What does history say about who the Chicago Bears target in the draft?
What does history say about who the Chicago Bears target in the draft? Which school gets the most attention from the Chicago Bears and which position is selected the most since 2000?
The NFL Scouting Combine has concluded so next up on the calendar will be pro day workouts and team visits as the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay approaches.
The initial analysis points to the Chicago Bears going the route of the offensive line according to almost every mock draft out there. There is a plethora of talent available for GM Ryan Poles to select with the team's third top-10 pick over the last two seasons. In 2024, it was used to find the next franchise quarterback and a new weapon.
While there is plenty of time to focus on who the Bears will choose, our focus is looking back at the history of the Bears in the NFL draft since 2000. Which school and which position has garnered the most attention since the turn of the century?
Chicago Bears draft history by college since 2000
Given the number of SEC players that are produced annually with NFL aspirations, it shouldn't be much of a shock to see one of those schools at the top for one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. The Florida Gators sit at the top of the list with their bitter rivals the Georgia Bulldogs right on their heels.
You won't have to look far back to see the last time the Bears drafted a player from Florida, it was in 2023. That year, Chicago selected Gervon Dexter as the No. 53 overall selection in the second round. Before Dexter, you have to journey back to 2016 to find the next Gator. Jonathan Bullard was drafted No. 72 in the third round that year.
Breakdown by School:
Florida Gators (10)
Georgia Bulldogs (6)
Miami Hurricanes (6)
Ohio State Buckeyes (5)
Oklahoma Sooners (5)
Kansas State Wildcats (4)
Michigan State Spartans (4)
Oregon Ducks (4)
Oregon State Beavers (4)
Penn State Nittany Lions (4)
Pittsburgh Panthers (4)
Texas Longhorns (4)
Chicago Bears draft history by position since 2000
Since the turn of the century, the Bears have addressed the defensive backfield most with 44 total selections. The last defensive back drafted was in 2023 when Tyrique Stevenson of Miami (Fl) received the call. He was joined by Terell Smith of Minnesota on day 3 of the draft that year. The next closest position to the DBs in terms of selections is the offensive line, the defensive line, and wide receivers.
The Bears used a top 10 selection in last year's draft to address the wide receiver position and give Caleb Williams a top target with Rome Odunze of Washington. Odunze rewarded the team hauling in 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns. That number should only explode in 2025 provided the Bears offensive line rebuild works to fruition. In 2023, the Bears used a top 10 selection on Darnell Wright out of Tennessee to help bolster the offensive line.
Top Positional Breakdown:
Defensive Back (44)
Offensive Line (32)
Defensive Line (30)
Wide Receiver (27)
Linebacker (20)
Running Back (16)
Quarterback (9)
Latest Chicago Bear mock draft selections
USA TODAY Sports: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Athletic: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
ESPN: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
NFL.com: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Based on the four mock drafts we reviewed, it appears to be what is your flavor of ice cream when it comes to the offensive linemen available at No. 10 overall. The Bears have made waves addressing the line with the additions of Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney recently.
More: Mock Draft Coverage 2025 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears focused on offensive line at No. 10
After Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times during his rookie season, status quo wasn't going to cut it in the Windy City. For more on Chicago, check out Bears Wire.
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