Maybe take a break from draft for a day. I found this informative Dan Roushar seminar that looks like it was given in a Holiday Inn, but is loaded with tons of info about his system and coaching in general. Fair warning, it’s pretty hardcore and an hour long, so prepare your angus!
I don’t know about you guys, but I always feel like I can learn more about oline in general, and what better way to learn than from Bears’ new Oline coach? HOPEFULLY Roushar finally fixes this damn oline that has struggled mightily since everyone kept trying to gaslight us that Mike Tice was great.
Perhaps the #1 story going into camp will be Ozzy Trapilo. He has a lot of backers, but also more than his share of detractors, “a 2nd RDer for a back-up!”
The criticism is legit, but friendly reminder: it was going to be difficult for any prospect to crack the starting lineup
One could argue that if the Bears, and not 9ers, drafted Mykell Williams, Edge [6’5, 265] , then he would’ve been the starter. Maybe that’s true, and much like Wright will be forever contrasted with Carter, Loveland will be compared to Mykell, but more likely Mykell ends up in a heavy rotation
Still, if we consider NB Gordon a ‘starter’ [and he sure as hell is getting PAID like one], then we must equally consider the move TE/Slot WR a starter too
SAM was about the only open ‘starter’ slot but 4-3 base is run less than 50% of time
Even so, “swing” likely won’t see the field unless an INJ [or suckage] strikes; hence on paper at least, Ozzy isn’t a ‘starter’
That being said, do you recall the last time the starting 5 olinemen for the Bears began and finished a season as a unit without missing a game? I sure can’t. My best guess is the Kreutz’ era
“Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst”
Ozzy’s natural position seems to be RT Maybe LT in a pinch But how about possible OG to take over for Thuney or if Jonah Jackson underwhelms?
Well, I dug a little into Ozzy’s metrics and precedents
According to PFF, the top OGs heading into ‘24 season:
Chris Lindstrom, ATL; Thuney, KC; Sam Cosmi, Wash; Tyler Smith, DAL; Quinn Meinerz, DEN
One can make his own list, but I’m just going off PFF
I won’t boggle you down with numbers, so I just focused on height, weight and 10 yd split:
Now if you just look at these numbers [and verify it with tape], we can note some interesting possibilities
Jonah Jackson’s 1.84 sticks out like a sore-thumb. He’s also been INJ-ridden, so that’s not going to help his quickness
Lindstrom, Cosmi and Braxton Jones have a 1.68 split. This checks cuz we know Braxton can pull and demolish LBs at the second lvl. So, why not him at OG if you believe he’s a subpar LT?
Say you’re fine with Braxton at LT, ‘Give him an opportunity under competent coaching’
Ok, well, maybe Wright at OG? He profiles very similarly to Tyler Smith; then start Trapilo at RT
Greg Gabriel believes that Trapilo has bend and movement to play OG, but that’s hard to envision at 6’8/ 1.78 split. Maybe he’s that good but seems like an outlier. I thought Long was too tall for OG, even so he was 6’6, not 6’8! Being that tall also didn’t help Long’s back
Braxton or Wright at OG appear to better fit the precedents; albeit if this happens, I doubt it’s immediately. The Bears will give this lineup a chance first before moving around players:
Braxton-Thuney-Dalman-Jackson-Wright
Nevertheless, it appears that Ozzy at least provides BJ ‘flexibility’ along the lines
Besides, never know. Maybe Ozzy Trapilo can man LT. A gal can dream…
Ben Johnson probably saw a lot of Taylor Decker in Ozzy Trapilo
All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Aquitani another, those who in their own language are called Celts, in our Gauls, the third. All these differ from each other in language, customs and laws[…]Of all these, the Belgae are the bravest, because they are furthest from the civilization and refinement of [our] Province, and merchants least frequently resort to them, and import those things which tend to effeminate the mind; and they are the nearest to the Germans, who dwell beyond the Rhine , with whom they are continually waging war;
– Julius Caesar, Gallic War
It was also a common practice for elite Roman legions to recruit from rural areas as they viewed a physical upbringing more conducive to martial life
One of the stranger aspects of Bears’ fandom since the Lovie Smith era has been the Bears’ general draft strategy. We witnessed two reset-the-franchise picks under Ryan Pace (Trubisky, Fields) mixed in with aggressively trading away draft picks as if the team were just a player or two away from contender status. It was an odd but telling combination for one of the worst teams in football over the past decade.
