Chicago Bears urged to find ‘long-term stud’ at key position (2025)

In a lot of ways, the Chicago Bears have built the ideal offense to facilitate former No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Caleb Williams, taking the next step in his development and the offense making a major leap in 2025.

After adding adding a trio of veteran offensive linemen, including guard Jonah Jackson with ties to new head coach Ben Johnson, and a second year throwing to wide receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, the stage could be set for a breakout 2025 season for Williams and for the offense to level up thanks to Johnson’s scheme and influence.

However, as the NFL Draft approaches, general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears might need to add one more significant piece around Williams to ensure Chicago has the pieces in place to reach its offensive potential this fall.

Chicago Bears’ key need revealed ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft

How Chicago Bears' Ben Johnson will judge success for Caleb Williams, offense in 2025 3Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson speaking at the NFL scouting combine – Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

As draft night approaches, Pro Football Focus put together a state of the franchise for all 32 teams across the league, including identifying one pressing need as far as adding star power that the Bears must still address.

“General manager Ryan Poles wasted effectively no time in shoring up his interior offensive line,” Bradley Locker writes for PFF, suggesting the Bears need star-power at running back . “Acquiring Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman andJonah Jacksonto mitigate a low point from 2024. Now, the Bears should direct their resources toward finding a long-term stud at running back, givenD’Andre Swift’s underwhelming first year in Chicago (65.7 PFF rushing grade).”

Omarion HamptonNCAA Football: Wake Forest at North Carolina, Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Swift managed just 959 yards and six touchdowns last season, and Poles and the Bears must determine whether his struggles in his first season in Chicago were a byproduct of being miscast in former offensive coordinators Shane Waldron and Thomas Brown’s schemes combined with a dismal offensive line or more significantly an indictment of what he is at this stage of his career.

Given that the Bears are slated to pick No. 10 overall, there’s a possibility that Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty could be on the way for Williams and the offense or that Poles could add some explosiveness in a deep running back class in the second or third round.

But, after significantly fortifying the offensive line, it isn’t a leap to think that a running back with star power could be a priority for the Bears early on in this draft.

Chicago Bears suddenly a perfect fit for Ashton Jeanty 2 Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty breaks a tackle against Penn State – Credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images