The Chicago Bears are ahead of schedule with their roster rebuild, and because of that, they might take a major swing in the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager Ryan Poles has entirely revamped the offensive line and strengthened a defense that had an encouraging season in 2024.
This roster is built to contend for a playoff spot right now, but there are still several positions that could use an upgrade with the Bears’ seven draft picks. One of those areas of concern is at running back. While D’Andre Swift is a capable starter, new head coach Ben Johnson has been at his best with two elite, versatile options in the backfield. That is exactly why Ashton Jeanty to the Bears has been picking up more steam in recent weeks.
The Boise State superstar running back is an absolute game-breaker who should provide an immediate impact at the next level. Newsweek’s Gavino Borquez is ultimately projecting that the Bears will trade up to select the 2,600+ yard rusher in the first round. The contributing sports writer argues that this move is no longer a bold projection because of Jeanty’s fit on this roster as well as the interest he’s generating from teams ahead of the Bears in the draft.
“It might not be as bold anymore, with all the recent chatter of teams looking to trade up into the top 3” Borquez asserts. “But I believe the team that does move up is Chicago. Specifically, they trade with the Jaguars to get the No. 5 overall pick and use it to select Jeanty.
Head coach Ben Johnson comes from the Lions, who had a lot of success running the football with their two-headed monster, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Johnson bolsters Chicago's backfield with Jeanty to complement D'Andre Swift.”
Overall, while Jeanty is a spectacular player, moving up to select him might not be worth it for the Bears. This roster needs more depth at edge rusher, offensive tackle, wide receiver, and a few other positions over the next few days. Therefore, trading away future capital for the Doak Walker Award winner is a high-risk move, especially since this draft is so strong at the running back position.
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