Who did the Chicago Bears select?

The Chicago Bears entered draft weekend teeming with optimism, confident the capital they had to work with could produce significant results in their ongoing process to build a playoff roster. The festivities began Thursday night with general manager Ryan Poles selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick.

As the Bears continue to assemble their 2025 draft class, the Tribune is offering a pick-by-pick snapshot of what each player added to the roster has to offer.

2025 Bears picks

Round 4, No. 132: Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland

Height, weight: 5-11, 236

Why the Bears drafted him

Speed. Speed. Speed. While the Bears may have had much more pressing needs at other positions — running back, safety and edge rusher among them — Hyppolite became the target thanks to his elite burst and ability to cover ground sideline to sideline in the middle level of the defense. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds at his pro day and was accomplished in his college career as both a run stopper and a coverage linebacker.

Analyst’s take

“He looks like he had rocket launchers attached to his cleats. This guy fires out of a cannon with some legit speed. He’s a very loose and natural coverage player. … And you watch him against some high-level competition — the likes of Oregon and Penn State — and he’s just making plays, patrolling sideline to sideline.” — ESPN’s Field Yates

Round 2, No. 62: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

Height, weight: 6-3, 290

Why the Bears drafted him

After using their first three picks of this draft on offense, the Bears added reinforcement to the interior of their defensive line with Turner, who has an explosive first step and a reputation as a powerful and aggressive defensive tackle. He was a three-year starter at Texas A&M and will bring an attacking mentality to the defensive front. The Bears signed Grady Jarrett in free agency to be a starter on the interior of the line, but remain determined to create a deep rotation up front. Turner slots in as a versatile and relentless disruptor who has previous experience playing on the edge but moved inside for more opportunity.

In his words

Turner plays with an undeniable edge. But he has gotten himself into trouble with a lack of discipline at times. He had a high-profile ejection during a 2023 game against Mississippi after punching a Rebels lineman between the legs. Turner also was flagged seven times last season for personal fouls. So he will arrive at Halas Hall acknowledging the need to play with an edge but under control.

“Man,” Turner said Friday night, “playing with an edge, being an edgy guy, playing with fire like that is always good. But you have to know how to control it. And you can’t let it control you. So I feel like it’s key to keep it at a certain level. Like right on the line. If I can stay right on that line but just don’t cross it, I’ll have a great career.”

Analyst’s take

“This is an explosive three-technique (tackle) who can get up the field and really has some power. … He is someone who has a lot in his body. And I think when he’s healthy, you’re going to see an even better player.” — NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah

From the front office

Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol labeled Turner’s playing style as “violent,” a common adjective attached to the defensive tackle’s scouting report. Koziol also said the Bears understand the tenacity Turner has and realize his high-energy approach has occasionally gotten him into trouble. “I’ll tell you what,” Koziol said, “with a defensive lineman, I’d much rather be ‘Whoa!’ than ‘Go!’ But that’s something the coaches will discuss with him when the time is appropriate. I love the way he plays and would never want to tell anybody to reel it back. Go out there and be you.”

You should know

Turner suffered a stress fracture in his leg last summer and had a rod inserted to address the issue. He played through some discomfort last season but then couldn’t participate in the Senior Bowl in January as he worked to get the bone to heal fully.

Round 2, No. 56: Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College

Height, weight: 6-8, 316

Why the Bears drafted him

The Bears selected Trapilo after trading down from the No. 41 pick in a swap with the Buffalo Bills. The Bears received the Nos. 56, 62 and 109 picks in exchange for Nos. 41, 72 and 240.

Trapilo played both right and left tackle at Boston College and earned first-team All-ACC honors last season. At the scouting combine in February, Bears general manager Ryan Poles suggested that starting left tackle Braxton Jones would have competition at the position, but until Friday night, it had not materialized. In adding Trapilo, the Bears have a massive, versatile tackle who could compete for playing time.

In his words

Trapilo’s size jumps out, but he believes his athleticism is overlooked.

“The size can be deceptive because you see a guy who’s so big and you might think immediately they might not be an athlete, they might not move as well,” he said. “I think I do a good job footwork-wise, hand placement, sort of those athletic traits. I think I’m pretty well-rounded as a player. That’s something that I really work on. Being taller, it doesn’t all come natural to me, but putting in the work, day in, day out, has really helped elevate my game to be well-rounded.”

