The Chicago Bears are doing some praying the day after Easter Sunday as the team prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft this week. The Bears are set to start on the clock with the No. 10 pick in Thursday’s first round.
Following an aggressive March that saw the Bears add three starters to the offensive line and defensive line, general manager Ryan Poles has an opportunity to take an elite talent who is the highest on their draft board, versus selecting for need.
The Bears could use an upgrade at offensive tackle, running back, tight end, cornerback, or defensive end.
The Chicago Bears are praying for a running back
Per ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, the Bears are reportedly “praying” for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty to fall to them at No. 10.
“There are multiple personnel people who believe the Bears are praying that Jeanty slips to them at No. 10,” Schefter wrote. “They think new Bears coach Ben Johnson could feature Jeanty and D’Andre Swift as a two-headed duo the way the Lions did with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs when Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator.”
For what it’s worth, Jeanty has shown interest in joining the Bears through the pre-draft process.
The Bears might have to go from praying to pulling a “Hail Mary” trade to land Jeanty.
The 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up is the No. 4 prospect on Mel Kiper’s big board. Several teams above Chicago need a running back, like the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.
Ashton Jeanty is the No. 1 RB in the class for a reason
While there are plenty of running backs the Bears can take in the second round, Schefter thinks there is a good reason Jeanty has been receiving hype this offseason.
“The best (running backs) this year are Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins,” Schefter wrote. “There is one factor, however, that separates Jeanty, according to evaluators. He has a remarkable ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact.
“In fact, Jeanty had 1,733 rushing yards after contact last season while Hampton — regarded as the No. 2 back in this class — had 1,660 total rushing yards. Jeanty’s total rushing yards after contact are the most by any FBS player in a season over the past five years.”
If the Bears are indeed praying to land Jeanty, one could see Poles deciding to make a trade on Thursday. It’s hard to imagine Jeanty falling to No. 10, even in a scenario where three quarterbacks are taken before Chicago is on the clock.
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