The 2025 NFL Draft is here, and Chicago Bears fans are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the team’s first round pick by the Monsters of the Midway on Thursday night.
Despite having the worst record in the NFL last season, there is now excitement surrounding the future of the Bears in Chicago. The city seems to have found a franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, reinvigorating the love for football among its residents.
The Bears made significant moves in free agency, leading analysts to speculate about their potential to make a playoff run next season. However, before that can become a reality, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus must make a home run selection with the ninth pick in the NFL Draft.
Tonight in Kansas City, Bears fans should be on the lookout for all the key elements of the game.
QB heavy draft is a positive for Chicago
The upcoming NFL Draft is anticipated to be dominated by quarterbacks, with the top picks likely to be flooded with talented passers. According to the IL sportsbook, the four players with the best odds to be selected first overall are all quarterbacks.
The Bears were able to leverage their first pick in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, receiving WR D.J. Moore and additional draft assets in return. Carolina, along with several other teams, were in need of a franchise quarterback, increasing the value of the Bears’ top pick.
As the NFL Draft begins at 7 p.m. CT tonight, Bears fans should hope to see quarterbacks taken early. With no need for a QB prospect, the more that are selected before the ninth pick, the better for Chicago. This will allow the Bears to have a greater pool of players to choose from in positions they are actually interested in drafting.
There may still be top quarterback prospects available when the Chicago Bears make their selection at the ninth overall pick, but they have the option to trade back and gain additional draft picks from a team in need of a quarterback. General manager Ryan Poles has already indicated his openness to making trades, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bears trade their first-round pick for the second time this offseason.
Who will the Bears draft ninth overall?
Now that we have discussed some key factors to consider, let’s dive into the specifics and analyze which players are most likely to be drafted by the Bears and put on their hat after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell.
DraftKings Sportsbook IL predicts that the Bears are more likely to choose an offensive lineman at -180 odds, while selecting a defensive lineman is less favored at +180 odds. This decision aligns with the Bears’ current rebuilding phase, as successful teams typically prioritize both sides of the line early in the rebuilding process.
If Georgia DT Jalen Carter somehow falls to the Bears during the draft, he is a guaranteed pick. Carter is considered one of the top players in the NFL Draft, regardless of position. However, potential off-field concerns may cause him to slip out of the top three picks, making it unlikely that he will be available for Chicago.
Instead, the Bears are more likely to choose an offensive tackle. According to FanDuel Sportsbook IL, these players have the highest chances of being drafted by the Bears:
- Darnell Wright is listed at +300 odds to play for Tennessee.
- Peter Skoronski is a Northwestern football player with odds of +380.
- Ohio State’s Paris Johnson is listed at +380 odds.
Last season, Chicago residents winced frequently as Fields was repeatedly crushed by opposing pass rushers. This unfortunate scenario occurred frequently, as the Bears gave up 58 sacks, ranking fourth in the NFL for most sacks allowed.
Poles and Eberflus should prioritize acquiring a player who can provide protection for Fields. While Chicago’s executives have heavily invested in the defense this offseason, it is now crucial to support the franchise QB.
University of Illinois player projected to go top 10
Pro Football Focus has named Fighting Illini cornerback Devon Witherspoon as the top defensive back in the NFL Draft. FanDuel has him listed as the favorite at +100 to be selected sixth overall by the Detroit Lions.
The most recent instance of an Illinois player being selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft was in 1996, when LB Kevin Hardy was chosen second and DE Simeon Rice was picked third. While the Fighting Illini won’t have two players selected in the first round this year, they do have several other prospects who are anticipated to be drafted.
One standout player is RB Chase Brown, who holds the second-highest rushing yards record in Illinois history. There is speculation among experts that the Bears may choose to keep him in Illinois by selecting him in the later rounds of the draft.
Can you bet on the NFL Draft at IL sportsbooks?
Thanks to the regulations set by the Illinois Gaming Board, Illinoisans have been able to access NFL Draft prop betting since mobile sportsbooks were legalized in 2020.
However, not all states permit betting on the NFL Draft. For instance, in New York, the state gaming commission does not consider the draft to be a sports wager as it does not involve an athletic event or competition.
If you’re thinking about betting on the 2025 NFL Draft, make sure not to assume that all states allow it. To place a wager, be sure to explore the markets offered by these seven licensed Illinois sportsbooks.
