The Bears spent five of their eight picks in last week's draft on offensive players. First-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle recently shared his thoughts about those prospects exclusively with ChicagoBears.com.
The Bears view the 6-6, 248-pounder as a dynamic every-down tight end who possesses physicality, toughness and the ability to separate from defenders.
At Michigan, Loveland appeared in 39 games the past three seasons, catching 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in 2023 when he helped the Wolverines win the national championship, recording 45 receptions for a career-high 649 yards and four TDs. Last year he set career highs with 56 catches and five touchdowns while compiling 582 yards.
"The versatility on both base and third down, that was really the biggest thing that stood out," Doyle said. "He's a mismatch, he's a target, he's a guy that doesn't ever have to come off the field if you don't want him to."
Loveland's toughness no doubt stems from growing up in rural Gooding, Idaho, and competing in rodeos, branding cows and erecting barbed wire fences.
"When you watch him finish plays, he has some dog to him where he's barking at guys," Doyle said. "He's got a lot of competitiveness. I can remember him finishing on the sideline multiple times and looking at the DB or whoever he just beat and just letting him know."
The Bears were surprised that Burden was still on the board in the second round; many draft analysts had predicted he would be a first-round choice. At Missouri, the 6-foot, 206-pounder played in 38 games the past three seasons, catching 192 passes for 2,263 yards and 21 TDs. He also scored TDs on a 78-yard punt return in 2022 and a 61-yard rush in 2024.
The Bears see Burden as a super competitive electric playmaker who was the best run-after-catch receiver in the draft. Doyle described him as "a weapon with the ball in his hands" and an "explosive talent."
"You can use him in a lot of different ways," Doyle said. "The goal is to bring him here, figure out what he does well and see if we can find ways to get him touches where he can impact the game. We're just trying to build depth and competitiveness at each position. They felt good about the value of that pick, and the more guys that can come in and contribute for us, the better."
The Bears felt that Trapilo was smart, tough, dependable and consistent at Boston College, where he started all 34 games he played the past three seasons, lining up at left tackle in 2022 and right tackle in 2023-24. They also believe that the 6-8, 316-pounder is technically sound and is "a big man who moves well."
Doyle was further impressed by Trapilo, a first-team All-ACC selection last year, during the lineman's formal interview with the Bears at the NFL Combine.
"He's really a high-level kid with high-level character," Doyle said. "I feel really good about him maximizing all of his ability in the NFL. He's a total pro. He's a talented player, but he's a better person."
In entering the NFL, Trapilo continues to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Steve Trapilo, who passed away due to a heart attack in 2004 when Ozzy was two years old. Like his father, Ozzy played football at Boston College High School and Boston College. Coincidentally, Doyle's father also went to Boston College High.
The Bears offensive coordinator describes Trapilo as "a happy dude who loves football and gets excited when he talks about it."
"I think he's going to do exactly what we ask of him, and that's the biggest thing," Doyle said. "When I say he's a pro's pro, he listens, he's 'yes sir' or 'no sir,' so I think that relationship's going to be really good with [Bears coaches]."
Newman started at left tackle from 2021-23 at Holy Cross, where he was a two-time FCS All-American and three-time All-Patriot League first team selection. He transferred to Michigan State in 2024 and opened all 12 games at left guard last year, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Newman landed on the Bears' radar after arriving at Michigan State. He was not invited to the NFL Combine but improved his draft stock at the East-West Shrine Bowl by showing that he could excel at both guard and center. Newman continued to impress at his Pro Day and during a '30' visit to Halas Hall.
"You watch him on tape and he's one of the best finishers as an offensive lineman in the draft," Doyle said. "Being able to talk to him in my office and be able to give him that compliment, I think he took a ton of pride in that. He was like, 'Well, that is what I was trying to show.'
"As you get to that latter part of the draft, you're trying to find guys that are going to come in and compete, that can provide value for us, and I think that Luke is that way as well. He's a hard hat, lunch pail coming-to-work [kind of guy] and he's going to be great for us."
The Bears view Monangai as a physical, tough runner who boasts high football and personal character. At Rutgers, he appeared in 52 games the past five years and rushed for 3,221 yards and 27 TDs on 669 carries. The 5-8, 211-pounder was named first-team All-Big Ten last year after rushing for a career high 1,279 yards, his second straight season eclipsing 1,200 yards on the ground.
Doyle describes Monangai as "a guy who runs angry."
"There's a lot to be developed there when guys run that way," Doyle said. "He's a physical runner who's going to come in and do the dirty work and really going to add to that room and compete, and that's really what we were looking for in that slot."
