Open Thread Question of the Day: Ashton Jeanty, a Chicago Bear?

Ashton Jeanty appears interested in being a Bear. What would it take for the Bears to be interested in Jeanty at pick 10?

Lost in the gobs and gobs of interviews, press conferences, and paper-towel product promotions, one of the best running back prospects in the last decade gave Chicago Bears fans a fun sound byte:

Ashton Jeanty needs no introduction around these parts after a Heisman runner-up campaign that saw him rack up 2,601 rushing yards, 7.0 Y/A, 23 receptions, 138 receiving yards, and 30 total TDs. However, when Jeanty responded to a quote asking if he would be surprised if he were drafted in the top 10 and he brought up the Bears unprompted, the idea of Jeanty in Navy and Orange become a lot more real.

Now, there are a lot of things that would suggest drafting Jeanty at #10 is a good idea, and a lot of things that suggest it is a very bad idea.

But I want to know what you think. Should the Bears consider drafting Ashton Jeanty at #10 overall?

Let’s dig into some of the reasons why it is a good idea.

First and foremost, Ashton Jeanty is a freaking stud. Jeanty’s 2,601 rushing yards ranks 2nd all time behind Barry Sanders for a single season. Some names he beat out include Marcus Allen, Derrick Henry, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Matt Forte. Not bad company!

Additionally, Ben Johnson’s offense utilized two talented RBs as well as anyone in the league. The addition of a tough runner with incredible contact balance would be the perfect David Montgomery to pair with D’Andre Swift’s Jahmyr Gibbs.

Finally, there has been a renaissance for running backs in the last few seasons. Players like Gibbs, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs have been making immense impacts on the success of their teams. Getting an elite running back to pair with Caleb Williams could lead to a lot of success.

Now, there are also some reasons that drafting Jeanty might not make a ton of sense.

Above all else, the Bears need to invest in the offensive line. Jeanty is talented, but we have seen what happens to talented running backs when placed behind sub-par offensive lines (see Barkley in New York). There is a major case to be made for the Bears spending all of their top resources on OL this offseason in order to ensure Caleb Williams doesn’t continue to lead the league in sacks.

Additionally, the Bears just made a large financial investment in D’Andre Swift last offseason. Swift still has two years left on his deal where his cap hit averages out at about $9 million AAV. There is still a reasonable out for the Bears after this season, but it could be worth seeing what Swift could do in a new offensive system and behind an improved line. His year in Philly suggests that he could be an above-average player.

The point that makes me most nervous at the prospect of drafting Jeanty early is the history of RBs taken in the top 10. Running Backs that have been taken in the top 10 since 2010 include:

• 2012, Trent Richardson, #3 overall
• 2015, Todd Gurley, #10 overall, 3 Pro Bowls w/ Rams
• 2016, Ezekiel Elliot, #4 overall, 3 Pro Bowls w/ Cowboys
• 2017, Leonard Fournette, #4 overall
• 2017, Christian McCaffrey, #8 overall, 1 Pro Bowl w/ Panthers
• 2018, Saquon Barkley, #2 overall, 2 Pro Bowls w/ Giants
• 2023, Bijan Robinson, #8 overall, 1 Pro Bowl w/ Falcons

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

There is obviously a lot of talent on that list. However, there are also some misses. Richardson and Fournette were significant busts, while Gurley and Elliot’s production tapered off quickly due to high usage. Additionally, McCaffrey and Barkley didn’t really become their best selves until they played on their second teams. It feels like a risk drafting a RB early.

With all of this in mind, if the Bears can make two significant additions on the OL in free agency (see Flowers, Dalman, Zeitler, etc.) then I would be open to Jeanty at 10. However, I still feel like they need to overinvest in the trenches before they can add a final piece like Jeanty. Running backs don’t last long, especially behind leaky OLs. Sign/draft one once you are ready to compete for a SB. Until then, I’ll pass.

Now it’s your turn – should the Bears consider drafting Ashton Jeanty at #10 overall? Sound off in the comments!