Ryan Poles has reversed some of those trends – the Bears have held more than the standard seven draft picks in three of his four drafts – but his first two years at the helm still saw the Bears treading a familiar path, selecting five defensive players out of seven total picks in the first three rounds.
We all knew what was coming in ’24, but for me, the 2025 draft comes as a revelation in the wake of Bears history – in my 31 years of Bears’ fandom, I cannot recall a draft approach quite like this one.
First, some historical notes: since the modern-day seven round draft commenced in 1993, the Bears have selected offensive players with their first three picks seven times (which surprised me). The 2024 and ’25 drafts mark the first time in the modern draft era in which the Bears drafted three offensive players at the top of the draft in back-to-back year.
This offense-first draft focus in back-to-back years is extremely rare for the Bears in the overall history of the NFL draft. Only the 1945-46 drafts and the 1941, ’42 and ’43 drafts saw the Bears select three offensive players at the top of each draft (position names back then are a bit wonky, so forgive me if I got that wrong).
Pro Football Reference has all the gory details, like the cherished 1997 draft that brought TE John Allred, G Bob Sapp and RB Darnell Autry to the Bears with their first three selections.
But back to the hopefully good stuff of ’25:
While the Colston Loveland pick has its critics (preference for Warren, too high of a selection for a TE), we should appreciate this pick for its glass-breaking novelty. The Bears have a solid TE under contract (Cole Kmet), and they went out and picked another one anyways! Perhaps this is foolish for a 5-win team, but have we ever seen such an attitude from the Bears? The only comparison I can think of was the selection of Cedric Benson in ’05 with Thomas Jones under contract.
The selection of Luther Burden follows a similar trend. Olamide Zaccheaus is a perfectly acceptable football player and slot receiver. In virtually any other era of Bears football, the Bears would have been “set” at WR going into the draft. And yet, the Bears aimed to improve a critical position group in the modern game.
Ozzy Trapilo once again breaks the mold. The Bears have an offensive line that, on paper, is at least OK. The Bears even have a developmental tackle with real draft capital in Kiran Amegadjie. For the first time in a very long time, “OK” and “let’s start Arlington Hambright” is no longer good enough for the offensive line.
Of course, bucking history only has value as a narrative. The draft is an annual crapshoot, and Loveland, Burden and Trapiilo may all bust. But for at least a brief moment, Bears fans should savor the feeling that the franchise is, for once, trying a different approach.
Boy, I think this draft is going to split Bear fans
Camp 1. Obviously BJ in charge now, and as such, he’s finally ushering the Bears into the modern NFL of offense and playmakers
Camp 2. TE & WR were ‘luxury’ picks, and Ozzy was a big reach at LT in the 2nd. Poles shoulda stayed put and drafted trenches and HB – Draft Day Butch ———————- This is an informative Greg Gabriel interview [before day 2] cuz it shows how the sausage is made. Some insights.
“James Pierce just doesn’t give a fuck”. No wonder he dropped some. Huge risk
‘Mike Green was off the board for some teams, so you know he was never on the Bears’ board’
Scourton had 10 sacks at 256 standing up. As DE at 280 lost explosion. 5 sacks
Colt’s Insider msged Greg Gabriel that Bears drafted right TE
‘Ppl say, ‘trade down’, the Colts would’ve traded up for Colston. Other teams were trying to do same
That praise for Warren and Jeanty trade-up talk was to throw teams off Bears’ target: Loveland
Gabriel contacted DR. Shoulder will be alright. Sounds worse than it really is
OT Ersey is not a fit for Ben’s scheme. He doesn’t move well enough
OT Charles Grant is basically another Kiran project
‘This was a good draft for oline, just not LT’. Doesn’t think Wright athletic enough for LT
‘HB is a one-contract position now. Is that value?’
