If the Chicago Bears‘ mission is to add an elite and potentially game-altering weapon around quarterback Caleb Williams, general manager Ryan Poles may need to be aggressive to pull it off.
Ahead of an NFL Draft where some executives suggest there are only four blue-chip prospects, the market for the kind of difference-making player could spark a last-minute bonanza of trades with teams looking to move up the board.
That might particularly be the case when it comes to teams targeting electrifying Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Why trading up could make sense for the Chicago Bears
If Jeanty is general manager Ryan Poles’ top target, at least one top analyst suggests it may take a blockbuster trade to bring him to the Windy City.
Chris Collinsworth suggests in his mock draft projection for Pro Football Focus that the Bears could package picks No. 10 and No. 41 overall to move up to No. 5 in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to land Jeanty.
“When I look at the NFL today,” Collinsworth writes for PFF. “It feels like the big plays in the passing game aren’t really happening anymore because people are soft shell coverages (Cover-2, Cover-4, Cover-6). That means we’re getting more runs that are breaking into the secondary and every time I see this guy break into the secondary, he’s standing in the end zone.”
As Collinsworth points out, Jeanty’s big-play ability, averaging seven yards per carry last season while forcing 152 missed tackles on his way to 36 runs of 15 yards or more make him an attractive option for the Bears, as does his big-play ability in the passing game where he could become a security valve for Williams.
Jeanty caught 23 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown last season at Boise State, which could alleviate some pressure on Williams, and the Bears’ receiving weapons on the perimeter.
If the Bears believe that Jeanty is an ideal fit for head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme, which was at its best when a powerful running game behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery was firing on all cylinders during his time in Detroit, trading up to land the electrifying back may be the most prudent way to add a significant upgrade on offense.
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