Just days away from the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears are going to be facing quite the decision even before they're on the clock at no. 10 overall.
They could certainly wait it out and hope a player like Ashton Jeanty is there, but with the pre-draft hype and knowing just how special Jeanty is, the Bears very well could trade up if he's their guy.
The Boise State superstar recently joined NFL personality and analyst Kay Adams on an episode of Up & Adams where he talked about his ability to impact the receiving game, among other things.
Asked whether he was a wide receiver having an identity crisis, Jeanty laughed and said "I just might be."
Adams then asked him which round he'd be drafted if he had entered strictly as a wide receiver.
"I think I'd go second round. I can't be too cocky," he said, still laughing.
Ashton Jeanty is the complete package for Ben Johnson's Bears offense
People love to point out the fact that Jeanty is an explosive runner who breaks away from tacklers and puts on a show each game, but Adams is right. One thing we don't talk about enough is his ability to be a receiver.
Coming out of high school, Adams pointed out, Jeanty had more receiving yards than he did rushing yards. He was a legitimate threat at the receiver position.
If you look at what Jahmyr Gibbs did under Johnson in Detroit, in two seasons and while being in a time share with David Montgomery, it's not hard to see the similarities and potential in Jeanty. In two seasons, Gibbs tallied over 800 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. Again, that was all while handling a good amount of carries but also allowing Montgomery to get his share of the action.
At Boise State, Jeanty wasn't used as a receiver too often. In 2023, he did put up over 500 receiving yards on 43 receptions to go along with five receiving touchdowns. But, through three seasons, he totaled 862 yards and five touchdowns through the air.
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This is a true do-it-all type of running back that could completely change the offense in Chicago. For Caleb Williams to have such a threat at the position would be a huge lift. D'Andre Swift isn't the long-term answer. He might not even be the answer for 2025. Let's be honest with ourselves.
Jeanty, meanwhile, loves himself some contact. He's the anti-Swift. When Swift gets touched, he often goes down soon after. Jeanty cannot say the same. We'll just put it that way.
Swift can be a threat in the passing game, but he needs blockers and the right path forward.
Jeanty is a force on his own, period.
The Bears should know, by now, that he is the most influential pick they can make in Round 1. Time to make a move and ensure he's in Chicago, Mr. Poles.