It was only a matter of time before the Chicago Bears threw a curveball in the 2025 draft that fans weren’t ready for. That came in the 4th round. After trading down in the 4th round, they secured Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite with the 132nd pick. He is far from a household name among draft fans, so what gives? The short answer is the kid is a physical freak of nature. Despite being almost 240 lbs, he has 4.39 speed. He covers so much ground and couples it with solid instincts and a good feel in coverage. That makes him a great fit for Dennis Allen’s defense.
Many people won’t like the pick because he wasn’t ranked high on media boards and wasn’t invited to the scouting combine. However, his tape shows a player with tons of athletic traits, good instincts, and leadership qualities. One could also argue he played out of position as a middle linebacker in college. He will be a much better fit on the outside. Whatever the case, Allen has a sharp eye for linebackers. This was one of those picks where the Bears trusted him.
The Chicago Bears needed to address the linebacker position at some point.
Depth had become a concern after Jack Sanborn was allowed to leave in free agency. Their primary depth options going into the draft were Amen Ogbongbemiga, Carl Jones, and Noah Sewell. Not exactly an explosive group. Hyppolite changes that. He should be an immediate presence on special teams with a chance to grow into a starting role within a year or two. Fans probably preferred a running back or edge rusher at that spot, which is fair. Still, linebackers have an important role in Allen’s defense. If he felt Hyppolite could be a contributor in his system, there is no choice but to trust the process.
