The Chicago Bears did some serious work upgrading their roster last month.

They traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. They signed center Drew Dalman and defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. That eliminated the team’s most pressing needs.

It also freed general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson to go in any direction they want with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They even could make a luxury pick by adding an explosive offensive playmaker to the mix.

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren could fall into that category. They don’t play what draft analysts term “premium positions,” meaning they’re rarely taken in the top 10. For example, Brock Bowers was the first tight end off last year’s draft board at No. 13, and Jonathan Brooks broke the running back seal at No. 50 overall.

Jeanty is a rare running back prospect as a top-five talent in this class. Warren is a versatile talent who can do so much for an offense while lining up all over the formation, even as a tight end.

Picking a running back or tight end so high often doesn’t work out — this article by The Athletic’s Jeff Howe does a great job explaining why — but we’re going big here and recommending the Bears select one of those two playmakers.

While the Bears could lock on to an offensive tackle or an edge rusher, something coach Ben Johnson said at the recent NFL Annual Meeting makes me believe they’re going in this direction.

Johnson discussed the Detroit Lions’ decision to pick Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs No. 12 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, and what he said, in my mind, was telling.

“When you get into the draft prospects,” Johnson said, “we viewed Gibbs as more of a weapon.”

You could label Jeanty or Warren that way. The Bears are in position to take a player like that and feel completely comfortable with their starters and depth along the offensive and defensive lines.

If I had my choice, Jeanty would be the pick. He’s that dude — a true playmaker whom Johnson could use well in the Bears’ scheme while still giving D’Andre Swift impactful touches. I just don’t believe the Heisman Trophy runner-up will be available to the Bears at No. 10.

I can’t see Jeanty making it past the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6. I also could see a team trade up to get him, or maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars will select him at No. 5. Jeanty falling all the way to No. 10 seems like a stretch.

Warren could make it to No. 10, and he would be my pick at that spot. Johnson did such great work with tight end Sam LaPorta in Detroit, and Warren lines up everywhere from in-line to the slot, from out wide and even in the backfield. Johnson could be creative while still using Cole Kmet in interesting ways.

Let’s say both Jeanty and Warrren are gone at No. 10. What about Michigan tight end Colston Loveland? He’s rated the No. 7 overall prospect, just behind Warren. Would the Bears entertain him, or push in a different direction? Maybe. He’s a super-talented guy who can do a lot really well. He might work in a slight trade down, especially if someone needs to move up to pick a quarterback.

One more factor in this pitch to take a luxury pick. There’s strong depth at both running back and tight end in this NFL draft class, so the Bears could go with an offensive lineman early and pick up some quality later in the draft.

I believe the Bears should go big, though, and give Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams another playmaker to turn this offense into an intimidating force.