Every Chicago Bears 2025 mock offseason must walk the line between overly optimistic and realistic. It would be great if GM Ryan Poles pulled off some kind of voodoo magic to land multiple superstars. That just isn’t plausible. This must be about establishing a series of objectives and working hard to meet each one as best they can. With a new coaching staff in place, there is a serious possibility several key names may not be around much longer. That will be up to Ben Johnson and his staff. Here is one way it could go down.

This Chicago Bears 2025 mock offseason is about becoming aggressors.

Cuts:

• Gerald Everett – $5.48 million
• Ryan Bates – $4 million saved
• Dominique Robinson – $1.1 million saved

Re-signings/Extensions:

• Coleman Shelton – 1-year deal for $4 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 – 5-year deal for $110 million
• EDGE Chase Young – 1-year deal for $10 million
• OT Jedrick Wills – 1-year deal for $5 million
• WR Darius Slayton – 1-year deal for $5 million
• QB Teddy Bridgewater – 1-year deal for $3.5 million

Smith is the obvious target. He’s the best offensive lineman on the market precisely what the Bears need. Young had a solid year this season in New Orleans, and Dennis Allen knows him. Wills was a disappointment as a 1st round pick for Cleveland due to injuries. That said, he’s a big, powerful tackle who fits Johnson’s type of offense and is only 25. Slayton can bring a much-needed speed element to the offense. Bridgewater is a veteran who has been a great backup elsewhere and knows this system.

The Draft:

Trade: #10 pick to Seahawks for #18 pick and 2nd in 2025

1st Round (via SEA) – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

People will immediately say that Green is too small (6’3, 250 lbs) for Dennis Allen’s defense. That is until you remember he signed off on drafting Von Miller (6’3, 246 lbs) and Khalil Mack (6’3, 251 lbs). Some guys may not have the big frame but certainly have the power to play edge. That is Green. Most know him for his explosive get-off and quickness. They quickly learn he brings more power to the table than advertised. That is why he had 17 sacks last season.

2nd Round – Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Booker could go in the 1st round, but guards with average athletic ceilings typically fall around the 2nd. That suits the Bears perfectly. Don’t be fooled. Booker is big, strong, nasty, technically proficient, and, by all accounts, an outstanding leader. He is ready to play immediately and can start at guard for anybody.

2nd Round (via CAR) – Grey Zabel, C, North Dakota State

Zabel is the breakout star of the pre-draft process. He was excellent for the Bison but really turned heads at the Senior Bowl, where he dominated every single drill. Initial projections have him as a guard, but his body type and skill set seem tailor-made for center. His strong hands and quick feet will be showcased.

2nd Round (via SEA) – Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Ben Johnson likes to run the football. It was a cornerstone of what made his offense in Detroit so effective. To do that, you obviously need good backs. D’Andre Swift has plenty of uses. However, he lacks the vision and physical running style to fit this scheme. Kaleb Johnson has both. In abundance.

3rd Round – Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Gerald Everett was a disaster signing. That means this Bears 2025 mock offseason can’t be completed without some move to provide depth behind Cole Kmet. Helm didn’t get the attention at Texas but has the size, athleticism, and natural pass-catching skills to be much better in the pros.

5th Round – Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

Allen wants to be more aggressive as a defense. That means blitzing, and blitzing defenses need linebackers who can bring the heat. Simon was a terror for Ohio State last season, notching seven sacks and constantly being around the football. He is exactly what they need.

6th Round (via PIT) – Anthony Belton, OT, N.C. State

Belton is your classic project player. He has all the physical tools: size, athleticism, power, and length. What he hasn’t shown yet is consistent fundamentals. The hope is Johnson and his staff can fix that.

7th Round – Roc Taylor, WR, Memphis

More depth at wide receiver is a must, given Keenan Allen won’t be back. Taylor has size and underrated speed. His hands are also reliable. If he learns how to run sharper routes, he’s going to be a player.

Ryan Poles isn’t naive. He knows this upcoming off-season is the most important of his tenure as Chicago Bears GM. He’s secured a new head coach, but that alone won’t push this team from its dismal 5-12 finish to the playoffs next season. That will require some serious adjustments across the roster. Thankfully, he’s managed the team’s cache of resources well. Chicago has almost $70 million in salary cap space and four picks in the first three rounds of the draft, including the 10th overall selection.

