even after investing heavily in veteran offensive linemen in March, the Chicago Bears weren't done bolstering the protection in front of quarterback Caleb Williams.
NFL offensive lines always can use extra help. Coach Ben Johnson has said it several times since he was hired — it's not only about having five great starters but being able to go seven, eight or nine deep. Injuries often make that a necessity.
The Bears found additional help in the draft when they selected Luke Newman out of Michigan State with a sixth-round pick (No. 195).
Here's what Bears fans need to know about Newman before rookies report for training camp Saturday.
Newman comes to Chicago after one season at Michigan State and four at Holy Cross. Last year with the Spartans, he primarily played left guard for a team that finished 5-7. He started all 12 games and received honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team.
Newman played left tackle at Holy Cross but made the transition to guard in order to play for a bigger program. The 23-year-old viewed it as an opportunity to prove himself against better competition and show he could play in the interior, where he seemed most likely to succeed at the next level.
The 6-foot-3, 308-pound Newman was not among the 329 prospects invited to the NFL scouting combine in February. He did play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, giving him an opportunity to showcase his skills against other top talent.
Newman grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., outside Detroit, where he played on the offensive and defensive lines at Brother Rice High School. He was a two-star recruit in the 2020 class with virtually no interest from FBS programs and elected to attend FCS Holy Cross.
He saw limited action during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but emerged as a starter the next year. From 2021-23, Newman started 37 consecutive games at left tackle, and the Crusaders went 17-1 in Patriot League play during that span. Newman earned FCS All-America honors in 2022 and 2023 and was a three-time All-Patriot performer.
After graduating from Holy Cross in 2023 with one year of eligibility remaining, Newman transferred back to his home state to play for Michigan State.
'Holy Cross is home for me,' Newman said after being drafted. 'That's the place that gave me my first shot and let me get my foot in the door in college football and let me grow and succeed as a person and a player. Leaving was hard, for sure. I wanted a chance to showcase more of my abilities at different positions and also take a step up and play against some of the best in the country.'
The Bears spent the early part of the offseason revamping their offensive line. In a matter of days, they traded for Pro Bowl guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, then signed veteran center Drew Dalman in free agency. With those additions, the Bears have three new starters in the interior.
As far as depth at guard, the Bears still have Ryan Bates on the roster, although he missed most of last season because of injuries. Reserves Bill Murray and Chris Glaser each appeared in three games in 2024 and remain with the team. The Bears also claimed guard Jordan McFadden off waivers in January.
It's unclear how much faith the Bears have in Bates after he appeared in just three games last season. He didn't participate in the on-field portions of the spring practice period either. Murray has been with the team since 2023 and began last season on the active roster before going on injured reserve in October. McFadden, a 2023 fifth-round pick by the Chargers, played in 13 games over two years in Los Angeles.
Newman seems likely to fit in somewhere among those players as a backup, at least initially. He spent time this spring working at left guard.
With positional versatility, Newman has the chance to be a valuable backup. The fact he has played guard and tackle, plus worked at center in the offseason, means he could develop into a jack-of-all-trades. Those types of linemen make great NFL backups because they can fill in anywhere when there's an injury.
'We were really impressed with (his) feet and hands; (they) were always in the right place,' Bears general manager Ryan Poles said after drafting Newman. '(He's a) physical, tough player that also can play guard and can play center, can handle communication. So we're really excited about developing him.'
On the subject of versatility, Newman noted that he believes center fits his body type. His 31-inch arms are short for an NFL lineman, and at 308 pounds, he doesn't have the biggest frame. But the one place along the line where teams are willing to overlook size is at center.
'Guard has been more of my natural feel this past season,' Newman said. 'But really this offseason the primary focus has been center. I definitely have a good understanding of how to play the position intellectually. It's a new playbook here and there's an adjustment period for that as well.
'I really think that center, all in all, fits more my body type. It's more of what my strengths are. I have that guard flexibility as well. But I really look forward to learning and adapting to center a lot more.'
Behind Dalman, the Bears also have Bates, Doug Kramer Jr. and Ricky Stromberg who are capable of playing center.
The first goal for any player selected on the final day of the draft should be simply making the team. The Bears have only 53 spots on the active roster, and a sixth-round pick is guaranteed nothing.
If Newman can show he is, indeed, a versatile lineman capable of filling in at a moment's notice, he could put himself in position to make the roster. But the competition will be fierce for the backup offensive line spots, especially after the Bears added three new starters in the middle. It starts with knowing the playbook inside and out, then showing he can handle the workload on the field once practice starts.
With most late-round draft picks, the hope is they can develop into contributors in the next couple of years. Even if Newman doesn't make the roster coming out of training camp, the Bears likely would try to keep him on the practice squad.