Top 10+ players to watch at Bears 2025 minicamp

The next section of the 2025 offseason is here for the Chicago Bears: mandatory minicamp. After holding two weeks of organized team activities (OTAs) in May, the Bears are back at Halas Hall this week for a stretch of practices that should include the entire team in attendance. It's another step for a team that is looking to establish a new identity under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.

Johnson's arrival was just the beginning of an eventful offseason for the Bears, which included making big moves to shore up their offensive and defensive lines with savvy trades and splashy signings. The Bears also added weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams in the draft by selecting tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III in the first and second rounds, respectively.

With a new coaching staff leading the way and major holes getting filled, expectations are high for this group as they look to bounce back from a dreadful 5-12 campaign a year earlier. And even though the pads won't be on at minicamp, there are quite a few players to keep an eye on over the next few days. Here are 10 players we'll be monitoring during Bears minicamp:

1. QB Caleb Williams

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - JUNE 04: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall on June 04, 2024 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

It all starts with the quarterback. All eyes will be on Williams as he continues to grasp Johnson's offense, and the hope is he can build off an up-and-down experience during OTAs over the last couple of weeks. Williams is still getting acclimated to the vernacular and tempo of Johnson's offense, something that is expected at this time of year when a young quarterback has to learn a new system. Hopefully we see Williams effectively manage the huddle and make accurate throws this week.

2. WR Rome Odunze

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - MAY 11: Rome Odunze #15 of the Chicago Bears looks on during Chicago Bears Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall on May 11, 2024 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Bears' coaching staff is extremely high on wide receiver Rome Odunze as he enters his second season, and the chemistry he and Williams build is paramount to the team's success. Odunze, the ninth overall selection from the 2024 NFL Draft, should be featured heavily in Johnson's offense this upcoming season. Minicamp is a great time for pass catchers to stand out, and we're betting Odunze makes his way onto a few highlight videos when the week is done.

3. RB Roschon Johnson

Running back Roschon Johnson is entering Year 3 of his NFL career, and he still feels like a mystery man when it comes to his role on the Bears. Is he a quality RB2 who can steal carries from D'Andre Swift, or is he simply a short-yardage specialist who will vulture some touchdowns? Perhaps minicamp will start to provide some answers. We know the running backs are coached hard by Eric Bieniemy, and Johnson is competing with Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai. Let's see if he earns his position coach's respect with quality reps.

4. WR Luther Burden III

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III warms up during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

After a strong showing at rookie minicamp, Burden was out of OTAs the last two weeks with a soft tissue injury. While his status for minicamp is uncertain, we'll know soon whether he's healthy enough to practice or not. It's never too early to establish a rapport between a quarterback and a receiver, and seeing Burden get going with Williams would be exciting.

5. C Drew Dalman

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

Dec 24, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman (67) stands on the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Evaluating offensive line play during minicamp isn't a fruitful exercise. They're not hitting defenders at this point, so you won't be able to glean much from the limited reps. But for the center position, they need to get on the same page with the quarterback sooner rather than later, which makes Drew Dalman an interesting player to follow. Dalman signed a three-year deal with the Bears earlier in the offseason to fortify a center position that was considered a turnstile when it came to both cycling through players and the number of sacks allowed. Dalman and Williams establishing a smooth operation for ball exchanges may not seem like a big deal right now, but you want to see that come together early.

6. OT Ozzy Trapilo

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

May 10, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson talks with offensive lineman (75) Ozzy Trapilo during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

The Bears have competition at the left tackle spot, and rookie Ozzy Trapilo has risen to the occasion up to this point. Trapilo, a second-round pick, is taking advantage of veteran Braxton Jones being out while rehabbing a lower leg injury, and the rookie could find himself in the driver's seat to start as the season gets closer. As of now, he and second-year tackle Kiran Amegadjie are splitting reps with the starters at left tackle, but we might see Trapilo start to cement himself as a viable option if he sees more reps than anyone else.

7. DT Grady Jarrett

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

Sep 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Grady Jarrett (97) celebrates after a sack against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

We won't see Grady Jarrett blowing up his former teammate Drew Dalman during these practices. We may, however, hear a lot of chirping coming from him as he establishes himself along the Bears' defensive line. Jarrett is a leader on the field, something the Bears have been missing from that unit over the last few years. We'll see if he starts to get after some guys and match Johnson's intensity—even without pads on.

8. CB Kyler Gordon

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

Nov 9, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Kyler Gordon (6) celebrates a defensive play against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears are counting on Kyler Gordon to be a key piece of their new defense under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, and the first step in that process is getting him back on the field. Gordon, as well as linebacker TJ Edwards, did not take part in OTAs last week due to soft tissue injuries. Johnson did not seem concerned about either player missing time, so hopefully Gordon is ready to go this week and can start solidifying his role in Allen's defense.

9. CB Zah Frazier

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive backs Devin Kirkwood (38) and Zah Frazier (20) warm up during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Cornerback is a deep position for the Bears, and they have a rookie who may have a chance to compete for a starting spot in the secondary. Zah Frazier, the Bears' fifth-round pick, has excellent ball skills to go with a lengthy frame. He's an ideal fit in Allen's defense and could push third-year cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith for playing time. We'll see if he can stand out with a big breakup or turnover when targeted during passing drills.

10. S Jaquan Brisker

1. QB Caleb Williams, 2. WR Rome Odunze, 3. RB Roschon Johnson, 4. WR Luther Burden III, 5. C Drew Dalman, 6. OT Ozzy Trapilo, 7. DT Grady Jarrett, 8. CB Kyler Gordon, 9. CB Zah Frazier, 10. S Jaquan Brisker

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 27: Jaquan Brisker #9 of the Chicago Bears reacts after a sack during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 27, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

It's good to see Jaquan Brisker back to his old self. The fourth-year safety has been back in action for the Bears after missing the final 12 games of the 2024 season with a concussion. Brisker had been itching to get back, and he made his presence known during OTAs with a turnover off Williams. His energy is noticeable, and his teammates sure seem happy to have him back. Let's see if he can continue the momentum with a strong minicamp as he acclimates to Allen's defense.

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