Take a bow, Ryan Poles. You earned this one.
In addition to revamping the interior offensive line in free agency to incredible effect, the Chicago Bears general manager also scored one of the most impactful
rookie classes of 2025.
And it’s not just us saying that, either.
With the seventh overall pick in its rookie class rankings, ESPN selected…the Chicago Bears, thanks to a three-pick run at the top that turned out to be a slam dunk. But that wasn’t all, according to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz.
“First-round tight end Colston Loveland (58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns) and second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III (47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns) had big seasons. Another one of Chicago’s impact second-round picks was left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who started seven games after an injury to veteran Braxton Jones. Seventh-round running back Kyle Monangai far outplayed his draft position with 169 carries for 783 yards and five touchdowns. And undrafted wideout Jahdae Walker‘s catch in Week 16 against the Packers sent the game into overtime,” Schatz wrote.
Though the Bears didn’t get nearly as much out of their defensive picks this draft—all three of whom (Shemar Turner, Ruben Hyppolite II, and Zah Frazier) were reserves who missed some or all of the season due to injury—the offense carried the day.
Loveland, the No. 10 overall pick, has proved himself worthy of being taken before the Colts’ Tyler Warren many times over, utterly dominating the Packers last weekend to the tune of 137 yards on eight catches and becoming the alpha of the Bears’ receiving corps. Burden, meanwhile, has worked himself into a significant role as a WR3 thanks to his speed and YAC ability. Trapilo, the third pick of the Bears’ haul, had all but locked down the left tackle spot until his unfortunate patellar tendon injury, which now puts his future into doubt.
But we’d be remiss if we forgot about Monangai, whose angry running style and blitz pickups have swiftly turned him into a dependable RB2, and Walker, who made several big catches down the stretch of the season.
Every last one of them has been an integral part of the Bears making it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, which isn’t something this team has been able to say for a long time about its rookie class.
Here’s hoping they have even more great things in store for us on Sunday night—and beyond.
