7-Round Bears Mock Draft Following Senior Bowl Practice Week: Here's which players stood out with Ryan Poles and others in attendance
The Chicago Bears had a busy week down at Mobile, Alabama scouting and talking with some potential 2025 draft targets during the Senior Bowl practices.This event is a huge one for Ryan Poles, who has drafted multiple role players who previously performed at the Senior Bowl over the last three NFL drafts.Poles and the Bears' […]
The Chicago Bears had a busy week down at Mobile, Alabama scouting and talking with some potential 2025 draft targets during the Senior Bowl practices.
This event is a huge one for Ryan Poles, who has drafted multiple role players who previously performed at the Senior Bowl over the last three NFL drafts.
Poles and the Bears' brass in attendance spent a lot of time watching the trenches during the week, with the two glaring needs on the roster coming on the offensive line and the defensive line. Based on what they saw, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bears look into some of the players in those two position groups come April. With that being said, here's an updated mock draft prediction that includes some guys who showed out this week.
10th Overall Pick: Will Campbell, OL LSU
Not a Senior Bowl guy, but Will Campbell seems to be the consensus pick for the Bears in the first-round, but it's still early in the process. There's a lot to like about Campbell's game, including his ability to play both tackle and guard at the next level.
In Chicago, Campbell could push Braxton Jones for the starting job at left tackle or slide over to left guard and potentially replace Teven Jenkins. Either way, this guy would be an immediate starter up-front to protect Caleb Williams for years to come.
39th Overall Pick: Princely Umanmielen, DE Ole Miss
As for the first Senior Bowl attendee off the board, I have the Bears selecting Princely Umanmielen with their first pick in the second-round, saying he even makes it to Day 2. Bears' defensive tackle Gervon Dexter has already expressed interest in the Bears' targeting Umanmielen in the draft and he would be a perfect fit for what Dennis Allen is wanting to do on defense.
Umanmielen showed off his insane body control and explosiveness this week and looked like the guy who recorded 10.5 sacks during his final season at Ole Miss.
41st Overall Pick: Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio State
It should be no secret that Ben Johnson will look to add another running back to this offense to pair with D'Andre Swift. With Swift in 2022, Johnson also had Jamaal Williams and then used David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield over the last two seasons.
Both Montgomery and Gibbs ranked in the Top-15 in yards after contact per attempt in 2024 among RBs with 150+ carries. Swift ranked 33rd. Enter Quinshon Judkins, who averaged 3.04 yards after contact per attempt during the 2024 season to become Johnson's second back in his offense.
72nd Overall Pick: Jaylin Noel, WR Iowa State
I have already connected the Bears to Jaylin Noel once in the pre-draft process and I'm ready to do it again after what he showed during the week of practice.
Noel is everything the Bears need in the slot to replace Keenan Allen. He's not going to be the sure-handed reliable option Allen is known for, but he's going to add the speed necessary to go deep out of the slot.
148th Overall Pick: Caleb Rogers, OL Texas Tech
We all know how much Ryan Poles likes drafting his late round offensive linemen. He drafted Braxton Jones, Ja'Tyre Carter, and Doug Kramer all in the fifth-round or later during his first draft with the team.
With Campbell in the first round and potential top free agent additions expected on the offensive line, the Bears could wait it out before selecting another one. Caleb Rogers is one to watch after he met with the team this week. Ben Johnson will love that he's a mauler in the run game and he has experience at both guard positions and right tackle.
197th Overall Pick: Jackson Hawes, TE Georgia Tech
One position I think Ben Johnson will upgrade on offense is the tight end position behind Cole Kmet. Johnson wants to get younger on offense and the team should part ways with Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis after showing no impact in 2024.
The means the Bears will need to find a solid run blocker at the position for Johnson's rushing attack to work effectively. Jackson Hawes got some great reviews in that area and has the potential to be another red zone threat as well.
235th Overall Pick: Vernon Broughton, DT Texas
Adding to the interior of the front is a slight need after seeing how the players in the room played after Andrew Billings went down. Big Bill will be back in 2024, luckily, but the long-term need was still evident at the position.
Late in the draft, the Bears could target Vernon Broughton if he's still on the board. Broughton is a force with an insane frame. He'd be the perfect player to learn from Billings and eventually take over his role on the defensive front.
242nd Overall Pick: De’Rickey Wright, S Vanderbilt
Another minor position of need worth addressing with more depth would be at safety. Behind Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens played solid during the 2024 season and will still be under contract, but the rest of the players in the room are on expiring contracts.
De'Rickey Wright is a promising guy to look at deep in the draft. Wright recorded 48 tackles and one interception during his 13 games in 2024.