Trapilo said he feels comfortable at either right or left tackle, adding that his goal is to “get on the field as soon as possible.”

Analyst’s take

“Huge. He’s a Day 1 starter. My comp was (pro wrestler) Big John Studd. Rob Havenstein was someone he reminded me of who’s a plug-and-play right tackle. He’s a little bit tight-hipped but someone who can lock out and control guys. As a rusher, when he sees that rush, he’s able to lock them out with his length and able to control them. The bend is not elite, but someone who does stay off the ground.” — NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah

From the front office

Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol said Trapilo’s consistency and dependability stood out. Koziol believes Trapilo moves well for a big man, and the Bears think he’s capable of playing on either the left or right side.

“We love the group of guys that we have in the room right now,” Koziol said. “Obviously, we made a lot of additions in the offseason, but I think the plan right now is to get into OTAs and to get into camp and see what our best five, what that combination looks like. But we feel highly that this is a guy that’s going to come in and compete for a spot.”

You should know

Trapilo’s father, Steve, played at Boston College in the 1980s and was an All-American offensive lineman. The New Orleans Saints selected the elder Trapilo with a fourth-round pick in 1987, and he played in 57 games for them from 1987-92. Ozzy followed in his father’s footsteps, first playing at Boston College High and later at Boston College. Steve died of a heart attack in 2004 when Ozzy was 2.

Round 2, No. 39: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Height, weight: 6-0, 206

Why the Bears drafted him

No one can accuse the Bears of not providing quarterback Caleb Williams with enough weaponry. In Burden, the Bears landed a dynamic pass catcher with impressive run-after-catch ability. Burden can be effective in the slot and should be a solid complement to fellow receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Burden has drawn comparisons to Stefon Diggs for his ability to separate and for his explosiveness with the ball in hands. Burden’s best season was in 2023, when he recorded 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Last season, he totaled 61 catches, 676 yards and six touchdowns.

In his words

Burden was hoping to be a first-round pick and grew agitated when he was still not selected by the conclusion of Thursday night’s proceedings. So he went to Missouri’s football facility for a late-night workout — with his girlfriend operating the JUGS machine. “To clear my head, pretty much,” Burden said. “The field is an escape for me. Always has been. And I needed to hit the field to clear my head for (Friday).”

Burden felt considerably more positive when he was finally drafted in Round 2. But the call from the Bears, with whom he had very little contact during the predraft process, caught him off guard. “It’s surprising,” he said.

Analyst’s take

“Chicago is poised to take off. Think of Amon-Ra St. Brown and what Ben Johnson did with him in Detroit. That’s Luther Burden. He’s the guy who can run the jet sweeps. He is going to own the middle of the field, catch-and-run situations. Tunnel screens. Rocket screens. He is eclectic. Lightning in a bottle. It’s an embarrassment of riches, quite honestly, on paper in Chicago. There is no excuse anymore.” — ESPN analyst Louis Riddick

Column: In Round 2 bid to raise competition, Chicago Bears surprise WR Luther Burden III — then add two big men

From the front office

One of the bigger knocks on Burden’s game is a lack of refinement in his route running, something the Bears believe they can address and improve quickly. “It’s just nuance and set up,” director of college scouting Breck Ackley said Friday night.

To that end, the Bears are excited about uniting Burden with new receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.

“When you get chance to see Coach Randle El coach on the grass, he teaches guys how to run routes,” Ackley said. “He has a really good feel for it. He obviously was able to do that himself (as a player). So for Luther, all the physical skill set is there. It’s just a feel. Understanding when to drop your weight. The details of it. The yardage. They’re obviously going to be very particular about that. For him it’s just homing in on those things. But from our end as scouts, you look and say ‘All of the ability is there to drop his weight. All of the burst is there. All of the speed (is there).’ So our job is to say, yes, he can develop as a route runner.”

You should know

Burden was selected with the second-round pick the Bears received from Carolina as part of the well-documented March 2023 trade that sent the No. 1 pick to the Panthers. In return, the Bears received a treasure chest of compensation that has now netted them Moore, Williams, offensive tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and punter Tory Taylor.

Round 1, No. 10: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan