The Athletic has live coverage of the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Read more of The Athletic’s coverage from the 2025 NFL Draft: Best Players Available | Draft Grades | Winners & Losers
The Chicago Bears entered the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24 with seven picks over the three-day draft.
The Bears made Michigan tight end Colston Loveland their top pick at No. 10, giving new head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams a big weapon for the offense. Interestingly, they passed on Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, whom many mock drafters had pegged to Chicago.
On Day 2, they added another dynamic pass catcher in Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III with the 39th pick. He’ll join DJ Moore and Rome Odunze in what is shaping up as a stellar receiving group. The Bears originally had the 41st pick, but they traded out of that spot with the Buffalo Bills. They received the Nos. 56, 62 and 109 picks for Nos. 41, 72 and 240.
Nearly every position could use a talent boost, but offensive line, defensive line and running back are their biggest remaining positions of need. After adding to both lines in free agency, general manager Ryan Poles said the Bears are in position to take the best player available.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each Bears pick.
Round 1
No. 10: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
How he fits
We’ve been writing for months that the race for TE1 was much closer than many thought. Loveland, the star Michigan tight end, reminds me a lot of current Detroit Lions standout Sam LaPorta — but bigger. Ben Johnson absolutely adored LaPorta in Detroit, and Loveland will give Johnson and Williams a legit receiving threat in all areas of the field. Warren is the better blocker, but Loveland is absolutely the better receiver and is an outstanding fit for everything Johnson does. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A three-year starter at Michigan, Loveland was a versatile tight end in head coach Sherrone Moore’s pro-style scheme, lining up primarily in the slot (47.6 percent of the time) and inline/wing (32.5 percent) as a junior. From the moment he arrived in Ann Arbor, he was one of the most talented players on the roster and made an immediate impact in his first two years, including as the Wolverines’ leading receiver in the 2023 national championship game. His final season was marred by injury and below-average quarterback play, but he still led the team in receiving in nine of the 10 games he played and set Michigan records for the tight end position.
With his speed and ball skills, Loveland can line up anywhere on the field and win as a quarterback-friendly, multilevel receiving threat. He isn’t a liability as a one-pop, get-in-the-way blocker but will struggle to sustain or control NFL edge defenders. Overall, Loveland doesn’t have the skill set for full-time inline responsibilities, but his dynamic movements, natural hands and football awareness should make him one of the primary targets in an NFL offense. His tools and upside are reminiscent of Zach Ertz.
Adam Jahns’ analysis
• Bears draft TE Colston Loveland: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Grade: A
Dreams ➡️ Reality pic.twitter.com/HNSAXM8kig
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 25, 2025
Round 2
No. 39: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
How he fits
This was a value pick for Chicago. Burden will help the passing game flourish, but he doesn’t match the Bears’ needs. It shows this team clearly is setting up for a loaded offense under Johnson. But some holes remain unaddressed. Burden (6-0, 206) was considered a top-five draft prospect entering the 2024 season after catching 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. But his numbers fell dramatically to 61 receptions for 676 yards and six scores last fall, partly because of injuries on Missouri’s offense. Burden still translates into a potential No. 1 receiver and will help on day one. — Scott Dochterman
Dane Brugler’s analysis
With his run-after-catch skills, Burden saw a high volume of quick-hitters and crossers, which showcased his any-direction burst and physicality to give defenders the shake. His route running is best described as a “work in progress” right now, but he appears unfazed when forced to flip his body and track/adjust to errant throws. Overall, Burden is still working on his undergrad degree in route setup and separation, but he holds a master’s in creating with the ball in his hands because of his explosive speed and competitive toughness. For an NFL team targeting a YAC weapon with upside to be more, he will be an appealing option early.
Kevin Fishbain’s analysis
• Bears draft WR Luther Burden III: How he fits, draft grade and scouting intel
Fantasy impact
Terrific talent, terrible landing spot … for the wideouts, but it’s amazing for Caleb Williams. Burden feels like if you took Garrett Wilson, Julian Edelman and Randall Cobb and smashed together their best traits. No wideout is a guarantee, and again, for fantasy, this is actually more of a conundrum as Burden could be the third option behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Burden could also leap Odunze and take the No. 2 role. Honestly, he has the ability to be the best Bears wideout. This adds risk to Moore for lost targets and not seeing the rebound managers wanted, and it adds the concern that Odunze doesn’t break out if he stumbles early, opening the door for Burden. I’d be willing to take the cheaper option of Odunze or Burden in redraft and Burden as a late-first in dynasty. — Jake Ciely
Grade: B-minus
No. 56 (From Bills)
No. 62 (From Bills)
Round 4
No. 109 (From Bills)
Round 5
No. 148
Round 7
No. 233 (From Bengals)
(Photo of Luther Burden III: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
