The Chicago Bears have already got the offseason started on the right foot after landing the head coaching hire and adding some top assistants to Ben Johnson's staff.
As for the roster itself the new coaching staff will be inheriting, some improvements are going to be needed on the group that finished the season 5-12.
The Bears do have a lot of potential star talent if the coaching staff can bring that level of play out again, but there's also some glaring upgrades that need to be made.
The bulk of the team needs this offseason come in the trenches and a latest A to Z Sports mock draft has Chicago addressing those needs with some top prospects. And the three-round mock also included two players the Bears can keep their eyes on this week during the 2025 Senior Bowl. Here's what the mock looked like for Chicago.
10th Overall Pick: Will Campbell - LSU OL
This is starting to become a near consensus pick when looking at various mock drafts for the Bears, but a lot could happen between now and April's draft. Even still, there's a lot to like about Will Campbell's fit in Chicago.
"The Bears offensive line wasn't as bad as narratives try to sell, but Will Campbell would immediately upgrade the unit surrounding Caleb Williams. Near perfect pass blocking profile, and he could kick into guard most likely if need be too." - Travis May
The dual-position ability of Campbell should be the selling point for the Bears when evaluating the top offensive line prospects in the draft. Left tackle Braxton Jones will be rehabbing from a fractured ankle all offseason and left guard Teven Jenkins might find a new home in the coming weeks. Campbell could easily slide into either spot and be an immediate upgrade for the team's future.
39th Overall Pick: Elic Ayomanor - Stanford WR
Personally, I'm a big fan of the Bears double-dipping on the offensive line with the top two picks but the closer we get to the draft, the more likely I see a Day 2 wide receiver being a possibility for the Bears. This latest mock had the Bears passing on another multi-positional offensive lineman Marcus Mbow to select WR Elic Ayomanor.
"After addressing the OL in Round 1, Chicago adds another playmaker around Caleb Williams. Elic Ayomanor is a tricky evaluation with the offense he played in, but he is a terrific athlete who plays the game with a nasty, physical edge." - AJ Schulte
Ayomanor is certainly a tricky prospect to pencil into a mock. Our own mock draft database has the Stanford standout going as high as 40 and as low as 96. Ayomanor could look to boost his draft stock this week at the Senior Bowl after compiling 831 yards and six touchdowns during his final season.
41st Overall Pick: Deone Walker - Kentucky DT
The Bears need to add some interior defenders with upside to pair with Gervon Dexter. Andrew Billings was solid in his role before suffering a season-ending injury and no one seemed to step up in his place in 2024. Ryan Poles likes his SEC defensive linemen and Deone Walker could offer some intriguing traits to the Bears' front.
"The Bears need to add a versatile anchor to their defensive line to build towards the future. Deone Walker is a massive 340+ pound monster of a man who can rush the passer with efficiency from a number of pre-snap positions." - Travis May
Walker will also be attending the Senior Bowl this week. An event where Poles identified and selected three different defensive linemen over the last three seasons. Heading into the event, Walker will need to shine after recording 1.5 sacks in 2024.
72nd Overall Pick: Bradyn Swinson - LSU EDGE
The final pick of the latest mock had the Bears taking another player from the LSU trenches, this time on the defensive side of the ball in edge rusher Bradyn Swinson . Adding another threat to complement Montez Sweat is a must, as is re-tooling the rotation off the edge, and Swinson could be able to provide both.
"Bradyn Swinson posted elite rate stats in 2024, nearly 20% pressure rate, and a top tier win rate by multiple charting services in one-on-one pass rush attempts. Once he tests as one of the most elite edge defenders in the class at the NFL Combine he may not drop to Chicago here, but for now the Bears sprint to the podium for this potential perennial Pro Bowl player." - Travis May
The Bears will be hoping that fifth-round pick Austin Booker can make a leap during his sophomore season but adding Swinson potentially gives the team another piece to work with. This guy is a clean prospect who had an impressive 8.5 sacks in 2024.
