With the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, the Chicago Bears have a lot of decisions to make. One prospect that should most definitely be on their radar is Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins.
In fact, several mock drafts are projecting Judkins to be selected by the Bears with the 41st pick, including Sports Illustrated.
A power running back during his time at Ohio State, Judkins shared the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson during the Buckeyes' national championship run. The 6-foot, 221-pound back has drawn comparisons to a bulkier version of Joe Mixon since declaring for their draft, per CBS Sports.
There are a lot of things that make Judkins an intriguing draft choice for the Bears. Besides the fact that he's a national champion, one aspect of his game that stands out is that Judkins is a downhill runner. This is something the Bears desperately needed during games last season.
Simply put, Judkins runs the ball like a bull in a China shop. His aggressive running style is a perfect fit for a tough town like the Windy City. When November and December hit and you need to gain a few tough yards in a cold game, Judkins can get the job done. It would be a surprise to absolutely no one if Judkins quickly became a fan favorite.
Ben Johnson's offense will only get better in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft
A power back might be just what the Bears need. Judkins would complement Bears running back D'Andre Swift well. You could have Judkins open up your drive and bring him in for short-yardage situations, and use Swift for receiving downs and outside runs. Having two completely different running backs is a recipe that could lead to success for the Bears.
First-year head coach Ben Johnson is no stranger to a 1-2 punch in the backfield. During his tenure with the Detroit Lions as offensive coordinator, Johnson drew up near-perfect plays for running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Eventually, the Lions' backfield earned the nickname Sonic and Knuckles, paying homage to the characters from the video game series. The Bears could be trying to build something similar.
While Judkins receiving ability is one of his weaknesses (he caught just 22 passes last season), he won't be expected to make an impact in the receiving game. If the Bears are smart, they will use Judkins strengths and use him as a power back.
Overall, the Bears drafting Judkins in the second round would be an A+ pick for a cold-weather team like the Bears.