NFL Draft Rumors: Bears Could Target Ashton Jeanty With 10th Overall Pick

New head coach Ben Johnson is looking to retool the offense of the Chicago Bears, and that could mean adding the top running back prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Bears Could Target Top Running Back In 2025 NFL Draft

As it stands in late March, the Bears already have a former 1,000 yard back on their roster. It was just last off-season when they signed D’Andre Swift coming off of a Pro Bowl year in his only season with the Philadelphia Eagles, and they handed the now-26-year-old a three-year contract worth $24 million. But Swift saw a decline in his production in 2024 despite an increase in his usage, and it is unclear if Johnson intends to keep him as the team’s starter heading into 2025.

Chicago wasn’t active on the running back market during the first three weeks of NFL free agency, and the options on that front are dwindling. That makes it increasingly likely that they will use one of their seven picks in the upcoming draft in order to address the position, and they might even do it in the first round by selecting the top overall running back prospect.

Ashton Jeanty is going to be a top fantasy RB his rookie season 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/IjbNKOurJ8

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 24, 2025

Ashton Jeanty had a historic season rushing for Boise State in 2024. He finished just 28 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ longstanding record for most rushing yards in a season, and scored 30 touchdowns on the year. The performance was good enough to rank him in second place in the Heisman Trophy voting, and earned him the status of the top running back that will be entering the NFL ranks this coming year.

And when it comes to the betting odds, there are two teams that are heavily favored to select Jeanty in the first round. The Raiders are leading the way with a designation of +120, and they are certainly a possibility since they’ve already addressed their need at quarterback. But Las Vegas has plenty of other holes to fill on their roster, and taking Jeanty with the no.6 overall pick could be a bit ambitious.

The Bears aren’t far behind on the odds board. They are currently listed at +130 to be the team that drafts the Boise State running back, with no other team having shorter odds than +650. Chicago holds the 10th overall pick, which could be the perfect range for Jeanty, and inserting him into Johnson’s offense could provide nightmares for opposing defenses.

The 2025 NFL Draft will begin on April 24th.