Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty is one of the most appealing offensive prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s unusual for highly drafted RBs to pan out, but with the overwhelming success of the Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, it will be hard for teams to pass on him early on.
Even organizations selecting in the first dozen could be willing to take Jeanty off the board given how much Gibbs and Barkley, two former top-12 picks, have transformed their respective offenses.
One of the most realistic destinations for the Boise State star is the Chicago Bears. Chicago holds the No. 10 pick in the current NFL Draft order, has a former No. 1 pick at quarterback in Caleb Williams, and just brought in a brilliant offensive-minded head coach in Ben Johnson. If these circumstances don’t point enough as to why choosing Jeanty makes sense, the star RB’s latest action adds even more evidence.
Ashton Jeanty Seen Hanging Out With Bears’ Caleb Williams
On the day of the College Football Playoff National Championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame, Jeanty’s Instagram gave a potential glimpse into his future.
He posted to his story a photo in a clothing store alongside Williams, the Bears’ franchise QB. Also in the photo is Minnesota Vikings star WR Jordan Addison.
🚨JUST IN: Top-#NFL RB prospect Ashton Jeanty has been hanging out with #Bears quarterback Caleb Williams today.
👀
Chicago currently has the 10th overall pick, and Jeanty is a projected top-15 pick and a generational talent. pic.twitter.com/Pe87Smcd3U
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 20, 2025
While of course, it’s not out of the normal for football stars to be seen off the field together, this interaction seems a bit too convenient.
The 2025 NFL Draft is just a few months away, and Chicago could desperately use a backfield partner for the former USC QB. Their current RB room consists of D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer.
Swift had a respectable first campaign with the Bears, recording 1,345 total yards and six touchdowns. Considering Swift is under contract for another two years, Johnson could use him and Jeanty similarly to the way he schemed up looks for the one-two punch of David Montgomery and Gibbs in Detroit.
The key to the Bears’ success is to make Williams feel comfortable in the offense, allowing him to develop into a superstar. That starts by relieving some of the pressure from him, potentially by adding an unstoppable force in the run game, Jeanty, with the No. 10 pick.
NFL Analyst Predicts a Suprise Slide for Jeanty, with Bears
With the Bears selecting at 10th overall, Jeanty could still be on the board. However, in PFN’s most recent mock draft, Chicago instead opted to draft offensive line help for Caleb Williams in Ohio State’s Josh Simmons.
“Simmons was the best offensive tackle in the class this year on tape. His athletic profile is ideal for a blindside blocker, a feat few can claim in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Unfortunately, Ohio State lost him early against Oregon in their first matchup. That means he played… nobody.
“His last bout against true NFL talent was in 2023, and that tape is far less enticing. The question becomes whether he’s improved as much as he showed, or if his improvements are only marginal and he only looked elite because he didn’t face any legitimate NFL talent. In the end, his technical improvements seem very real and his athleticism makes him worthy of being the first tackle drafted in this class.”
So where did Jeanty land if the Bears opted for an offensive line prospect? He actually slipped to nearly the end of the first round with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Lions had arguably the NFL’s most dominant rushing attack in 2024, with the one-two punch of Montgomery and Gibbs. Williams is comparable to Montgomery, with their styles of play stemming from short-yardage bulldozer TDs. But adding Boise State’s generational RB Jeanty could perfect the backfield. PFN’s Dalton Miller predicts the Rams will select Jeanty at No. 26 in the first round.
“Whatever deal Les Snead made, he fleeced the Devil worse than Johnny did. Jeanty isn’t quite the same caliber of athletic phenom that Saquon Barkley or Bijan Robinson were. However, his game is likely the most complete coming from the college ranks,” Miller wrote. “He’s no slouch athletically, either. Nobody creates more explosive runs than Jeanty in college football. He clearly has a high gear despite being packaged in a 5-foot-8 frame.”