That gives Poles plenty of options. With it being February, it seems unlikely the Bears have a concrete plan for when the draft begins. However, draft insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia revealed that they may have a strong idea. If the Bears have their way, the first round will unfold in two parts. First will be trading down to secure extra draft capital, and second will be honing in on one of the top offensive linemen in the class.

It should come as a surprise to no one, but the Chicago Bears will look to add multiple new faces on the offensive line in the offseason. Ben Johnson is expected to replicate what was done in Detroit and bring in a lot of big-bodied blockers. I’m told the priority is interior offensive linemen.

There is an opinion the team could look to trade the 10th pick and move down, collecting additional selections and loading up on blockers. If they can’t move that pick, the obvious targets would be Will Campbell of LSU or Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas. The Bears like Josh Conerly Jr. of Oregon, who could be a target if they are able to trade down, and Wyatt Milum of West Virginia, who they view as a second-round guard.

The Chicago Bears’ interest in Conerly checks out.

Poles has traditionally preferred offensive linemen with two key traits: length and athleticism. The Oregon left tackle has both. His arms are 34 inches long, and it’s evident from watching the tape that he’s one of the most fluid movers at his position in the draft. Nobody has put together a better past few months than Conerly. He was dominant in the second half of the Ducks’ season and carried that into a great week at the Senior Bowl. Many feel he’s still just scratching the surface of his full potential. A frequent comparison for him is Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Dion Dawkins.

While the interior offensive line is an obvious focal point, many feel the Chicago Bears have to get serious about upgrading at left tackle. Braxton Jones has been serviceable in that role for the past three seasons, but nobody believes he is the long-term future of this franchise. Taking Conerly would give the organization its first pair of 1st round tackles since Jimbo Covert and Keith Van Horne in the 1980s. Adding an extra pick or two would also allow Poles to bolster other key positions.

The Chicago Bears are expected to be active in free agency as they try to revamp the roster to the specifications of their new coaching staff. That includes identifying potential pieces for new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He already has a strong foundation to work with, anchored by Montez Sweat, Jaylon Johnson, Gervon Dexter, Kyler Gordon, and T.J. Edwards. So don’t expect any blockbuster contracts. However, there is a strong possibility they work on the fringes to boost the floor of this unit.

A source told SM that Allen is hoping to bring in a familiar face from his time with the New Orleans Saints: defensive end Chase Young. The Saints took a one-year flier on him this past season, watching him rack up 5.5 sacks and 66 pressures. He’s still just 25 years old and is expected to command around $10-12 million per year on his next deal.

Dennis Allen loves types like Young.

He prefers bigger defensive ends who are explosive. Young is 6’5″, 265 lbs, and quick off the ball. There is a reason he was the #2 overall pick a few years ago. Unfortunately, injury setbacks stunted his growth in Washington. The Saints gave him a fresh start, and he seemed to handle it well despite the team’s obvious issues. Chicago offers him a potential home where he wouldn’t have to be the guy. He’d even reunite with Sweaet, who was teammates with him for every season of his career before 2024. The addition of playing in front of a good secondary like the Bears’ should give him ample opportunities to boost those sack numbers.

Whether this happens will depend on the sales pitch Dennis Allen gives to the front office. Given the price tag, it isn’t too outlandish to think the Bears will make an effort to land him. Smart money says there will be competition, though.

The Chicago Bears will enter the 2025 NFL draft with a clear list of needs. GM Ryan Poles and new head coach Ben Johnson must determine the best direction to go. Having the 10th overall pick could be a major benefit, giving them a big opportunity to land a difference-maker to their fortunes. What nobody knows for sure is who they may have in mind. It is a safe assumption that the Bears already know who may or may not be available when they go on the clock in April. The key is whether any of those names are what they’re looking for.

Maybe it’s a pass rusher like Mykel Williams or an interior disruptor like Walter Nolen. Perhaps a left tackle like Kelvin Banks draws their interest. They could even go for Ashton Jeanty, the record-breaking running back who carried Boise State to the playoffs. However, one source revealed to SM that Poles and others in the building are big fans of another under-the-radar name. That is Alabama’s Tyler Booker, whom many believe is the best overall guard in the entire draft.

