Defining short- and long-term expectations for the Bears' top 4 draft picks

New York Times

13-05-2025

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Earlier this month, nickelback Kyler Gordon became the first Chicago Bears NFL Draft pick made by general manager Ryan Poles to receive an extension from the team.
'Impact player for us,' Poles said. 'Ability to make plays all over the field in different phases. He's a guy that I believe is ascending and will continue to grow when he gets into this new defense. I think his game can go to the next level as well.'
Advertisement
Without a first-round pick in the 2023 draft — thank you, Ryan Pace — Gordon became the Bears' first pick of the Poles era, coming in the second round at No. 39. The second round has been good for Poles. He has found starters in Gordon, safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
And this brings us to this year.
With receiver Luther Burden III, offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive tackle Shemar Turner drafted this year, the Bears could have seven second-rounders playing key roles this season. Dexter and Stevenson are entering pivotal third seasons for different reasons, and Brisker must prove he can stay healthy. But if Poles drafted three more 'impact players' in Burden, Trapilo and Turner, that could become the story of this draft class, regardless of how good tight end Colston Loveland becomes in Ben Johnson's offense.
Here is my annual look at the short- and long-term expectations for the Bears' 2025 draft class, starting with their top four picks. Part 2 will come later this week.
Round 1, No. 10 pick
Where he fits in 2025: With so many people, including the Bears, comparing Loveland to Sam LaPorta, let's look at the tight end's rookie season in Detroit. In 17 games, LaPorta made 86 catches on 120 targets for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
That's a lot to expect from Loveland in his first season. The Bears also have Cole Kmet. Chicago will feature two tight ends, but the Detroit Lions' second option with LaPorta was Brock Wright. Kmet is better than Wright.
Also, Loveland is slowed for the moment after undergoing surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder in January. He won't be a full participant in anything until training camp.
Advertisement
'It's the mental reps,' Loveland said. 'They're huge.'
But LaPorta's transition to the NFL wasn't nearly as rocky as other tight ends coming into the league. Part of that was the vision Johnson had for him. It also helps that Johnson is a former tight ends coach. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle also previously coached the position.
Loveland should benefit from all of it. He also played in Jim Harbaugh's offense at Michigan, which featured multiple tight end groupings.
'Playing there helped a ton,' Loveland said. 'It's a pro-style offense. Always two tight ends on the field. A lot of the terminology and everything kind of flows right into it. We use the same stuff. So, it has helped me, for sure. We've got a long way to go, though.'
Where he fits in the long term: No reason to temper anything here. When you draft a tight end with the 10th pick, you expect him to be one of the best at his position during his career.
Until games are played, it remains fair to question the strategy of taking a tight end this early in the draft. History doesn't exactly favor the Bears.
But the situation Loveland is joining is important. He's not joining a team with an abundance of holes. He's joining an offense that has a vision for him. The Bears drafted him to be a mismatch nightmare for quarterback Caleb Williams to exploit.
The situation always matters. The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts with the fourth pick in the 2021 draft. With Matt Ryan at quarterback, Pitts made 68 catches for 1,026 yards as a rookie. But he hasn't come close to those numbers since.
Why?
Ryan left for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. Pitts' quarterbacks after Ryan have been Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins and now Michael Penix Jr. Pitts could form a connection with Penix in their second year together, but Raheem Morris is still Pitts' second head coach, while Zac Robinson is his second play caller and offensive coordinator.
Advertisement
Round 2, No. 39 pick
Where he fits in 2025: The ball will be in Burden's hands this season. The question is how much, since the Bears also have receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, plus Loveland and Kmet at tight end. As Doyle said, the Bears see Burden as an 'explosive athlete' and a playmaker. But patience could be required at first.
'I think it's the same way you guide any of these guys that are new rookies,' Doyle said. 'He's got to learn the system first, and he's got to learn kind of our way of doing things. But like any of these guys, it takes all of us to help each and every one of them. That's really going to be the biggest thing.'
Burden can also get the ball on special teams. He could claim the punt returner job in the preseason.
'He's going to have a chance just like everyone else, but you see it on offense and saw it in college, how electric he is when the ball is in his hands,' special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. 'Like, he's a different dude with the ball in his hand. So all we're looking for is playmakers that will help us change field position and win games. So, that's what I see in him, along with our other returners that we acquired this offseason as well.'
Where he fits in the long term: Amon-Ra St. Brown became a star in Johnson's offense. He was another mismatch problem, especially in the slot. That's where Burden excelled in college. Johnson described the slot position as 'a focal point' of his passing game.
So this appears similar to Loveland's situation. Burden should benefit from everything as his days add up at Halas Hall. Johnson clearly has a vision for him. He'll also be coached by receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, who previously coached St. Brown in Detroit.
'I feel like it's going to bring the best out of me,' Burden said. 'I've seen (Randle El's) past history. He's a guy who's been in my shoes, so he knows what to expect and different ways to handle me, so I'm grateful to have a great coach like him.'
