Banking everything on Ben Johnson would be an unwise move. There is every possibility the next head coach could be somebody different. That is what this Chicago Bears 2025 mock offseason is about. There are plenty of possibilities, but all seem to center around the same thing. How can they maximize Caleb Williams as a player? Here is the latest attempt, with the caveat that the decision-makers at the top will remain the same.
The latest Chicago Bears 2025 mock offseason is about the QB.
Regime changes:
GM Ryan Poles is retained. He hires Joe Brady as new Bears head coach.
All signs point to the Bears seeking a coach who can get the most out of Caleb Williams. Despite being so young, Brady (35) has some significant accomplishments. He ran the show during Joe Burrow’s record-setting Heisman season at LSU in 2019. Then, he got a career-high 3,733 yards out of Teddy Bridgewater in Carolina. Now he’s in Buffalo, where he has Josh Allen looking like the heavy favorite to win MVP. Brady has worked with the likes of Sean Payton and Sean McDermott, so he’s gotten a great education on different successful coaching styles.
Cuts:
- Nate Davis – $9.5 million saved
- Gerald Everett – $5.5 million saved
Re-signings:
- Coleman Shelton – 1-year deal for $3 million
- Jack Sanborn – RFA tender for $3.185 million
- Josh Blackwell – RFA tender for $3.185 million
- Jaylon Jones – 1-year deal for $1.1 million
- Doug Kramer – 1-year deal for $1.1 million
- Bill Murray – ERFA tender for $840,000
- Chris Williams – ERFA tender for $960,000
- Daniel Hardy – ERFA tender for $960,000
- Jonathan Owens – 1-year deal for $1.255 million
- Jacob Martin – 1-year deal for $1.255 million
Free Agency:
- OG Trey Smith – 4-year deal for $84 million ($12 million cap hit in 2025)
- EDGE Malcolm Koonce – 3-year deal for $39 million
- TE Austin Hooper – 1-year deal for $1.255 million
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – 1-year deal for $1.9 million
Smith has to be the obvious priority. Any Bears 2025 mock offseason will focus on improving the offensive line. Both guard spots will be vacant of starters, with Teven Jenkins hitting the market and Nate Davis already cut. Smith is by far the best available option and worth the large investment. Koonce is more of a calculated risk. He was outstanding in 2023, racking up eight sacks and 52 pressures. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his season in early September. He will be an unknown quantity, but the guy is a headache for blockers when healthy.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
The Draft:
Trade: 14th pick to the 49ers for 18th pick, a 3rd in 2024 and 4th in 2024
1st Round (via SF) – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Taking a top offensive lineman would be ideal, but the nature of this class makes it difficult to go there in the 1st round. Sitting in the teens is an awkward spot. Rather than reach for a need, the Bears opt to solve another persistent issue with the edge rusher position. Not only does Scourton give them insurance against Koonce’s health, but he is also an elite athlete. He’s big, long, quick, and runs with a non-stop motor. He has 15 sacks in his last 21 college games. The kid is exactly what the Bears need across from Montez Sweat.
2nd Round (via CAR) – Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State
Controlling the line of scrimmage must be the prevailing wisdom for the Bears, especially on the offensive side. Jackson is big, powerful, agile for his size, and plays with the necessary mean streak. He’s not what you’d call fluid as a mover, but he has the anchor and technique to easily handle interior pass rushers. He should be a quality starter once he clears up some footwork issues.
2nd Round – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Finding that elusive interior pass rusher remains an ongoing mission for the Bears. Walker has the requisite size and strength for the job. What sets him apart is his first-step explosiveness. It’s why he racked up 7.5 sacks in 2023. He still needs work on his pad level. It makes him somewhat easy to exploit in the running game. Still, his upside is substantial.
3rd Round – Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
Retaining Coleman Shelton was both because he has played well of late but also because the list of veteran options to replace him isn’t great. The best thing for the Bears to do is find some quality competition via the draft. Brailsford is perfect. He’s not special in any one category, but he’s a well-rounded prospect with size, technique, intelligence, and toughness. He just gets the job done.
3rd Round (via SF) – Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Jaquan Brisker looks increasingly like somebody who won’t be around much longer due to injury concerns. Kevin Byard is in his 30s. The Bears have to think about investing at safety. Notre Dame churns out good ones all the time. Watts figures to be the latest. He’s got size, range, intelligence, leadership, and versatility.
5th Round – Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
People who miss David Montgomery will get immediate flashbacks watching Coleman. He has the same mix of contact balance, vision, power, and underrated burst. He’s not the biggest or fastest guy, but he’s thick and has underrated pass-catching ability.
5th Round (via SF) – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Larry Borom will be a free agent next year. Kiran Amegadjie still hasn’t been healthy. Going through this Bears 2025 mock offseason without tackle help is inadvisable. Membou is a quality athlete with length and power in the run game. His attention to detail is rare for such a young player.
6th Round (via PIT) – Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
A classic developmental prospect. Bryant is 6’3 with vertical speed. He has the body control and hands to make contested catches. The big question is whether he can diversify as a route-runner. His steady improvement shows he is trending in the right direction and is especially dangerous in the red zone.
7th Round (via CIN) – Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
The Bears love cornerbacks who are athletic and physical. Igbinosun checks both boxes. He has the ability to play any coverage but is at his best playing downhill. Chicago needs as much depth as possible at such an important position, and Ohio State always churns out good ones.
Well, you did a fair job, except projecting Ryan Poles to stay as part of fixing this team. I think he will likely stay, and I think he’ll argue Eberflus should stay, too.
I’m sure he’ll argue that Eberflus shifted to Thomas Brown when Waldron crapped the bed, so obviously Eberflus should stay if there is any improvement at all…
But if there is going to be change, it should start with a new regime.
TWTY, I understand your position. For myself, I am already boycotting so many entities that they are often difficult to remember. That is one of many problems with the hyenas; they eat that crap right up like junkies. They are hooked on it, seemingly for life. They are unable and unwilling to pursue a different path as they try to block the critical thought and actions of others. They don’t realize that they are, indeed, part of the larger problem.
And to think, Jim Harbaugh could be the coach of the Bears right now, and it would be the lead story in the NFL this year. Instead here Lambert is, making mock offseasons in fucking mid November.
Loser franchise. If the owners clearly aren’t invested in whether the team wins or loses, why are any of you? Boycott this clown show, or keep getting served a shit sandwich.
The first 5 players selected here were in my analysis of among 20 players likely or potentially available to be of interest and fill needs of the Bears at probable round by round selection positions, 1-4 for 2025 draft. That was put together in May and based on “Lest We Forget”. See other comment here.
I think our starting offensive tackles are decent with upside. Not sure about interior line value in FA versus Dline help. I have seen Tevin ranked near the top of FA guards, would he take a one year prove it? Any talk of D line in our first 3 picks sounds just dumb unless the board falls crazy.
One way or another let’s get the offensive line solidified next year so Caleb doesn’t get ruined, sort D after, when we may be contenders.