Ryan Poles’ interest in Booker is both a surprise and not a surprise.

One reason some draft experts are lower on him is his average athletic ceiling. Booker isn’t known for being the most mobile guy on the field. Poles has often shown in previous drafts that he likes blockers who can move. However, Booker is known for being a powerhouse in the run game, technically sound in all facets of his blocking, and an unquestioned locker room leader at Alabama. He can drive defenders off the ball with regularity and has outstanding fundamentals in pass protection.

The belief is Booker might be one of the safest picks in the draft. He will go somewhere and start for 8-10 years. Ryan Poles isn’t naive. He knows the spotlight is on him. The Bears offensive line gave up 67 sacks this year, which is the worst in franchise history. Much of that is due to his poor job building that area of the roster. He badly needs to fortify it. Booker might not be flashy, but he presents as close to a sure thing as the Bears are likely to find on the offensive line in this draft.

When looking at the critical people who played a role in Ben Johnson becoming the next head coach of the Chicago Bears, the two who will stand out are GM Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren. Poles was the one leading the search and did tons of background work on the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Warren secured the necessary resources to make sure the Bears came across as first-class and deliberate in everything they did. Candidate feedback was consistently positive about their process. Yet the most important moment may have belonged to George McCaskey.

The team chairman has been criticized for handling past coaching searches. Many have considered him cheap, unwilling to invest the necessary resources into landing the right guy. He also is reluctant to pursue guys with more alpha-type personalities. McCaskey shared what happened when Poles came forward about Johnson being the target. His response may have altered the course of franchise history.

“I think in this situation, the best we can do, and the best I can do, is listen, offer support, guidance, and the benefit of our experience when called upon, and to offer support. Ryan says, ‘This is the guy we want,’ and I said, ‘Go get him.'”

George McCaskey isn’t perfect, but he trusts his people.

His efforts to find the right head coach in years past didn’t go well. Say what you will. At least George McCaskey seems to have a sense of self. He’s always known his instincts for football weren’t great. While he may be the owner, he’s more of a fan. That is why he always leaves the football decisions to his football people. In this case, that was Poles. McCaskey has never wavered in his belief that the GM is the right man for the job. If he feels Johnson is the right man to get this ship sailing in the right direction, then no resource should be spared to make it happen. Everything came together quickly after that. There is no telling if Johnson will succeed. If he does, people must acknowledge McCaskey’s willingness to not meddle when it mattered.

Ben Johnson heard through his connections that Declan Doyle was somebody he’d want on his coaching staff. The Denver Broncos tight ends coach was already earning a reputation for intelligence, creativity, and relentless work ethic. The Chicago Bears need more guys like that in the building if they’re going to finally get this offense off the ground. However, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic, who covers the Broncos, believes there might be a specific reason Johnson wanted to bring Doyle in. He explained on Hoge & Jahns.

It stems from the young coach’s extensive experience working under head coach Sean Payton. One of his great strengths, which hasn’t been mentioned enough over the year, is his knack for teaching quarterbacks to avoid unnecessary sacks. Bo Nix was only sacked 24 times this season despite being a rookie. Part of that was good protection, but a huge part was strong discipline to avoid exposing himself to extra opportunities.

Declan Doyle could be a vital learning tool for Caleb Williams.

Nobody can forget the Bears’ rookie absorbed a staggering 67 sacks this year. Yes, a big part of that was talent and coaching issues on the offensive line. Even so, Williams has to accept his share of the blame. He had a bad tendency to hold the ball too long, inviting pass rushers to get second and third chances to put him on the ground. Declan Doyle learned from Payton what steps to take to help teach those tendencies out of a young quarterback.

Yes, Williams has incredible gifts for improvising and making plays on the fly. The issue is there’s a fine line with how often you can get away with that in the NFL. Doyle and Johnson are responsible for teaching him where that line is. If Williams is going to take the next step toward stardom, he must learn to protect himself and keep the offense out of bad down-and-distance situations.