Alfred Collins had INJ concerns. ‘Not one big thing, just a lot of little shit’
Day 3
Daniel Jermiah comped Ozzy to Rob Havenstein, Gabriel thinks Ozzy like Mike McClinchey
Ozzy has athleticism and bend to play OG, though true, not many 6’8 OGs
“Shemar Turner is a bad MOFO”
—————– Twitts —————— Courtney Cronin@CourtneyRCronin The Bears draft is over. Here’s their 2025 draft class:
1st – 10th: TE Colston Loveland 2nd – 39th: WR Luther Burden III 2nd – 56th: OT Ozzy Trapilo 2nd – 62nd: DT Shemar Turner 4th – 132nd: LB Ruben Hyppolite II 5th – 169th: CB Zah Frazier 6th – 195th: G Luke Newman 7th – 233rd: RB Kyle Monangai ——————————– Adam Hoge@AdamHoge
No. 147 – SF drafts RB Jordan James No. 148 – Bears trade back —————————
Kevin Fishbain@kfishbain
Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziol on CB Zah Frazier: “We brought him in for a 30-visit and this guy was unbelievable. … Outgoing. Really self-aware. Had to take the long route to the NFL … but we absolutely loved having him in the building.”
Adam Hoge@AdamHoge
Summary on CB Zah Frazier from #Bears director of player personnel Trey Koziel: Height/length/speed guy. Got his hands on the ball a lot last year. Can turn and track the ball. Good instincts. Fits Dennis Allen’s desire for length/speed on the outside. 30-visit was great. A lot of energy. —————–
Kent Lee Platte@MathBomb
Ruben Hyppolite was drafted in round 4 pick 132 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.22 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 570 out of 3204 LB from 1987 to 2025. ——-
Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s —————-
Butch post-draft musings
BJ wants speed, speed and more speed. I think all draftees were fast for their position or ran a great 10 yd split [short area burst]. BJ wanted to give Caleb some easy completions. DJ/Rome/Kmet aren’t really ‘separators’. Loveland and Burden are.
Shemar at 290 is a 3T. HOWEVER, Allen stated he likes his DEs about 280. Shemar loses 10 pounds, he’s a DE
Bears needed a 3T and DE. Shemar may be both. He played INJed last year [stress fracture], but in ‘23 racked up 6 sacks
Bears either nabbed BPA [Loveland/Burden] or “reached” [Ozzy/Hyppolite]. Add all the tradedowns, and it’s understandable why many fans are ‘wtf?’
Poles may have reached for OT at #56, but look at draft. Another true OT [not projected OG] doesn’t get picked after Ozzy ’til pick #91 Emery Jones who may not fit BJ’s scheme. OT Charles Grant went #99, but he’s basically another Kiran project. So essentially the draft went a whole round without drafting an OT after Ozzy #tiers
“One can make a valid argument and still be wrong” the Prof boomed
It’s a concept I never truly considered. I was young, so still lived in a black-and-white world where everything is either right or wrong, no gray [life cures you of that, btw]
A flat-earther is not likely to win any debate because by default that argument won’t be valid. Too much overwhelming evidence to the contrary
But one can make a valid argument that intelligent life exists outside earth And one can make a valid argument that it does not
A LOT of issues are like this [perhaps too many unless you just like arguing]
Enter the draft
It’s basically just one big argument
GMs are making the case for THEIR methodology, for THEIR guys
They’re likely not going to be YOUR methodology or guys, and this is where the endless mocks, big boards, debates and post-mortem dissecting originate
Exhibit A
Last year Poles stayed at #9 and drafted Rome. That was a valid move It was valid because many graded Rome as a top 3 WR, and sure-fire top-10, even 5, talent [more so than WR Tet McMillan who went #8 overall]. Everyone knew Keenan Allen was just a band-aid, hence WR still a need
Nevertheless, some favored other prospects like Fashanu, Murphy, Dallas Turner… Some preferred to trade down and draft [fill in the blank] Others, like me, wanted the DOUBLE trade-down then nab Graham Barton, C, Duke
Guess what?
