Bears Get Bad News on Star RB Ashton Jeanty Ahead of NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears made so many upgrades across the roster in free agency and via the trade market, what the team might end up doing with the No. 10 pick in the NFL draft has become considerably harder to say.
Initially, offensive line help made the most sense — and perhaps it still does. But after trading for two new offensive guards and signing a center, the only feasible need is at left tackle. Chicago also added a pass rusher and a defensive tackle in the early days of free agency, which mitigates what was an obvious need off the edge heading into the offseason.
The moves the Bears made, along with new head coach Ben Johnson’s history with the Detroit Lions and their two-headed running back attack of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, point to Chicago potentially getting in the mix for star running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State.
The biggest obstacle to the Bears landing Jeanty is probably the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 6 overall pick. The franchise needed a QB, but traded with the Seattle Seahawks for Geno Smith. Because of that, most analysts believe the Raiders will either look at wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona or Jeanty in that spot.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN in his mock draft 2.0 on February 25 projected the Raiders to select Jeanty at No. 6 and McMillan to come off the board at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers, albeit as the first wideout and second pass-catcher taken in the draft. For McMillan to move up and challenge Jeanty for the Raiders’ attentions, the receiver needed to have a huge pro day on Monday, March 17, but fell a bit shy of that in at least one meaningful way.
