The Chicago Bears are in an awkward spot. While they do hold the 10th overall pick in the draft, many feel the 2025 class is on the weaker side compared to previous years. Experts believe there isn’t a huge difference in talent between somebody at #10 and somebody at #50. That is why rumors persist the team may look to trade down. The only way that doesn’t happen is if somebody notable happens to slip down the board to their spot who was expected to go higher. Most think that includes names like Ashton Jeanty, Tyler Warren, and Armand Membou.
However, former general manager Mike Tannenbaum thinks people might be looking at the wrong name. He conducted his first mock draft for ESPN this week. It had some interesting wrinkles, including Cleveland opting for Travis Hunter over Abdul Carter. New England took Membou at #4, leading to the Jaguars getting Carter at #5. That sequence of events led to something almost nobody expects to happen.
Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham slips to the Bears at #10.
10. Chicago Bears
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Penn State’s Tyler Warren could be a great addition to the tight end room, and Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons would only continue the significant offensive line rework of the Bears’ offseason. But Graham is still on the board, and the Bears would love to have a dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle — even after signing Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. Graham has excellent physical traits and plays with great technique. His wrestling background is very apparent when you watch him play; he has great balance and leverage, which helped him produce 3.5 sacks and 26 pressures last year in Ann Arbor.
Don’t dismiss this Chicago Bears idea just yet.
Tannenbaum may not have been a huge success as a GM, but the man understands how the draft works. Last year, he correctly predicted five of the first ten picks, including Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu, to the Jets at #10, which few expected. He also had Bo Nix to Denver, Brian Thomas to Jacksonville, and Amarius Mims to Cincinnati. He also pinpointed where a lot of notable players would end up going, such as Xavier Worth, Jordan Morgan, and Tyler Guyton, all going late in the 1st round. The point is Tannenbaum still has a good feel for where players will end up.
His saying Graham could be there for the Chicago Bears is hard to ignore. It would be a tremendous stroke of luck, without a doubt. While some have concerns about his average size, his ability to wreck games with his interior pass rush was a core reason Michigan won a national title in 2023. While the Bears may have signed Grady Jarrett and have Gervon Dexter, Graham would be a tremendous addition to their defensive line, giving it more depth and disruptability than they’ve had in years.
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