Time will tell how it works out, but at an early glance the 2025 draft class for the Chicago Bears looks pretty good. A case can be made for all eight incoming rookies to be a contributor, eventually if not immediately.
The headliners among Bears rookies who could make an immediate impact are of course first round tight end Colston Loveland and second round wide receiver Luther Burden. Depending on how things shake out in their position battles, offensive tackle Ozzie Trapilo, running back Kyle Monangai and defensive tackle Shemar Turner could also see the field a lot this season.
But heading toward training camp, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times has gone another way to tab a Bears rookie who might be most likely to start Week 1.
"Ruben Hyppolite II, however, has a chance to be one of the three linebackers to take the field for the first snap Sept. 8 against the Vikings on ‘‘Monday Night Football.’’
"Head coach Ben Johnson singled out Hyppolite after mandatory minicamp this month, saying the Bears saw the most improvement from him among all their players."
"He’s done a nice job of learning,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘He’s swimming a little bit, but he’s taking it seriously.’’
"More so than his rookie peers, the fourth-round pick has the best mix of potential and opportunity. If the Bears stick to their plan to start their third-best linebacker — behind TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds — at the strong-side spot, Hyppolite should like his odds. Amen Ogbongbemiga has played 34 defensive snaps in the last three seasons, and Noah Sewell and Swayze Bozeman have 39 defensive snaps combined in their NFL careers."
"Hyppolite spent time with the starters during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, at times playing Edwards’ spot while Edwards tended to a soft-tissue injury."
Johnson was hesitant to single players out as standouts after minicamp, so the fact he named Hyppolite in that light feels meaningful. As the Bears look to replace Jack Sanborn, who followed former head coach Matt Eberflus to the Dallas Cowboys, there's a void at the "SAM" linebacker spot. Hyppolite seems poised to fill it, with little in his way in terms of competition (as Finley noted).
Hyppolite played middle linebacker throughout his college career at Maryland, but NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein noted how he might be a better fit to play weakside linebacker at the next level. Of course it's the strong side that's available right now in the Bears' lineup, where he'd have to mix physicality against the run with the ability to cover tight ends and running backs.
The personnel tendencies of NFL offenses reduces how much defenses have a third linebacker on the field (Sanborn started three games and played 235 defensive snaps as the Bears' SAM linebacker last season). But Hyppolite can absolutely have a consequential role as a rookie, even if he's not a nominal "starter" very often.