All were valid plans: staying put, trading down, trading down twice
[What was NOT valid IMO was trading UP for Rome, which Poles almost did since he’s no Howie Roseman]
2015 Butch would’ve been FURIOUS Poles didn’t trade down and draft Graham. Now? Maybe I’ve mellowed, or tuned,-out, but I’m more patient, “OK. I am not as high on Rome as Poles, but I’ll give Rome a shot”
This came from experience. I specifically remember the 2013 NFL Draft
In that draft, Emery drafted Kyle Long at #20. I borderline HATED that pick, and became a nigh insufferable prick about it!
I was SURE my plan to draft Eifert [who many comp Loveland to] or Sharrif Floyd, then scoop Warford later, was the correct plan
IMO Emery was just wrong, and naturally, I the Golden-God and bringer of football light, was right
Well, as it turned out, ALL THREE: Long, Floyd, and Eifert were derailed by INJs
While Warford no doubt was the better OG than Long, and stolen in the 3rd, he didn’t help the Lions win any SBs
In fact, how many SBs did the Bears, Vikings or Lions win after 2013?
ZERO
Maybe in the micro I was a bit more right. Eifert+Warford was likely more optimal than Long+Bostic, but in the macro, it barely registered because the Bears employed Emery as GM, Trestman as HC, and Cutler at QB
Floyd, Eifert, or nearly any prospect, was never going to miraculously make those 3 HOFers
Heck, KC drafted Kelce in the 3rd that year, and it still wasn’t enough ’til Mahomes
And oh yeah, lest we forget, nearly every Bear fan at that time was clamoring for the two ‘lock’ OGs: Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack. Both went Top 10
Both BUSTED. Worse than Long
And let us recall everyone wanting Solomon Thomas in the Trubisky draft
‘Valid’ pertaining to the NFL Draft is scarily relative. In science it may take 100s of years to disprove the sun revolves around earth, but in the NFL your ‘theory’ is proven ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ inside 3-4 years
And if you wrong – you gone However, it’s about being wrong at QB/HC
Truth is, much like in 2013, this 2025 draft is practically superfluous because the REAL determiner of Bears’ success is already in place: Caleb, BJ, and Poles [in that order]
After 44 years of fandom, I attended my first in-person Bears game In 2018, purchasing tickets for the Rams-Bears tilt I knew would be both meaningful and cold, after learning of the Khalil Mack trade, a sure sign that these Bears with their visored offensive egghead would climb to the mountaintop once again, while shedding the preposterousness of the recent Trestman and Fox regimes. I had gambled correctly, and the four tickets I got for my son and his Rams-loving friend (and me and his step-mother) climbed steeply on Stubhub as the season moved from autumn to winter and the Rams and Bears appeared on a collision course for Conference supremacy. The week running up to the game, it was flexed to Sunday night, and the forecast called for a brutally cold Chicago December night, prompting whispers from my wife that the $75 dollar tickets could be offloaded for triple their face, and we discussed the possibility of watching from the comfort of our family room in Skokie, warm beneath the throws with cheap(er) drinks in our hands and chili on the stove. The experience was too strong to wave away with comfort. My son commented that this could really be a new Bears team and this game could be a dynasty harbinger; it cemented our resolve to brave the elements and watch the Beloved live and in person beneath the sharp, crisp lights of a winter’s night.
