Is a Super Bowl on the table for Ben Johnson year one? This article breaks down the ideal outcome of the 2025 NFL Draft for the Chicago Bears. There will not be trades involved; however, if a trade-back is ideal, it will absolutely be mentioned along with a potential target.
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Round One (10th Overall) Dream Target: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Ben Johnson loves his running backs.
Ashton Jeanty took the country by storm this year. After the year that Saquon Barkley had, the NFL was reminded what a true bell cow back like the Boise State product could do.
Now, that is not the comparison, but it could be the impact. Jeanty has the opportunity to be a focal point of a super bowl contending franchise immediately.
Round Two (39th Overall) Dream Target: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Left tackle and left guard are not solved for the long haul.
Joe Thuney was a great short-term fill. Braxton Jones still could work out, but he is far from a guarantee to be the franchise left tackle.
Josh Simmons was a Bonafide top-five prospect in this class before tearing his patellar tendon. If the medicals check out, it will be hard to get here. His early availability could be in question and give the Bears a shot at an elite offensive lineman in the second.
And, yes, Simmons has guard/tackle flexibility.
Round Two (41st Overall) Dream Target: Kenneth Grant, DI, Michigan
Grady Jarrett is a shell of himself.
There is still a massive need for a long-term defensive tackle, and Grant is perfect for that role.
The Michigan product needs more development than he gets credit for, but his tenacity and athletic upside pair well with his quick wins as a pass rusher. Bank on the upside.
Grant is perfect for an understudy to the veteran Jarrett.
Round Three (72nd Overall) Dream Target: Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU
Dennis Allen loves strong, powerful edge rushers.
This is an excerpt from an article highlighting potential first-round surprise picks: “an SEC edge rusher gets 60 pressures and 9 sacks with over 30% true pass rush win rate… The blend of tools, power, grit, and IQ scream round-one talent.”
Many analysts have Swinson as a day-two option, weighted heavily on the early-third round. It is not impossible to see a talent like this slip if teams address edge earlier.
Round Five (148th Overall) Dream Target: Jonas Sanker, DB, Virginia
Safety is one year away from being a major position to fix. Why not do it ahead of time?
Sanker is built to play a multitude of roles in the NFL. He is smart, smooth, and polished.
Some believe in the Virginia product’s run defense more than others, but that could be another asset on top of many positive traits.
Round Seven (233rd Overall) Dream Target: LaJohntay Wester, WR, Colorado
This is a copy from the Falcons dream draft, but the Bears are an even better fit.
Here is the excerpt from it: “LaJohntay Wester is a dynamic weapon to add to a relatively weak receiving corps. There is almost zero depth worth mentioning, so wide receiver is a must sometime in this draft.
The Colorado product provides explosiveness, reliability, and even stints of blocking ability at a compact frame. His slender build at 5’10 163 lbs will scare many teams, but that is why the Falcons need to take advantage of that fear and bring in a talent that could challenge for day two if he were bigger.”
Not much else needs to be said. Wester is a great weapon to add.
Round Seven (240th Overall) Dream Target: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
Tight end competition is never a bad thing.
Luke Lachey was looked at once as a potential first-round pick in 2023/4. A season-ending injury wiped out any chance of a season in 2023, so 2024 had a lot of eyes on it.
While the play was not elite, Lachey handled himself very well. His smooth routes and underrated blocking ability prove valuable in the NFL.
The medicals could push him to this range, but it is worth taking a shot on Lachey if he does fall.
