When the 2024 season came to a close, offensive line seemed like the most obvious target for the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft. But that was before the Bears went out and added three new faces across their offensive line.
Guard Jonah Jackson came first via trade. While his 2024 season didn’t go to plan due to injury and position chance, he made the Pro Bowl under Ben Johnson with the Detroit Lions in 2021. Joe Thuney followed, by another trade. With four Super Bowl rings and back-to-back All-Pro seasons to his name, Thuney will be a critical piece of any offensive line success. Then, Chicago signed center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract. He made waves in 2024 by ranking fourth/64 centers with a 78.8 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Still, the Bears allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024. They want to make sure they have continued offensive line success, not just a strong 2025 performance. Which is why Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report argues that the top offensive linemen being off the board would be Chicago’s ‘nightmare’ draft scenario.
“Will Campbell and Armand Membou both go off the board in the top nine, leaving them with an offensive tackle void and possibly causing them to use a top-10 pick on a running back,” Gagnon wrote.
Chicago Bears double down on offensive line
While their offensive line is vastly improved, left tackle makes for the team’s biggest weakness. Braxton Jones is penciled in as the current starter, but his season-ending ankle injury will hamper him in training camp. General manager Ryan Poles already said he wants to bring in some competition for the position.
The biggest red flag against Campbell throughout the draft process has been his short arms. However, they didn’t stop him from being named a starter entering his freshman year at LSU and going on to appear in 37 games. Campbell ended his time with the Tigers as the Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner and a Consensus All-American. He is considered the top offensive lineman across the industry and would immediately give Johnson a key building block on the offensive line.
Membou shot up draft boards with his performance at the NFL scouting combine. His athleticism is exactly what is necessary for this next wave of versatile edge rushers. He appeared in 35 games over his three years at Missouri earning Second-team All-SEC honors in 2024. Membou may not be as complete of a blocker as Campbell is, however, there is no denying his potential. The right system could make him a perennial All-Pro.
The Bears would certainly like to add either option to their offensive line, depending on how the board shakes out. Chicago has made a determined effort to turn arguably their biggest weakness into one of the team’s strengths. A top draft pick would only reinforce that.
Forced to draft running back
The only thing that may not be a nightmare for Bears fans is when Gagnon says the team would be forced into taking a running back. Conventional draft wisdom says that pick may be a bit too high for a running back. However, if the Bears use No. 10 on a runner, it would be for Boise State star Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty became a sensation during his final collegiate season, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He led the country with 2,601 rushing yards while adding a sensational 29 touchdowns. Jeanty won the Maxwell, Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards while being named a Unanimous All-American.
The Bears finished their 2024 campaign ranked 25th in rushing, averaging 102 yards per game. In Johnson’s final season with the Lions, they ranked sixth in rushing, averaging 146.4 YPG. The head coach is going to want to establish Chicago’s run game before unleashing any fireworks.
No. 10 may be a bit high for some to go running back. But Johnson could argue Jeanty is the perfect piece to round out the Bears’ new look offense.
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