On game day we snowmobile bundled in thickly lined boots and snow pants, layering undershirts and wool sweaters beneath mountain parkas stuffed with “hot hands”, wearing hats that clung to the ears. Driving to the millennium lot beneath Grant Park, we were stuffed in like a bag of cotton balls, shoulders pushing out, cushioned against the doors. Spilling out of the car, we took the long walk through Grant Park sidling along the unshirted yahoos, hatted and gloved and drunk, and as we approached the stadium beneath the tunnel at Roosevelt, the brightly lit Soldier Field rose into the starred sky. I was not regretting the trek nor the cold. The energy for this Bears team felt like 2006 again. I thought back on taking my 4 year old son to the Candlelite on the North side to watch them dispose of the Payton Saints, a clash of offensive creativity and defensive stability, while he ate pizza and became a Bears fan at the same age I became one, wearing the Hester t-shirt jersey I had bought him for the occasion.
I have a few regrets in the 12 years between that game and this, and the situation had shifted from mom to step-mom, but the bond between us felt strong that night. We sat in the South end zone with a view of the action that allowed us to see plays develop across the field, watching Mack stalk Goff with a predator’s rage and hunger, seeing our cagey veteran DC dismantle the boy genius McVay. A deep playoff run was certain; the curtain had risen for this cast of young offensive and defensive stars and a coach who pumped the blood of the new NFL, what Mad Hatter Trestman was supposed to be, and a foil to the checked-out and somnambulistic Fox. The wail of the third down siren and the panicked Goff papered over Trubisky’s 3 interception night; these Bears were real, we thought, and the marching faithful returning to their vehicles chanted “Green Bay Sucks” with the fervor of an armed mob looking to draw, quarter and put to rest any thought that Aaron Rodgers would continue to reign over the NFC North. They ran out that season with defining wins over the Pack, the Niners, and the Vikings, a three game parade over our most hated rivals until coming to a halt in a most Bears way with the belt of history pulling strongly around our coach’s neck, visor unable to hide his incredulous gape, as Staley toppled sideways to the Soldier Field turf.
The next couple of years saw missteps and finger pointing, with Nagy unable to rekindle the pilot light of his vision, and my son, getting older, piled more resentment and anger onto his stepmom and myself, eventually coming back from his first year of college during the autumn of COVID, and deciding to live exclusively with his mother. The strings of that relationship snapped over the next year as did the Bears and Nagy, and more incompetence emerged through 2 ½ years of Eberflus. Eventually the communication between my son and I ceased. I have not spoken with him for 3 and a half years.
With the optimistic hire of a new messiah, and the passing of another Easter without reconciliation and redemption, my hope for the seeds of another draft to sprout and flourish moves lockstep with that same hope for my son and me. Maybe this year we will build something with a rock mantle foundation, with the base to support the winds and storms of passion. All I wish for is a hot bowl of chili, a cold Old Fashioned, and the warmth of an afternoon game next to him and beside my wife, as the Bears march forcefully down the field.
4rth Rd. 7th pick overall [#109] via ‘25 Bills’ trade back 5th Rd. 10th overall [#148] via ‘24 Bills trade for Booker? 6th Rd. None 7th Rd. 17th overall [#233]
Honestly, these players rarely provide anything. Who was the last Bears’ 4rth rounder who panned out, Eddie Jackson? Though these RDs aren’t completely useless. Braxton was a 5th rounder, and I’m sure some old fogie will remind us that Dent was an 8th rounder
Since this was a deep HB class, and Bears have yet to draft a HB, the 4rth may be a great RD for value. My pick? Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech Though case can be made for other options like Dylan Sampson, Skattebo, et al
Below is USA TODAY’s best available list. Only real hardcore draft dorks will recognize most of these names, so if you do, congrats…and get a life!
—Best Available [RDs 4-7]—
47. Bradyn Swinson, DE, LSU
He hasn’t enjoyed the widespread recognition of some other edge rushers in this draft class, but he deserves a higher profile. The 6-4, 250-pounder is extremely explosive, with the speed-to-power move to jolt offensive linemen when he’s not simply dipping past them.
