April is finally here and the 2025 NFL Draft is getting closer. With the free agency dust all but settled, the Chicago Bears will be one of 32 teams that will be locking in their draft boards over the next week or two. In his second to last seven round mock draft, Aaron Leming is putting a lot of value into Day 2.
It’s finally April, meaning we are just over three weeks away from the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s been quite the offseason in Chicago, with a renewed sense of energy, a brand new coaching staff, and a re-made roster that signals that this franchise believes they are ready to win now. Bears fans are no strangers to “winning the offseason”, and optimism in the offseason has rarely translated to wins on the field once September rolls around. That said, there are real reasons to believe this team is headed in the right direction.
As the old adage goes, free agency can grab the headlines, but drafting well is what wins Super Bowls. For fans, there’s hope this will be the last time the Bears select inside the Top 10. For that to happen, an impactful class is needed. That can be helped with their four selections in the Top 72. The pieces are there, with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze as receivers, as well as a rebuilt offensive line. With their cap fluidity expected to tighten up moving forward, the need for impact from this draft class doesn’t all need to come in Year 1. For the first time in a while, the Bears can attack the draft with eyes on the future and the patience to develop each player at their own pace. I’ll be doing one more mock draft before the kickoff of Round 1, but until then, let’s dive into my Mock Draft 3.0.
1st (#20) DE Mykel Williams (Georgia)
Chicago Bears trade #10 to Denver Broncos for #20, #51 & a 2026 4th round selection
Since the dust settled from the team’s coaching search that led them to Ben Johnson, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how the Bears can add an additional Day 2 pick in this class. The reality at No. 10 is quite simple: There’s not going to be a lot of “value” for Chicago, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that another team won’t want to leapfrog a group of teams to grab a coveted player. Tight end would be the target for Denver, guaranteeing one of Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland.
For the Bears, it keeps their options open, gives them another Day 2 pick, and allows them to go multiple different ways without feeling like they are reaching. In some ways, this trade is getting a return of about 75 cents on the dollar, but that might be the nature of the first round. I’ve gone back and forth on what I’d like to see them do in this spot. Ultimately, I think the defensive line wins out, with the talent in Round 2 favoring other areas.
Williams fits the athletic bill for Dennis Allen, but didn’t have ideal production at Georgia. Unlike Shemar Stewart, Williams’ instincts and production showed up on tape. He dominated Texas in two games, despite being asked to do things he won’t be asked to do at the NFL level. This is the ultimate gamble with upside, but this is a much better value at 20 than it would have been at 10. I don’t love this pick by any means, but it’s a fair mental compromise for me to make.
2nd (#39) RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
I’m still pro Ashton Jeanty at No. 10, but I’m not remotely convinced he’ll last nine selections. From a value standpoint, adding an additional pick and still adding an explosive runner like Henderson could end up being the best of both worlds. Henderson can do it all, including hitting the home run. Most importantly for him, his ability to stay on the field will be most important. He’s not the most ideal pairing with D’Andre Swift, but he does fit a wide zone scheme well, and it would give them the explosive option for Ben Johnson’s eventual one-two punch out of the backfield.
Not only is Henderson a good fit in Johnson’s offense, but he was well-regarded at Ohio State due to his leadership ability and overall character. He has relatively limited touches for a three-year starter, which should help at the next level. I’m still not convinced that Quinshon Judkins isn’t the target, but I’ll keep Henderson here for now.
2nd (#41) iOL Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
Back-to-back Ohio State picks? You betcha! The Bears could go a multitude of different ways with their first two picks in the second round, including taking another Ohio State product, Tyleik Williams. Jackson is one of my favorite linemen in this class. Not only is he just a damn-good football player, but his ability to slide out to left tackle and help the Buckeyes win a National Championship was impressive.
He possesses the size to maintain that versatility at the next level, which could be valuable over the next few years as veteran players come and go. Jackson is a former five-star recruit who has plenty of experience under his belt. Despite his wide frame, he possesses good athleticism and should be a 10-year starter at any position a team puts him at. He’s said to be another high-character player, which could help the Bears continue to build their long-term answers along the offensive line.
Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
2nd (#51) TE Elijah Arroyo (Miami)
I can’t help but feel that tight end will be a bigger focus than I’m giving it credit for. I’m still very much in the camp of not taking one in the first round, but with an additional selection in Round 2, this could be the perfect storm. Truthfully, I’m not as high on Mason Taylor as most, but I expect him to be the third player at his position off the board. Arroyo is an interesting player, but one who has a high ceiling with the right coaching staff.
Durability is a slight concern for the former Hurricane, but he’s a physical player and a willing blocker. That’s something that Johnson will value in his offense. On top of that, he’s athletic and can move around the formation, based on what he is asked to do. Like most rookie tight ends, he’ll need to add some functional strength to his game. It’s worth noting that Arroyo played in an offense that prioritized blocking. In many ways, he’s the ideal fit on Day 2 for this offense.
3rd (#72) S Andrew Mukuba (Texas)
Every ounce of me wanted to go with a defensive tackle in this spot, but I’ve had to remind myself that the Bears aren’t able to address every need in one draft cycle. On the surface, safety might look like a position of strength. The issue is that Kevin Byard is on the wrong side of 30, and Jaquan Brisker just missed over 70% of the season due to a concussion. Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks are fine depth but neither player is someone that should hold them back from planning for the future.
Makuba is a versatile ballhawk that lacks ideal size but makes up for it with his ability to make plays. He could play closer to the line of scrimmage as a nickel of play back as a single-high safety. Due to his lack of size, he’s not an overly physical player, but Allen is known for developing defensive backs. Even if Makuba doesn’t have a defined role in 2025, he’s a future starter with Pro Bowl potential.
5th (#148) WR Dont’e Thornton (Tennessee)
Day 3 is all about lottery picks. After Poles continued to trade down and acquire picks in his first year as general manager, he hasn’t made many selections in the final few rounds over his last two classes. Thornton is a burner, but he’ll need to add bulk to his frame to hold up in the NFL. Johnson has put a clear emphasis on speed, and while Thornton may never become anything more than a role player, there’s plenty of opportunity on the back end of the depth chart for him to make the team with a strong camp.
7th (#233) LB Nicholas Martin (Oklahoma State)
The linebacker position is one of the few sneaky remaining needs on this roster. While it’s true that Allen doesn’t play a lot of downs with three linebackers on the field, T.J. Edwards is slated to be a free agent, and I have Tremaine Edmunds as a prime cut candidate for 2026 due to cost over value. Martin is undersized but plays with an edge. He’s fast and can cover over the middle of the field.
Martin missed seven games after a breakout 2023 campaign due to a knee injury. Not only can Martin go sideline to sideline, he’s a threat as a blitzer and totaled six sacks in 2023. I’ve seen him all over different analysts’ boards, but in a shallow class, Martin should go at some point on Day 3.
7th (#240) CB Jabbar Muhammad (Oregon)
Muhammad has plenty of starting experience, even if he became a college journeyman, spending time with three different schools. He had 28 pass breakups over his last two seasons and has a nose for the ball. He’s relatively small, which might relegate him to a nickel role, but this is the type of seventh-round gamble Allen would be wise to make. In the best case, he becomes a contributor as valuable depth. In the worst case, he sticks on the practice squad for a year or two while they try to develop him.