The 2025 NFL Draft is set to take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and as anticipation builds, the league has officially released its list of invited attendees. As always, the list is packed with talent, showcasing the brightest stars from the college football world who are expected to hear their names called early. For a team like the Chicago Bears, who hold significant draft capital, this list likely includes the player who will become the newest face of the franchise.
After a tumultuous 2024 season that ended with flashes of promise but still fell short of postseason contention, the Bears enter the 2025 Draft in a rare position of power. Thanks to trades and some well-placed draft maneuvering, Chicago possesses not only their own pick but also the No. 1 overall selection courtesy of the Carolina Panthers, who finished with the league’s worst record. This gives general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus an unprecedented opportunity to shape the future of the franchise, potentially adding multiple cornerstone players in a single draft.
With that context in mind, all eyes turn to the list of draft attendees. Each year, the NFL invites a select group of prospects to attend the event in person, with the understanding that these players are likely to be taken in the first round, if not the top half of it. This year’s group is deep with blue-chip talent on both sides of the ball, but for the Bears, several names stand out as particularly intriguing options.
At the top of the conversation is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who many project to be the No. 1 overall pick. The Heisman Trophy winner is widely regarded as a generational talent with a rare blend of arm strength, improvisational ability, and charisma. His college tape is filled with jaw-dropping moments, and he’s drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes for his off-script brilliance. For a Bears team still searching for long-term stability at quarterback, Williams represents a potential franchise reset. Justin Fields showed growth last season but remains a polarizing figure in league circles, and if the Bears decide that an upgrade is needed, Williams is the obvious choice.
Yet Williams isn’t the only quarterback in this class who has Chicago’s attention. North Carolina’s Drake Maye, also among the invited attendees, offers a different flavor of elite quarterbacking. Maye is more of a traditional pocket passer, with prototypical size, a cannon for an arm, and a cerebral approach to the game. He reads defenses well and has shown poise under pressure. If for some reason the Bears opt not to go with Williams—either due to a trade or a surprise in evaluation—Maye could still be the answer under center.
Of course, it’s also possible that the Bears stick with Fields and use their top pick to fortify the roster elsewhere. In that scenario, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. immediately becomes the name to watch. The Ohio State standout is widely considered one of the best wide receiver prospects in a generation. At 6-foot-4 with elite speed, precise route-running, and a pedigree that includes being the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, the younger Harrison is seen as a can’t-miss prospect. For a team desperate to provide its quarterback with more weapons, Harrison could be the ideal pairing with DJ Moore, giving the Bears one of the most formidable receiver duos in the league.
Another option at wideout is Washington’s Rome Odunze, who is also expected to be a top-10 pick and is among the invitees. Odunze brings a combination of size, physicality, and contested-catch ability that could make him a dangerous red-zone threat from Day 1. He may not have Harrison’s polish, but some scouts believe his ceiling is just as high.
If the Bears decide to bolster the trenches, they won’t be lacking options among the attendees. Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu is considered by many to be the top lineman in the draft. He has the agility to protect the blind side and the raw power to be a dominant force in the run game. With last year’s first-round pick Darnell Wright anchoring the right side of the line, adding Fashanu would give Chicago one of the most promising young tackle duos in the league.
On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner is another name generating buzz. Turner has elite speed off the edge and a relentless motor that makes him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. In a league that increasingly values edge disruption, Turner could give the Bears a game-changing presence. Given the team’s storied history of dominant defensive play, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them invest a premium pick in someone who can revive that legacy.
Another defensive standout attending the draft is Jared Verse from Florida State. Verse is a physical specimen who transferred from Albany and became a star in the ACC. His blend of size, speed, and aggression makes him a versatile option who could play in multiple schemes. He’s the kind of player that Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington would love to plug into his system.
If Chicago opts to go the route of improving its secondary, then players like cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama) and Cooper DeJean (Iowa) offer intriguing possibilities. McKinstry is a lockdown corner with elite press coverage skills, while DeJean is a hybrid player who can play corner, safety, or nickel and has a knack for making big plays. The Bears have young talent in the secondary, but pairing one of these elite prospects with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon could elevate the group into elite territory.
There’s also considerable intrigue around Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who is projected to be a top-10 pick despite playing a position that rarely sees that kind of draft capital. Bowers is a matchup nightmare with the ability to stretch the field, block in the run game, and make tough catches in traffic. Though the Bears already have Cole Kmet, pairing him with Bowers would create a dynamic two-tight end set that could wreak havoc on opposing defenses.
What makes this draft especially unique is the sheer volume of high-end talent at premium positions. Whether it’s quarterback, edge rusher, wide receiver, or offensive tackle, the 2025 class offers a potential star at nearly every critical spot on the field. That puts the Bears in an enviable position to dictate the shape of the draft—not only with their top pick but also with the leverage it provides in possible trade scenarios.
Don’t discount the idea of the Bears trading down from No. 1. It’s something they did last year when they sent the top pick to Carolina in a deal that netted them multiple picks and wideout DJ Moore. If a team like the Washington Commanders or New England Patriots falls in love with a quarterback and is willing to offer a similar haul, the Bears could again move down and still land an elite player. Names like LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers or Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt—both of whom are also draft attendees—could be available a few spots lower but still provide tremendous value.
The presence of so many top prospects among the official invitees all but guarantees that the Bears’ selection(s) will come from this pool. History tells us that draft attendees are almost always taken in the first round, and usually within the top 20 picks. It’s a curated list based on extensive feedback from NFL teams and scouting services, so its predictive value is high.
For Chicago fans, that makes this year’s draft all the more exciting. The franchise hasn’t had this level of draft control since the early 2000s, and the pressure is on to get it right. With a new-look front office, a coaching staff on the hot seat, and a fan base starved for postseason success, the 2025 NFL Draft represents a fork in the road for the Bears. The right selections could launch them into contention, while missteps could set the rebuild back another two to three years.
The good news is that the options are strong, and the draft attendees list provides a clear glimpse into the kind of elite talent available. Whether it’s a quarterback like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, a skill player like Marvin Harrison Jr. or Brock Bowers, or a trench warrior like Olu Fashanu or Dallas Turner, the Bears are positioned to land a game-changer. And when the lights shine brightest in Green Bay, one of these attendees will almost certainly walk across the stage, don a Bears cap, and become the face of the next chapter in Chicago football.