As a team that finished 5-12 in the 2024 season and fired their head coach mid-season, the Chicago Bears are on pace to win their third straight offseason championship, barring what happens in the 2025 NFL Draft. Following the bulk of free agency signings completed up to this point, it’s time to focus more on the NFL Draft and what the Bears could do in all seven rounds. To do so, PFF offers a mock draft simulator that allows fans to complete simulated versions of the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, before looking at how the PFF Mock Draft Simulator worked for the Bears, it’s important to see what moves they’ve made in the offseason.
Bears offseason checkpoint
The Bears went on a free agency frenzy
With Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker facing obstacles in the 2025 season, having a replacement ready would be smart for the Bears. Byard is approaching 32 years old, while Brisker is coming off a season where he got placed on season-ending IR due to a concussion he suffered in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers. After missing 12 games in 2024, he could come back either rusty or not fully recovered, which could paint a negative future for him and the Bears’ secondary.
So, if there’s a chance to address the safety position with a strong prospect, it would be a smart move.
And, as a final addition, the Bears could always use depth in the trenches, both on offense and defense. A team can never have enough competent offensive and/or defensive line talent, as the Philadelphia Eagles proved in Super Bowl LIX.
Without further ado, here’s who the PFF Mock Draft Simulator picked for the Bears through a full seven-round simulation of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The PFF Mock Draft Simulator is a tool for fans to put themselves in the seat of a general manager for an NFL franchise during the NFL Draft. This tool compiles data from PFF’s NFL Draft big board and user-submitted mock drafts to show fans where prospects could land in the actual draft. A computer simulation made these picks.
Round 1, Pick No. 10
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
With the Bears’ first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator selected Tyler Warren out of Penn State. Ranking seventh in Heisman voting following the 2024 season, Warren has a lot to like about him as a prospect.
As a five-year player for Penn State, Warren didn’t break out until the 2024 season. In the four seasons before 2024, Warren had never eclipsed 500 yards receiving.
Tyler Warren stats by season
2020: 2 games *no stats recorded
2021: 13 games, 5 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD
2022: 12 games, 10 receptions, 123 yards, 3 TDs
2023: 13 games, 34 receptions, 422 yards, 7 TDs
2024: 16 games, 104 receptions, 1,233 yards, 8 TDs
Now, it’s fair to give him a pass on the first two to three seasons. He clearly wasn’t a major part of the Nittany Lions’ offensive game plan those years. Even in 2023, he didn’t get utilized nearly as much as in 2024.
Warren quite literally had more receptions and the same yardage through eight weeks of the 2024 season than he did from 2020 to 2023. In the first eight games of 2024, Warren had 51 receptions for 606 yards. From 2020 to 2023, Warren totaled 49 receptions for 606 yards.
So, while he is undoubtedly a talented tight end prospect, it seems a bit reactionary to consider him a top 10 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft after one breakout season in college, where he was force-fed the ball most weeks.
Now, there’s an argument to be made about how Warren could look in Ben Johnson’s offense. As an offensive coordinator who utilized a lot of 12 personnel — an offensive formation with one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers — in 2024. In fact, Johnson had the Detroit Lions run 12 personnel third-most in his last season as their offensive coordinator, running it on 32.2% of offensive plays, per SumerSports.
If Johnson has a plan for Cole Kmet and Warren to thrive in, most Bears fans should be excited about him at pick No. 10.
However, there could be more value in the Bears trading down if Asthon Jeanty, Mason Graham, Will Campbell, and any other of their top first-round targets are off the board. And with Chicago not selecting until the 10th pick, there’s a possibility that most of their favorites are unavailable, forcing them to consider trading down.
But, if a trade partner doesn’t exist, drafting Tyler Warren in the first round could be a reality for the Bears.
Round 2, Pick No. 39
Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
In the Bears’ first of two second-round picks, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon from Oregon: a likely NFL star in the making. With Garrett dueling Father Time, it’s not a bad idea for the Bears to get his replacement ready.
Not only that, but Harmon is someone who could immediately come into the NFL and produce as a pass rusher.
One major problem with the simulator selecting him at pick No. 39 is that there’s a very slim chance of that happening in the real-life 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2024, Harmon led all FBS defensive tackles in pressures, ranking second in pressure rate (17.6%).
So, especially within the Bears’ defense — a unit desperate for pass rush — Harmon would be an absolute dream at pick No. 39.
However, considering that other teams are now going to try to copy the Eagles and load up on defensive line assets, the Bears could miss out on a prospect like Harmon, especially after he was compared to Chris Jones.
Following his incomplete performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, he could fall in the actual 2025 NFL Draft.
But, there shouldn’t be a strong expectation that Harmon is available for the Bears at pick No. 39. Even if he falls a little bit, that should still keep him in as a fringe first-round player. In Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft 3.0, he has the Baltimore Ravens selecting Harmon at pick No. 27. Considering Jeremiah had Harmon not included in his mock draft 2.0 and at pick No. 30 in his mock draft 1.0, it seems like late-first or very early second is his potential landing spot.
If he falls further than pick No. 38, the Bears should need an oxygen mask for how fast they sprint to the podium for Derrick Harmon.
Round 2, Pick No. 41
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
With their second second-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator had the Bears selecting EDGE Landon Jackson out of Arkansas.
When it comes to players who fit the bill for the type of player Dennis Allen likes on the EDGE, Jackson almost fits it perfectly.
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 264 pounds, Jackson’s build is otherworldly. And at the NFL Scouting Combine, he showed incredible athleticism, posting a 4.68 40-yard dash with a 20 and 10-yard split of 2.72 and 1.65 seconds, respectively. With a 40.5 vertical and a nearly 11-foot broad jump, Jackson tested incredibly well at the combine, proving a level of athleticism that surpasses most players at his position.
As a prospect who could even hear his name said at the end of the first round, Jackson’s film looks better than his production. Without watching him play, a glance at his stat sheet might turn teams off from adding him to their defense.
That’s not how NFL teams evaluate, though.
Jackson spent three seasons with Arkansas, however, he spent his first season with LSU, only appearing in five games and having no stats to show for it. Once he transferred to Arkansas, his production increased significantly from all zeros with LSU.
Landon Jackson Arkansas stats
2022: 13 games, 23 tackles (9 solo, 14 assisted), 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defended
2023: 12 games, 44 tackles (22 solo, 22 assisted), 14 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 1 pass defended
2024: 12 games, 49 tackles (27 solo, 22 assisted), 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 3 passed defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
So, it’s not to say that Jackson isn’t productive, but his stats don’t necessarily turn heads. But that’s not to say he can’t succeed at the NFL level. In fact, based on what he does well — good hands, strong motor, great athleticism — he could be a fantastic addition to the Bears’ defense under Dennis Allen.
Round 3, Pick No. 72
Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
In the third round, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator made one of the more surprising picks of the draft, selecting safety Andrew Mukuba out of Texas.