Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles Shines in 2025 NFL Redraft

Poles' first three picks - WR Luther Burden, LT Ozzy Trapilo, and TE Colston Loveland - all earn first-round grades in redraft analysis.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:04pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented scenes of a football game or practice, with sharp planes of navy blue, orange, and white overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.The Bears' 2025 draft class, led by GM Ryan Poles, is poised to play a pivotal role in the team's future success.Chicago Today

A 2025 NFL redraft by The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner showed that Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles excelled with his first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Wide receiver Luther Burden and left tackle Ozzy Trapilo were both projected as first-round selections, while tight end Colston Loveland remained a top-10 pick. The three rookies all had strong debut seasons, with Loveland leading the Bears in receiving yards and Burden emerging as a dynamic playmaker in the second half of the year.

Why it matters

The success of Poles' 2025 draft class is a positive sign for the Bears, who are looking to take a step forward after a playoff appearance. With the departure of wide receiver DJ Moore, Burden and Loveland will have even bigger roles in the passing game, while Trapilo's development at left tackle is crucial to the team's offensive line.

The details

Baumgardner had Trapilo going 27th overall to the Baltimore Ravens and Burden going a few picks later to the Buffalo Bills at 30th overall. Trapilo started the year as a reserve before taking over at left tackle in Week 12, while Burden's production ramped up in the second half of the season. Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards as a rookie, becoming the first Bears rookie to do so since Willie Gault in 1983.

  • Trapilo took over as the Bears' starting left tackle in Week 12 of the 2025 season.
  • Burden emerged as a dynamic playmaker in the second half of the 2025 season.
  • Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards as a rookie in 2025, the first Bears rookie to do so since 1983.

The players

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears, who made a strong showing with his first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Luther Burden

A wide receiver drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, who had a breakout second half of the season and is expected to have an even bigger role in 2026 with the departure of DJ Moore.

Ozzy Trapilo

A left tackle drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft, who took over as the starting left tackle in Week 12 and played well, though he is expected to miss significant time in 2026 due to a patellar tendon injury.

Colston Loveland

A tight end drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft, who led the team in receiving yards as a rookie, the first Bears rookie to do so since 1983.

Nick Baumgardner

A writer for The Athletic who conducted the 2025 NFL redraft analysis that highlighted the success of the Bears' 2025 draft class.

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What they’re saying

“Trapilo started his rookie year as a reserve before eventually taking over at left tackle for Chicago in Week 12. His seven starts down the stretch, including in a wild-card win over Green Bay, were outstanding. He's going to miss a bunch of time in 2026 as he rehabs a patellar tendon injury, but I'm eager to see his return.”

— Nick Baumgardner, Writer, The Athletic

“Getting Burden in the second round was a great value pick by the Bears, who should be in position to get even more out of him now that DJ Moore (ironically enough for our redraft purposes) is in Buffalo.”

— Nick Baumgardner, Writer, The Athletic

“He's exactly what we thought we were getting out of the draft last year. This guy is a dynamic playmaker. He's got some of the best run-after-catch in the game right now. I really believe that. We've got to continue to get the ball in his hands as often as we possibly can.”

— Ben Johnson, Head Coach, Chicago Bears

What’s next

The Bears will look to Burden, Loveland, and Monangai to take on bigger roles in the offense in 2026 as they aim to build on their playoff appearance. Trapilo's recovery from his patellar tendon injury will also be a key storyline to watch.

The takeaway

Ryan Poles' first draft class as Bears GM is shaping up to be a success, with his top three picks all earning high grades in a 2025 NFL redraft. The development of this young core will be crucial as the Bears look to take the next step and become a consistent contender in the NFC.