It is very early, but the 2025 Chicago Bears will likely be defined by two moves this offseason: Drafting tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the draft and signing free-agent defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million deal.

Drafting Loveland has the fingerprint of new head coach Ben Johnson all over it. Loveland has drawn comparisons to Sam LaPorta, a tight end he coached over the last two seasons, following the Detroit Lions' first-round draft pick of him out of Iowa in 2023.

At 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, he brings a rare blend of size, athleticism, and route-running polish that has drawn comparisons to elite tight ends. In addition, Johnson often employs a 12-personnel formation—one running back and two tight ends, which means Loveland and Cole Kmet will be featured together a lot this upcoming season.

Can Colston Loveland justify his high selection?

Still, as the left tackle position remains problematic entering this season, some may see Loveland as a luxury pick.

It did not help that this year's draft did not break towards the Bears either. LSU's Will Campbell was taken third overall by the New England Patriots despite the small arms concern. Armand Membou from Missouri went seventh overall to the New York Jets, and Kelvin Banks Jr. from the University of Texas was taken one spot before the Bears by the New Orleans Saints.

The Bears selected Ozzy Trapilo in the second round from Boston College, who looked strong out of the gate, while Braxton Jones missed all of OTAs as he was recovering from a serious knee injury. However, general manager Ryan Poles admitted he hit the "proverbial rookie wall", and he was given snaps at right tackle where he looked better toward the end of the training. That opened the door for second-year offensive lineman Theo Benedet, a former undrafted free agent from Canada, who has emerged as a surprise contender.

Although he has yet to make it official, Johnson might have no choice but to name Jones the starter due to his starting experience, even though his performance in the preseason was not impressive. Jones is a serviceable player, but not someone who will ever be an All-Pro left tackle. Johnson will have to make it work with what he has this season.

Odeyingbo’s signing has not solve the pass rush yet

Meanwhile, Odeyingbo is a big defensive end that the defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers in his scheme. While the former Colt brings size, versatility, and flashes of disruptive play, his production—just three sacks in 2024—hasn’t inspired confidence that he can be a consistent edge threat.

Early reports from minicamp have only added to the concern. Odeyingbo reportedly struggled to stand out, while fourth-year defensive end Dominique Robinson took first-team reps. For a player signed to a significant contract, Odeyingbo’s slow start is troubling.

Even with the addition of Odeyingbo and veteran Grady Jarrett, the Bears’ pass rush remains thin. Behind Sweat and Odeyingbo, there’s little proven depth, especially with Austin Booker going on IR after suffering an injury in a preseason game against Buffalo. Booker was having a strong training camp, and his injury put the cold water on any hope of an improved pass-rush early on.

Loveland and Odeyingbo will be under intense scrutiny in 2025

Both Loveland and Odeyingbo will be under intense scrutiny all season. Their success—or lack thereof—will be judged not only by their individual performances, but also by the performance of both the offensive and defensive line. The Bears fans will openly criticize general manager Ryan Poles for the missed opportunities associated with their acquisitions if Jones, or whoever starts at left tackle, falters or the pass rush remains toothless.

AFC Notes: J.K. Dobbins, Bo Nix, Broncos, Chargers

Broncos

Bo Nix is entering the second year of his career after his breakout rookie campaign in 2024. Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning is confident Nix is “made of the right stuff” to continue being a highly successful quarterback.

“Bo is made of the right stuff. He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way. And all of it should help as he moves forward in his career,” Manning said, via Troy Renck of the Denver Post. “I am just happy that Bo is the established starter. For a number of years, they had quarterback competitions. That’s hard on the receivers, the coaches, the play-caller, and the quarterback. Now, they’ve got their guy.”

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Manning thinks Nix showed talent beyond his years as a rookie. 

“I just don’t see that as being a big factor for him. Rookie quarterbacks are supposed to struggle, and then the game slows down. But, it sure looked like it slowed down a lot for him last year,” Manning said. “Like with C.J. Stroud, Bo didn’t play like a rookie. … I believe experience is the best teacher, and he got great experience last year.”

Manning added that playing under Sean Payton for a second season should be beneficial for Nix. 

“The continuity, more than anything else. There are times when guys go into their second year, and they are going on their third coordinator,” Manning said. “He has an experienced head coach in Sean, who is his play-caller. Having that same voice and verbiage is so critical. We expect Sean to be here for a long time, so Bo will use that to his advantage.”

Broncos

Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins had a resurgence in his career after missing 2022 with a knee injury and 2023 with a torn Achilles. His surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, said he grew a close relationship with Dobbins and praised him for his perseverance. 

“I can’t say enough about him,” ElAttrache said, via Luca Evans of The Denver Post. “I mean, he’s the kind of guy that I would like to have as a friend forever. He’s that kind of person.”

ElAttrache pointed out that damaged ligaments can never return to their previous health, but Dobbins has worked hard on his rehab. 

“You never want to expect they’re going to be 22 years old again,” ElAttrache said. “You can’t turn back the clock and go before, when he was that number one (running back) for the Ravens. But, having said that, his performance was still right there.”

Chargers

Chargers DC Jesse Minter still holds on to rejection letters from graduate assistant jobs that he applied to across the country, accumulating 98 in total. Minter said the rejections are a reminder to be grateful for where he is now. 

“Because that’s just how I operate,” Minter said, via Daniel Popper of The Athletic. “It’s just that reminder of the joy that it is, the blessing that it is, the opportunity that you have, not to take it for granted and not to ever feel like you’ve arrived.”

Minter said he’s always tried to operate without an ego and build a culture of letting people know their value. 

“A lot of coaches have crazy egos, and I think there’s a difference in being confident in yourself and sure of yourself, and then having an ego,” Minter said. “I’ve always tried really, really hard to not have an ego, to really try to build a situation where everybody feels like they have value, where everybody feels like they’re part of the success.”

• Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Chargers RB Najee Harris participated in three-straight practices last week and was cleared for contact on Friday.

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