ESPN Insiders believe the Bears are 'praying' for the ideal scenario in the first-round but two teams could try and prevent it from happening
As the 2025 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty continues to be one of the draft's most polarizing prospects.There's no denying the talent. Jeanty posted one of the best seasons in college football history after racking up 2,601 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, with 1,733 of those rushing […]
As the 2025 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty continues to be one of the draft's most polarizing prospects.
There's no denying the talent. Jeanty posted one of the best seasons in college football history after racking up 2,601 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, with 1,733 of those rushing yards coming after contact.
Teams in the Top-10, and a few outside, are still considering the positional value of drafting a running back so high. As it stands, Jeanty has met with three teams on Top-30 visits: the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. Other teams are still interested but the Bears continue to be the team everyone is watching out for.
Bears "praying" Ashton Jeanty falls to #10, trade up on the table?
The only downside for Chicago is where they are currently slated to pick on Thursday's opening night. The Bears hold the #10 overall pick in the draft, four selections after the Raiders, and two picks above the Cowboys, with notable insiders relaying the Bears are "praying" Jeanty makes it to 10.
"There are multiple personnel people who believe the Bears are praying that Jeanty slips to them at No. 10," ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote.
While waiting for that ideal scenario to happen at 10 seems like the likely path for Chicago, who's to say the team won't be aggressive in their pursuit to land Jeanty. Chicago has the arsenal needed to move up further in the Top-10 to select Jeanty if the team is truly that high on adding the top back in the class.
Are the Jaguars a legitimate threat to take Jeanty?
One team that comes to mind as a trade partner to kick off draft week is the Jacksonville Jaguars, sitting at 5th overall. Trading up with Jacksonville puts Chicago ahead of the Raiders and any other team wanting to trade up and snatch Jeanty.
New general manager James Gladstone and the Jaguars seem to be the "wildcard" of the Top-10 according to Schefter. Jacksonville could look to accept a trade that would move them down the board while picking up added picks in the process. The Jaguars, at the same time, could be viewed as the sleeper team for Jeanty as well.
"Jacksonville at #5 could be a sleeper option for Jeanty as well," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on NFL Live back on April 18th.
Broncos sneaky team to screw over the Bears
While we're on the subject of sleeper teams, don't count out the Denver Broncos, who could be a team joining the Cowboys in potentially sniffing out a trade up.
"There has been, however, a lack of teams willing to trade up — at least so far. Denver is one of those: The Broncos have made inquiries about moving up in Round 1, according to sources," Schefter explained.
The Broncos have done extensive research on the running back class and while they haven't specifically looked at Jeanty in terms of a Top-30 visit, he could certainly be on the team's radar if they look to move a haul that would result in Denver leap-frogging the Bears into the first nine selections.
