Bears rank Top 5 in NFL in under 25 talent

The Chicago Bears’ roster is loaded with premium young talent. That’s the result of general manager Ryan Poles possessing two top 10 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Poles was able to reset the future outlook by drafting quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze with those picks.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently ranked the under-25 talent on every NFL roster. Unsurprisingly, the Bears checked out incredibly well, clocking in at No. 5 on the list. In order, only the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, and Atlanta Falcons fared better than the Bears did.

I wrote a very long piece for ESPN+ ($) ranking all 32 NFL teams by talent under 25.

1 #Texans
2 #OnePride
3 #RavensFlock
4 #Falcons
5 #DaBears

32 #Dolphins

Where did your favorite team land?https://t.co/TXbJHc4z9E

— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) July 3, 2024

Williams, Odunze, and Darnell Wright were highlighted as the Bears’ blue-chip players under 25 years old. Braxton Jones and Jaquan Brisker were named “recently graduated players,” given that they’ve both recently turned 25, just missing out on eligibility for this list.

“Obviously, the Bears will finish high in a countdown of under-25 talent because they had this year’s No. 1 overall draft selection (Williams) and the No. 9 overall pick (Odunze),” Schatz wrote. “They also get a lot of value from last year’s first-round pick, 23-year-old Wright, who had an 89.5% pass block win rate in 2023.”

“Below the blue chips are several 24-year-old standouts who will graduate from this list in a year. We start with a couple of important cornerbacks. Tyrique Stevenson improved dramatically in the second half of his rookie year, registering with four interceptions and 86 tackles. Nickelback Kyler Gordon had seven starts and good charting metrics in 2023. We should see more from defensive tackle Zacch Pickens this year, and linebacker Jack Sanborn and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent are also 24.”

Stevenson arguably should have joined Williams, Odunze, and Wright on the blue-chip list after the outstanding rookie campaign he experienced. Gordon is a key nickel corner in Matt Eberflus’ defense. Pickens and Sanborn rightfully earned shout outs from Schatz as well.