If the 2025 NFL Draft were held today, the Chicago Bears would have the 11th overall pick in the first round. It's not what Bears fans hoped for at the start of the 2024 season; playoff aspirations existed over the summer. But after multiple losses in the waning seconds of games and a first-ever fired head coach during the season, the Bears are who they are right now: a team struggling because of poor leadership on the sideline and in the executive suites.
Maybe that will all change with Thomas Brown taking over as the interim head coach. At worst, the Chicago Bears will welcome a beacon of hope with whoever is named the next permanent head coach. Until then, we know that one critical decision-maker will remain in place: GM Ryan Poles.
Poles will be charged with upgrading the roster (once again) this offseason, most notably through the 2025 draft.
The 2024 NFL Draft was a success for the Bears because of the easy, no-brainer pick at the top of Round 1. Quarterback Caleb Williams has proven his scouting report correct through the first 12 games of his rookie season, which is remarkable considering former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron hindered him for nine of those contests. Brown has unlocked Williams over the last three weeks and has his arrow shooting WAY up.
For as much as Williams is considered a 'Superman' at quarterback, he won't reach his full potential if he's forced to run for his life on nearly every dropback. And that's why The Athletic's Dane Brugler's first 2025 NFL mock draft of the season should have Bears fans sort of excited. Chicago selects Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. with their first pick.
"Some teams view Banks as a tackle; others see him as a guard," Brugler wrote. "Personally, I think this is a tad early in Round 1 for him. But the Bears need to add quality offensive linemen to the mix, and Banks could be a potential answer at several spots."
Is Banks a surefire top-10-ish offensive line prospect? No, but he does have a first-round pedigree. The Chicago Bears are at a point in their roster construction where they can reach a little on need in the first round rather than focus on the best player available. I know that could sound sacrilegious to NFL Draft purists, but the Bears are in the 'beggars can't be choosers' category regarding their offensive line.
The great thing about Banks is that he'd be a lock to start in Chicago in 2025, regardless of where his NFL future will be. If the Bears want to begin Banks' career inside at guard with a long-term vision of him eventually replacing Braxton Jones at left tackle? Great, he's a fit for that. If, instead, Chicago wants Jones and Darnell Wright to remain on the edges and use their first-round pick on Banks with the goal to elevate the talent level of the starting five? Fantastic.
The Bears will use their first-round pick on an offensive lineman in April. You can take that to the bank (no pun intended). And while LSU's Will Campbell might be the preferred option, landing Banks is a great backup plan.