Everyone involved in the Chicago Bears organization understands how important the 2025 NFL Draft is. The franchise finally seems ready to turn a new leaf with Ben Johnson as head coach. Finding premier talent in the draft will be the final piece to what has been considered a strong offseason.
While the Bears have four picks inside the top 75, all eyes are on their No. 10 selection. They’ve been mocked seemingly every player under the sun ranging from offense to defense. They’ve even been connected to some high profile trades. What Chicago ultimately ends up doing is still shrouded in mystery.
But whether they draft offense or defense or even trade the pick, one thing remains; the Bears are looking for a true difference maker at No. 10. And if they were to select running back Ashton Jeanty, Josh Liskiewitz of Pro Football Focus believes he would be a perennial All-Pro.
“This is the easiest sell of the group and doesn’t require a significant amount of backstory,” Liskiewitz wrote. “The Bears revamped the entire interior of the offensive line this offseason by trading for veteran guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing free-agent center Drew Dalman. With Darnell Wright set to enter year three as the starter at right tackle and the combination of Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie on the left side, this is the most stable the offensive line has been during Ryan Poles’ tenure as general manager.”
“The defense looks stacked at every level, meaning the biggest hole on the roster is running back, and the Bears picked the right year to have a critical need at the position,” Liskiewitz concluded.
Chicago Bears build out offense
Chicago finished the 2024 season ranked dead last in total offense, averaging 284.6 yards per game. Their first step in remedying the issue was hiring Johnson as their head coach. He helped the Detroit Lions become one of the best offensive teams in the NFL, ranking second in total offense in 2024, averaging 409.5 yards per game.
Once he was officially hired, the Bears got to work bolstering their offensive line. One of their biggest issues was keeping Caleb Williams upright in the pocket, as evident by their league-leading 68 sacks allowed. New guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, alongside center Drew Dalman give the Bears a much more formidable front to work with.
Chicago already had strong receivers in place with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Both tight end Cole Kmet and running back D’Andre Swift should make an impact as well. So while the job Johnson has in front of him may be difficult, he isn’t diving into the deep end without his googles on.
The 2025 NFL Draft gives the Bears another opportunity to continue building out their defense. Johnson assuredly has his eyes on nearly every skill position player available.
Where Ashton Jeanty fits
When it comes to running back, there is no stronger prospect in the 2025 class than Jeanty. He has been projected to go as high as No. 6 to the Las Vegas Raiders. But if he falls to No. 10 – or if the Bears trade up for him – Chicago’s offense would immediately become even more dynamic.
During his final season at Boise State, Jeanty led the country with 2,601 rushing yards, adding a jaw dropping 29 touchdowns. He was named the Heisman runner-up while winning the Maxwell, Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. Simply put, any team drafting Jeanty is expecting him to be their rushing leader from the jump.
The Bears already have Swift in place. Although, his 3.8 yards per carry leave a lot to be desired. Especially considering Jeanty averaged seven yards a carry. Jeanty would be tasked with handling the early down and short-yardage work, while Swift would be more a threat in the passing game. Ultimately, their thunder and lightning combination makes Chicago much scarier on the ground.
Johnson is looking to bring an entirely new culture to the Windy City. If Jeanty hits his All-Pro expectations, the Bears will look much different on offense for the foreseeable future; for all the right reasons.
Caleb Williams has zero interest in becoming friends with his fellow NFL quarterbacks
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