Despite missing most of the 2025 season with a foot injury, Banks reignited excitement about his potential during Senior Bowl week. He provides the Bears with the push they want to create inside.

The temptation here is to pour resources into the defensive front. But with a deep class in that regard, it's easier to wait when a player like this at a position of need remains available. Proctor seems ready-made for the Bears, a three-year starter and an All-American last season. At 6-7, 366, he is massive, has impressive length and would be an immediate asset to the running game. His agility helps in pass protection. Just like that, the Bears add a player who can help both quarterback Caleb Williams and coach Ben Johnson be at their best.

The Bears need to address their defensive line, but there's also a chance they'll be without both of their starting 2025 safeties next year. With the way the board has fallen, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren may look like the better value. McNeil-Warren is good at a lot of the things Jaquan Brisker has done well for the Bears and seems like a natural replacement.

Best Pick: It was their first-round pick in tight end Colston Loveland. He is perfect for the Ben Johnson offense, and I liked him more than Tyler Warren. Think Sam LaPorta in this offense.

Worst Pick: Second-round pick Luther Burden wasn't really a need and I don't think he plays to his speed. There was also talk he wasn't a great practice player.

The Skinny: They had four picks in the top 62 and added two pass catchers, an offensive lineman (Ozzy Trapilo) and a defensive lineman in Shemar Turner. I didn't love the pick of Burden, but the rest of the class was solid -- even if it was a little high for Trapilo. But tackles do go fast. Fifth-round corner Zah Frazier is long and athletic.

Top needs entering the draft: Edge rusher, running back, defensive tackle and tight end

Credit Bears general manager Ryan Poles for addressing his team's biggest need -- before the draft. The trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson weren't too costly, though Poles gave $28 million guaranteed to free agent center Drew Dalman. Chicago is now clearly better along the offensive line -- quarterback Caleb Williams had to run for his life at times in 2024. He was sacked 68 times, which tied for the third most by any QB since sacks were first tracked in 1963, per ESPN Research.

Those moves meant the Bears had options at No. 10 overall and didn't need to force more offense. But Poles was leaving no doubt this offseason. The Bears took tight end Colston Loveland, who has seam-stretching ability and had nine TD catches over the past two seasons. New coach Ben Johnson comes from Detroit, where he had Sam LaPorta heavily involved in the pass game. Now, he will have Loveland and Cole Kmet at the position. Chicago would have loved it if Ashton Jeanty fell to No. 10 to jump-start the run game -- and I prefer Tyler Warren among the tight ends in this class -- but Poles is clearly doing whatever is necessary to get Williams where the Bears need him.

But he wasn't done. Luther Burden III is an explosive after-the-catch merchant who will join a solid receiver room. Ozzy Trapilo could see work at left tackle, with Braxton Jones working back from an ankle injury. Seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai might not be Jeanty, but he ran for 1,200-plus yards in back-to-back seasons and has some of the best ball security among the class' RBs. Luke Newman is probably moving inside to center behind Dalman.

But where are the pass rushers? The Bears' edge defenders had a pass rush win rate of 10.2%, which was the third worst in the NFL last season. Shemar Turner is versatile, but he's primarily an interior defensive lineman. He'll join Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. there. I was thinking we might see at least one edge rusher among the Bears' eight picks.

That was enough to knock Chicago down to a B+. Otherwise, I was a fan of its picks, which seem very centered on elevating Williams' game in 2025.