ESPN analyst hints that Ryan Poles might have one more aggressive move up his sleeve in the 2025 NFL Draft if the board falls the right way
No team, during the first week of free agency, addressed the major needs on the roster more aggressively than the Chicago Bears.In the last few days, the Bears have re-vamped the interior of the offensive line, adding a potential breakout pass rusher, brought in a veteran leader at DT, and signed a reliable pass catcher […]
No team, during the first week of free agency, addressed the major needs on the roster more aggressively than the Chicago Bears.
In the last few days, the Bears have re-vamped the interior of the offensive line, adding a potential breakout pass rusher, brought in a veteran leader at DT, and signed a reliable pass catcher to be the new WR3/4.
All of those moves have positioned the Bears in a great spot going into the 2025 NFL Draft to fill the remaining holes but also add some top young talent to already loaded position groups.
Meaning, all options are on the table for the Bears in April's draft starting with the 10th overall pick. After that, the Bears hold two more top picks in the second-round with the 39th and 41st overall selections.
Those selections give the Bears three chances to land three top prospects based on how this draft class is structured. Those two second-round picks could also give the Bears a possibility to make another aggressive move depending on how the board falls prior to the team's first-round pick.
And that scenario is exactly what ESPN's Matt Miller brought up over the weekend when discussing the draft takeaways from the first week of free agency.
"And how about this scenario: With three picks in the top 50, could the Bears trade up the board if a player such as [Penn State defensive end] Abdul Carter or Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham slips?" – ESPN's Matt Miller
Should The Bears Consider A First-Round Trade Up?
First, let's preface that the only two prospects I would consider acceptable for the Bears to trade up and select would be Carter and Graham. Both players are the top of their positions and would give Chicago and insane DL rotation if they can pull it off.
Now, let's talk about the possibility of either player falling down the board in the Top-10. You have two quarterbacks in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, an athlete in Travis Hunter, and the top offensive lineman in the draft in Will Campbell, who could all easily go in the Top-4 selections.
Carter at one point was getting first overall pick consideration. However, if the Titans and Browns/Giants go quarterback and Hunter goes to Browns/Giants, Carter could fall past the first three selections. Then, it just takes New England drafting Campbell to cause Carter to fall to 5.
Same goes for Graham, the top interior defensive lineman. If the board goes in this order, he could then very well fall out of the Top-5 selections, which would then be an easy trade up for the Bears with one of the second-rounders being included.
Now, should they do it? My heart says no. The Bears still have more long-term holes to address and we all know by now that the strength of this class is in the Top-75 picks. Chicago's not in a position to be giving up valuable picks, especially this year.
As good of a player that Carter and Graham are, the Bears best interest will be staying at 10 and keeping both second-rounders to add three impact players to the roster. And who knows, maybe Graham falls right into their lap anyways? You never know.
Trading up is a fun thought to consider, and if Poles believes the roster is good enough to swing big, I wouldn't put it past him if Graham starts to fall. But, it's not a move I would do at this point in time.
Bears 2025 Mock Draft: Reevaluating Chicago’s draft plans and team needs following a busy first week of free agency
Remaining needs are clear after recent additions.