Advertisement
The Bears are also grateful that Burden was available at No. 39.
Did they have their eyes on running back TreVeyon Henderson, who went one pick earlier to the New England Patriots? Sure, they did. But it's also possible they've found their version of St. Brown.
'I was very excited when he slid to us,' Johnson said.
That slide could also become what drives Burden throughout his career. He has said as much more than once since his selection.
'I see myself fitting in just fine,' Burden said. 'Wherever I go, whatever I do, I'm going to find a way.'
Some @lutherburden3 for your timeline pic.twitter.com/xOntjPu8NY
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 11, 2025
Round 2, No. 56 pick
Where he fits in 2025: The early answer is that he's here to challenge left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright for a starting role. It's a competition that needs to play out with the pads on in training camp and the preseason.
'My goal here is to play football and get on the field as soon as I can,' Trapilo said. 'So I'm going to do whatever I can to get that done. But at the same time, I know I have a lot to work on as a player. I'm a rookie; I'm not going to show up and be the best. My goal is to become the best player I can, but I know I'm not going to just do it without work.'
Plenty seemingly depends on Jones' health. He missed the final two games of last season after requiring ankle surgery. If Jones regains his form during camp, he might hold off Trapilo and a position change for Wright. It would allow the Bears to take a gradual approach to Trapilo's development, which could be beneficial. But if Jones struggles in camp and his ankle requires more time, the door seems open for Trapilo. Jones is expected to be limited when camp begins in July.
Where he fits in the long term: If Jones had finished last season healthy, it's fair to wonder whether we'd be talking about another Poles draft pick getting a contract extension. Instead, the injury made his situation murky at best. And then, the Bears drafted Jones' potential replacement in the second round.
Advertisement
Trapilo said that when Boston College moved him from the left to the right side, it was because new offensive line coach Matt Applebaum had a vision for him and right guard Christian Mahogany (a sixth-round pick by the Lions last year).
'In a way, (Applebaum) was saying that me and Christian next to each other could be really beneficial for the offense,' Trapilo said. 'There was a lot more that went into it, but that was sort of the basis. We looked at both sides. He said, 'What do you think?' I said, 'Obviously, wherever you want me.' So he threw it out there, we did a couple of spring practices with it, and they ended up liking it.'
Trapilo said he still worked at left tackle during his final two seasons at Boston College, though he became entrenched on the right side. He wanted to be ready if an injury changed the team's plans up front.
'You have to be versatile,' Trapilo said. 'That's the quickest way to get on the field. So after practice, even though I was a right tackle the last two years in college, (it's) working left, making sure that it's still smooth, that it still feels good. Especially after the season, I was working even more left than right just because (I was) catching up for lost time.'
Round 2, No. 62 pick
Where he fits in 2025: Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said Turner will begin playing at defensive tackle, where he'll learn the three-technique and nose positions. That means his immediate competition for snaps will be Andrew Billings, Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter.
The Bears will evaluate Turner's flexibility later. But he did handle different roles at Texas A&M, including defensive end.
'I think (Turner) enjoys being in the building,' Allen said. 'I think he really loves football, and that's something that we look for in guys that we want to bring into the building because you have to love football to do all the things that are going to be necessary to have success in our league. I think he's got a good personality, and then when he's on the field, he's about business. So that's good to see.'
Advertisement
Dexter appears to have the most to lose with the Bears' decisions to add Jarrett first in free agency and Turner in the draft. Johnson highlighted Billings' importance and impact as the Bears' nose tackle during his introductory news conference.
The praise for Dexter from the new coaching staff has been more tempered. Before the draft, defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett was asked where Dexter fits.
'We don't have a depth chart, per se,' he said. 'We're excited about all the guys. Every single one brings something to the table that's unique. We've got some work to do, as all teams do. I'm really excited about the group as a whole.'
That group now includes Turner.
Where he fits in the long term: Allen was the New Orleans Saints' defensive coordinator when the team selected defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins with the 12th pick in 2016. After breaking his leg as a rookie, Rankins became a full-time starter in his second season, but he played only five seasons in New Orleans. He has played with the New York Jets, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals since.
The Saints also drafted defensive tackle David Onyemata in the fourth round in 2016. He spent seven years with New Orleans, becoming a full-time starter in his fourth season.
The bar for Turner should be set higher than Onyemata's, but the Bears will also want more than the Saints got from Rankins.
That's why Turner's relationship with Jarrett will be interesting to track. He has expressed his admiration for the veteran multiple times. They connected over Instagram messages.
Jarrett was a fifth-round pick who became a key cog for the Falcons for 10 seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2019 and 2020. Turner and Jarrett are similar players: physically, skill-set-wise and in temperament.
'He's athletic,' Allen said of Turner. 'I think that was the first thing that we saw. You see explosion and power with this player.'
(Photo of Colston Loveland, left, and Ben Johnson: David Banks / Imagn Images)