The 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, with Illinois making a strong showing over the weekend.
The Chicago Bears made quarterback Justin Fields their top priority in building the team and are expected to make a strong impact in the NFC North this upcoming season.
At the same time, multiple players from the University of Illinois and Northwestern University were selected by NFL teams, with the fifth and 11th overall picks going to each school, respectively.
The Fighting Illini and Wildcats will both need to address multiple gaps in their rosters. On the other hand, many NFL teams are likely pleased with the new talent they have acquired for their squads.
Bears had a very strong draft
The Chicago Bears added 10 new players to their roster through the draft, marking the second draft for general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus working together.
Day 1 (Round 1)
- Darnell Wright, an offensive lineman from Tennessee, was selected in the first round with the 10th overall pick.
Day 2 (Rounds 2 & 3)
- In the second round, with the 53rd overall pick, the Florida DL Gervon Dexter Sr. was selected.
- In the second round of the NFL draft, Miami selected Tyrique Stevenson from the University of Miami as the 56th overall pick.
- In the third round, with the 64th overall pick, the South Carolina defensive lineman Zacch Pickens was selected.
Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)
- In the fourth round of the NFL Draft, Texas running back Roschon Johnson was selected with the 115th overall pick.
- In the 4th round, Cincinnati selected Tyler Scott, a wide receiver, with the 133rd overall pick.
- In the fifth round of the NFL draft, Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell was selected with the 148th overall pick.
- Terell Smith, a defensive back from Minnesota, was selected in the 5th round with the 165th overall pick.
- In the 7th round, with the 218th overall pick, Kennesaw State DL Travis Bell was selected.
- Kendall Williamson, a defensive back from Stanford, was selected in the 7th round with the 258th overall pick.
It’s difficult to assess this rookie group since they haven’t had any practice time yet. However, it seems like the Bears are adding some promising players to help Justin Fields and the team.
Chicago addressed their need at right tackle by selecting Darnell Wright with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. On Day 3, they also added running back Roschon Johnson and wide receiver Tyler Scott, both of whom have the potential to make big plays and eventually become starters for the team.
In addition to bolstering their defense by choosing players for both the defensive line and defensive backfield, they were unable to acquire an edge rusher, leaving a noticeable gap that still needs to be addressed. Nonetheless, the trade of Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets has opened up the NFC North division, making it anyone’s game.
Seahawks draft Illini CB Devon Witherspoon with the No. 5 overall pick
Illinois made its presence known in the NFL Draft right away when the Seattle Seahawks chose University of Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the fifth overall pick. Considered by many experts to be the top cornerback in his draft class, Witherspoon is expected to mesh well with head coach Pete Carroll.
In 2022, the 5′ 11 defensive back emerged as a standout player on the nation’s top-scoring defense. Witherspoon’s impressive performance earned him first-team Associated Press All-American honors and the title of Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Throughout 12 starts, he tallied 17 pass breakups, three interceptions, and 41 tackles.
Since 1996, Witherspoon is the highest draft pick from the University of Illinois, with only five players from the school being drafted higher than him.
In 1996, two teammates from the Fighting Illini were selected consecutively at picks No. 2 and No. 3 in the NFL Draft. Kevin Hardy, a linebacker, was chosen as the second overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Simeon Rice, a pass rusher, was selected as the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals. This marked the second time in history that two players from the same college team were taken with the second and third overall picks. The other instances were Joe Rutgens in 1961 by the Washington Redskins and Dick Butkus in 1965 by the Chicago Bears.
The only Fighting Illini player to ever be chosen as the No. 1 overall pick was Jeff George in 1990, selected by the Indianapolis Colts. While George’s career may not have been outstanding, he did play in the NFL for 14 seasons. He was picked before Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Shannon Sharpe. It is hoped that Witherspoon can achieve the same level of success as Butkus.
Four Illini taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, six sign as undrafted free agents
In addition to Witherspoon, three other former Fighting Illini players were drafted. Jartavius Martin was selected by the Washington Commandeers in the second round, Sydney Brown was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round, and Chase Brown, Sydney’s twin brother, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round.
Chase and Sydney Brown made history as the ninth pair of twins chosen in the same NFL Draft, with the distinction of being only the third set selected within the first five rounds.
Illinois made history by having three defensive backs selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. Additionally, two players from the school were picked within the top 50 for the first time since 2012. The team’s four picks in the first five rounds tied a program record set in 2003 and 2012.
Bret Bielema, head coach of the Fighting Illini, has produced 51 NFL Draft picks throughout his coaching career, ranking him in the top 10 among active head coaches in the nation. Witherspoon, Bielema’s seventh first-round pick, is the second-highest selection of his coaching tenure.
Additionally, a number of former Illini players are working to continue their quest for a career in the NFL. Six have secured undrafted free agent contracts, and two have been invited to participate in an NFL mini camp.
Post-Draft Signings – Illinois
- Calvin Avery, defensive tackle from Minnesota, signed as an undrafted free agent.
- Undrafted LB Isaac Darkangelo from Detroit
- Tommy DeVito, quarterback for the New York Giants, signed as an undrafted free agent.
- Alex Palczewski, an undrafted free agent from Denver
- Undrafted free agent OL Alex Pihlstrom from New Orleans
- Undrafted free agent Kendall Smith from Washington signed with the team.
- Luke Ford, a tight end, has received an invitation to the New York Jets mini camp.
- Jamal Woods, a defensive tackle, has been invited to the mini camp by the Indianapolis team.
Four Northwestern players taken, including Skoronski 11th overall
In a historic moment, four Northwestern players were drafted for the first time since 1985. Among them was 6’4″, 313-pound junior left tackle Peter Skoronski, who was selected 11th overall by the Tennessee Titans.
The All-American is the most highly selected player from Northwestern University since 1983, when offensive tackle Chris Hinton was drafted fourth overall by the Denver Broncos.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II was the most recent Wildcat to be selected in the first round when he was chosen 26th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The rest of the Northwestern players selected this year were:
- DL Adetomiwa Adebawore was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round with the 10th overall pick.
- Cameron Mitchell was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round with the 142nd overall pick.
- Running back Evan Hull was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round with the 176th overall pick.
12 Illinois prospects have their dreams come true
Twelve players drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft once played high school football in Illinois, fulfilling their dreams and making their local prospects proud.
- Lukas Van Ness, Barrington
- Cameron Mitchell, Bolingbrook
- Zaire Barnes, Carmel (Mundelein)
- Charlie Jones, Deerfield
- Antonio Johnson hails from East St. Louis.
- Sam LaPorta, Highland
- John Michael Schmitz from Homewood-Flossmoor, also known as Flossmoor.
- Peter Skoronski from Maine South in Park Ridge.
- Raymond Vohasek, McHenry
- Jayden Reed from Naperville Central in Naperville.
- Nick Broeker from Sacred Heart-Griffin in Springfield.
- Aidan O’Connell, Stevenson (Lincolnshire)
