What's important to remember throughout this blog is that we're almost done. There are only four more days of 'informed' speculation about what's going to happen in this year's NFL Draft, and then we're free. Four more days of new conflicting reports every 12 hours; four days of ABSOLUTE LOCKS being changed at a moment's notice. If we can all hold on just a little longer, this ride will be over before we know it.
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For now, though, we march on. Today's Insider Quote That We're Going To Make A Huge Thing Out Of comes from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, who went on Good Morning Football to talk about what he's hearing in these final days before the draft. The conversation turned to Ashton Jeanty – who's supposedly been on/close to the very top of the Bears' board for a while now – and how Ryan Poles and company could be eyeing a risky move to make sure they get him.
There's growing noise about the Bears trading up to draft Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
"To answer your question: yes, there is more noise about Ashton Jeanty going to the Raiders than probably a lot of picks or matches in the top 10," he said. "My questions is not, 'Is Ashton Jeanty going somewhere in the top 10?' I believe he will. My questions is, does somebody, for a running back, decide, in order to get him, that we have to trade up above the Raiders to be sure we get him ... If you're Ben Johnson in Chicago, or you're Brian Schottenheimer in Dallas, and you're thinking about how this guy can add a dimension that you can't get any place else, is it worth it? Because it'd be expensive to go up and get ahead of the Raiders. That is something we'll be watching very closely as Thursday night approaches."
It ... kinda sounds like Jeanty's going to the Raiders? Maybe there's some wild trade on the horizon that defines the next era of Chicago Bears football – Bear Weather requires a good ground game, after all – but it kinda sounds like Jeanty's going to the Raiders. In a way, it's reassuring to know that NFL Insiders are also just wildly speculating and then watching very closely. Celebrities: they're just like us!
So, do with that what you will. Just remember that lots of people are hearing that the Bears could trade up for Jeanty. Others are hearing that they could trade up for Abdul Carter. And then there are those that are hearing they may trade down to land a few more top 100 picks. I'm not hearing anything.