The Chicago Bears have cleared the Senior Bowl, scouting combine, and now most of the pro days. Next on their agenda before the real action begins is bringing in key players for private visits. Every team is allotted 30 of them during the off-season. How they're utilized can vary from team to team. Some use them to meet with players they plan to grab early in the draft. Others use them to recruit potential undrafted free agents. Either way, it offers a window into who they might be looking at for next month.
Here is the current list of names the Bears have spoken to or will in the near future. It will be updated as more news comes out.
The Chicago Bears are building their list of visits quickly.
Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
The consensus #1 running back in the draft, and for good reason. When you threaten a record held by Barry Sanders, you must be halfway decent. Jeanty has the full bag of tools. He's built like a truck, has outstanding footwork, good vision, and enough speed to gash defenses if they're not careful. Ben Johnson loves running the football. Pairing him with D'Andre Swift in the backfield has to be enticing.
Josh Conerly (OT, Oregon)
Poles said he wants to bring in some competition for Braxton Jones, especially with the veteran looking at free agency next year. Conerly feels like an early 2nd round option. He isn't quite a finished product but he made big strides down the stretch for Oregon. He's a good athlete, strong where he needs to be and has that aggressive mentality the team looks for in its blockers.
Isaiah Bond (WR, Texas)
The Chicago Bears have their YAC merchant (D.J. Moore) and their imposing big body (Rome Odunze). The only thing missing now is a legitimate vertical threat. Bond has that kind of game-breaking speed. He averaged a whopping 15.9 yards per catch last year for the Longhorns. Though he's on the skinnier side, he is tougher than he looks. He's not afraid to get his nose dirty.
Breshard Smith (RB, SMU)
Until last season, Smith was a wide receiver in his college career. In his first-ever season as a running back, he explodes for over 1300 yards. The kid lacks instincts and vision, which is to be expected. Yet he managed to overcome that with speed, agility, and exploiting every single crease the defenses allowed. If you're looking for a possible Swift replacement, this is the name to watch.
Nick Martin (LB, Oklahoma State)
An undersized player who missed most of last season with an injury. His ability to find the football runs hot and cold, but he is a heat-seeking missile once he locks on. Excellent tackler and at his best when allowed to attack as a blitzer. There is no question he fits Dennis Allen's preferred style of defense, geared around harassing quarterbacks with exotic pressure packages.
Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
A tall and athletic pass catcher, Warren was a difference-maker for the Nittany Lions on their quest to reach the college football playoffs. He can create mismatches no matter where he lines up and has a strong pair of hands. While not overly explosive, he has enough speed to keep defenses honest. His blocking isn't his calling card, but he's proficient enough to be a factor.
Dylan Fairchild (OG, Georgia)
While the Bears may have secured their starting guards for this season, nothing is ever set in stone for the future. Depth is vital to team success. Fairchild is another in a long line of great athletes from Georgia. He's effective in space and at his best in pass protection. His all around game isn't ready yet, but there is no question he has the tools to be an eventual starter.
Jaylin Layne (WR, Virginia Tech)
Ben Johnson loves slot receivers and he loves speed. Layne checks both boxes. He has 4.34 speed and showcases it once the ball is in his hands. The primary concerns center around his inefficient route-running and thinner frame.
Addison West (OL Western Michigan)
His lacking size and average mobility will see him fall to Day 3 of the draft. Where West wins is his polished fundamentals, intelligence, and good anchor in pass protection. These are decent building blocks that can make him at least a credible NFL backup.
Anthony Belton (OT, N.C. State)
A hulking tackle with size, mass, length, and power. He's best known for his run-blocking prowess, displaying the desired nastiness that comes with it. He does have athletic limitations that aren't helped by his jittery feet. He'll need some technique adjustments.
Jonah Savaiinaea (OL, Arizona)
Big, thick blocker with experience at tackle but the frame of a guard. Once he locks onto a defender, they aren't going anywhere. His anchor isn't as consistent as you'd like and he struggles to identify more complex pressure schemes. He is a great athlete for his size, though. That means he can fit multiple different schemes.
John Williams (OT, Cincinnati)
Though a tackle in college, most project him inside to guard, given his body type. He has some technical issues and doesn't showcase lots of power. That said, he is a steady pass protector and a good athlete. If somebody can clean up his fundamentals, he should at least become a solid backup.
Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, Tennessee)
He is a pure three-technique. Norman-Lott doesn't have the size to play any other position. His game is built around gap penetration, creating havoc in the backfield as an interior pass rusher. Highly scheme-dependent. Thankfully, the Chicago Bears run one that fits him well, which would explain their interest.
Kyle Williams (WR, Washington State)
One thing the Bears offense is still searching for is vertical speed. They'd hoped to get that from Tyler Scott, but it hasn't materialized. Williams made that the strength of his game in college, and he added some good YAC ability on top of it. He'll need to polish his route running at the pro level, though.
Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
One of the true physical freaks of this draft. Stewart has size, power, length, and incredible range at 280 lbs. Based on pure traits, he is one of the best in this class. The problem is he only managed 4.5 sacks in three college seasons. This leaves some wondering if he may have reach his full potential.
Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
Ben Johnson loves receivers who can create after the catch. That is Harris. He has the speed to threaten defenses down the field and enough size and strength to force missed tackles. His route-running is nothing special and he has injury concerns, but the guy makes plays.
Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
Widely considered the second-best running back in the 2025 class. He's big, strong, aggressive, and versatile enough to be a full-time feature back in any offense. Draws comparisons to David Montgomery, which would explain the Chicago Bears' interest in him.
Kaleb Johnson (RB, Iowa)
One of those backs who is greater than the sum of his parts. Not great in any area, but good in most. Has the kind of relentless style and great vision that typically leads to a long and productive NFL career. His skillset should fit Ben Johnson's offensive system quite well.
Dontea Manning (DB, Oregon)
Man cornerbacks must be fast, fluid, and physical enough to stick with wide receivers. Manning showed enough of those traits in college to draw interest. He's undersized for his position and has a reputation for biting too often on fakes, leading to big plays down the field.
Kelly Akharaiyi (WR, Mississippi State)
A speed receiver with good size who looked like an ascending talent at UTEP in 2023, averaging over 21 yards per catch. His decision to transfer to Mississippi State seemed to stifle his momentum. He has a lot to learn about route running at the next level.
