NFL analyst Maurice Jones-Drew reveals which RB prospect Bears Eric Bieniemy might be leaning towards in the 2025 Draft
One would imagine that the Chicago Bears are coming close to finalizing the 2025 draft board with less than a month until the draft kicks off, but there's still a lot of uncontrollables that can change plans drastically. The one position the Bears will for sure address in some capacity in the draft is at running […]
One would imagine that the Chicago Bears are coming close to finalizing the 2025 draft board with less than a month until the draft kicks off, but there's still a lot of uncontrollables that can change plans drastically.
The one position the Bears will for sure address in some capacity in the draft is at running back, something general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have been open about speaking with speaking with the media.
Does that mean drafting Ashton Jeanty with the 10th overall pick? That's certainly a strong possibility if he's there. If not, maybe Omarion Hampton is the guy in the first-round or maybe the Bears pivot to Day 2 to select a top running back.
The options are numerous for the Bears in what seems to be a strong RB class on paper and there's another prominent voice on the staff who will help in making this decision later this month.
That voice is running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who was an outstanding addition to the Bears coaching staff. As a former player and respected coach, his voice carries a lot of weight as well, especially when it comes to his position group.
And it seems like he already has his ideal RB prospect in mind in Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson.
On Thursday, NFL lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah broke down his updated Top-50 prospect list on NFL's 40s and Free Agents show on YouTube. During the show, he was joined by former NFL running back turned NFL analyst Maurice Jones-Drew who shared some noteworthy information.
"The running back coach for the Chicago Bears texts me in the middle of the night all the time about certain people and we had a good 30 minute conversation about [Henderson's] blitz pick up… [Bieniemy's] number one rule was, if you can't block, you can't play," Jones-Drew said.
To make things even more interesting, in his latest Mock Draft on NFL.com, Jones-Drew had the Bears selecting Henderson with the 10th overall pick, a decision that came across as surprising and controversial across social media.
Now, I think there's truth to what Jones-Drew is saying but he might be overblowing things here. If Bieniemy feels really passionate about adding Henderson, keep an eye out for his name being called, but not on opening night.
Henderson is a strong early second-round prospect and landing with the Bears at 39th or 41st overall instead of 10th overall makes much more sense.
But Is TreVeyon Henderson The Best Fit For Chicago?
There's also a world where just because Bieniemy likes a guy as a player, that doesn't mean he's the best fit for the offense. The Bears already have a similar style back in terms of rushing ability in D'Andre Swift.
What the offense needs is someone who can carry a bulk of the carries for an offense while getting the tough yards inside. Which is why Henderson's backfield mate, Quinshon Judkins makes much more sense for the Bears on Day 2.
ESPN's Field Yates had the Bears drafting Judkins with the 41st overall pick in his latest mock draft and had the perfect explanation for why he chose him over Henderson.
"I have an ever-so-slightly higher grade on Judkins' fellow Ohio State back TreVeyon Henderson, but Judkins can bring a better profile of power and thump to a Chicago offense that could use it. He scored 45 career rushing TDs." – ESPN's Field Yates
Who the Bears add to the backfield at this point is anyone's guess, truthfully. There's a lot of factors that go into this decision, mainly which prospect is actually there when the Bears are on the clock. Luckily, there are plenty of top quality options in this class.
Bears GM Ryan Poles leaves the door open to potentially trade back from the 10th overall pick depending on how the first nine selections go
This will be worth keeping an eye on.
