The Chicago Bears had arguably the best 2025 rookie class, which played a key role in the team’s success last season under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
One of the biggest reasons for their success was their best-available mindset, which led them to tight end Colston Loveland (10th overall) and wide receiver Luther Burden III (39th overall). Both Loveland and Burden had impressive rookie seasons, and they’re poised for bigger roles in Year 2. Meanwhile, Chicago found a diamond in the rough in the seventh round with running back Kyle Monangai while finding a potential answer at left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo (before his ruptured patellar tendon put his future in question).
With the 2026 NFL Draft just around the corner, we’re taking a final look at last year’s draft class and what they were able to accomplish. Here’s a look at our 2025 rookie rankings, by impact, where there’s no real surprise with our top five.
1. TE Colston Loveland
Colston Loveland showed exactly why he was coveted by Ben Johnson at 10th overall with his receiver-like separation and pass catching ability. Loveland led the team in receptions (58) and receiving yards (713), and he really didn’t even get going until midway through the 2025 season. In the final 12 games of the season (including two postseason contests), he caught 59 passes for 790 yards and six touchdowns. Loveland led the Bears’ rookie class across the board. He played the most snaps (818), led the team in WAR (0.514), led the team in PFF grade (85.3) and also ranked first among all rookie tight ends (85.3). It’s clear that Loveland has the potential to be a superstar in the NFL.
2. WR Luther Burden III
The Bears didn’t go into the 2025 NFL Draft looking to select a wide receiver. But when Luther Burden III was there in the second round, they couldn’t pass up on his talent, and it’s already payed off for Chicago. While it took Burden some time to get going on offense as a rookie, amid an abundance of talent on offense, he showcased himself as a dangerous downfield weapon in just one year with Ben Johnson. Burden totaled 47 catches on 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns. Burden is the reason why the Bears were able to trade DJ Moore, land a second-round pick and free up $16.5 million in salary cap space. Chicago is expecting big things from Burden in Year 2.
3. RB Kyle Monangai
The Bears tried and failed to draft a running back earlier in the draft, but waiting until the seventh round ended up working out. Kyle Monangai proved to be one of the biggest steals of the draft after just one year. While the Bears tried to land some impact running backs earlier in the draft, Monangai turned out to be incredible value. As a seventh-round pick, he served as part of a dynamic duo at running back alongside D’Andre Swift. Monangai totaled 783 rushing yards on 169 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. He enters his sophomore season looking to build on his rookie success and keep this Chicago run game among the top of the league.
4. LT Ozzy Trapilo
There’s an argument that Ozzy Trapilo should bypass Kyle Monangai, but given Trapilo didn’t step into the left tackle role until midway through the season, he sits in the fourth spot. The Bears drafted Trapilo in the second round, and he got off to a bit of a slow start after losing out to Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet in the left tackle competition. But following injuries to Jones and Benedet, Trapilo got his opportunity in Week 12 and never looked back. He elevated the offensive line’s play and was one of the most underrated players on Chicago. Trapilo looked to be the potential long-term answer at left tackle, and that could still very well be true. But he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during a wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers that leaves his future in question.
5. WR Jahdae Walker
There wasn’t a whole lot of competition for the final spot considering two players missed most of the year and one didn’t make a significant impact while the other didn’t see the field much as depth. Wide receiver Jahdae Walker was a preseason standout for Chicago, which helped earn him a final roster spot. While Walker didn’t see the field much last season, he made the most of his opportunities when in the game. His biggest impact came in a Week 16 prime-time showing against the Green Bay Packers, where Walker caught the game-tying touchdown from Caleb Williams to force overtime, where the Bears eventually pulled away with a win. Following the departures of DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay, Walker finds himself as the WR4 behind Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and free-agent addition Kalif Raymond.
Missed the cut
Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, who was a controversial pick in the fourth round, didn’t make a significant impact during his rookie season. With newcomers at linebacker, he’ll have to earn his roster spot. Defensive tackle Shemar Turner played in just five games as a rookie before suffering a torn ACL in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. Guard Luke Newman didn’t see the field often, but when he did he looked like he has the potential to be a solid depth piece for Chicago. Meanwhile, cornerback Zah Frazier missed the entire summer due to personal reasons, and the Bears shut him down for his entire rookie season. Frazier is gearing up to return to the lineup this year, where he’ll finally have an opportunity to show what he can do in the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ranking Chicago Bears top rookies by impact in 2025
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
