The Bears’ draft focus will undoubtedly be on the offensive and defensive lines. On offense, it must head in this manner because a club that ranks 26th in rushing and allows the most sacks clearly has blocking concerns. If there are any blocking concerns, Caleb Williams will have difficulty.
However, there is another method for improving the running game that may also be used to the passing game. It should be used in conjunction with better blockers.
This is assuming the Bears get a spectacular running back in this draft, someone who is a natural playmaker. A player like Saquon Barkley, who is still young, would be ideal. Running backs are rarely picked in the first round.
The Bears appear to be the most likely team to choose ninth. Since Barkley went second overall in the 2018 draft, the only running back to go as high as or higher than ninth was Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson. He was drafted eighth last year. So it would have to be a really special back, but some draft gurus believe one is available if the Bears choose ninth. Some believe Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is small for backs at 210 pounds, although his weight is debatable. In some places, he is listed as 215, whereas Robinson is 215.
Size isn’t everything. Bucky Irving, at 195 pounds, has led Tampa Bay’s ground recovery from last in the league in 2023 to seventh this year, and he has the team in the playoff hunt heading into Week 18. Jahmyr Gibbs, who weighs only 200 pounds, is the Lions’ leading rusher in their formidable ground game. Jeanty possesses fantastic feet, a mean jump cut, the ability to go past arm tackles, and incredible speed. Is he a back who should rank in the top ten?
According to the NFL Mock Draft Data Base, he is a first-round pick in 65.1% of mock drafts. He currently ranks 12th overall and is anticipated to be the No. 10 pick. The consensus is that Dallas will choose him at No. 15 in an attempt to finally end its search for a back who can do for them what they haven’t had since a young Ezekiel Elliott.
Penn State coach James Franklin was speaking with reporters ahead of his team’s college playoff game against Boise State and was told that Jeanty is one of the top backs this year. “No, he’s one of the best running backs in the history of college football,” Franklin said.
That’s good praise, but he’s only 132 yards away from Barry Sanders’ NCAA single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards.
Several Penn State players intended it as praise, saying he reminded them of Michigan’s Blake Corum. If it is accurate, it is more like damning with faint praise because Corum was drafted in the third round by the Rams and has 197 rushing yards in 16 games.
It should also be noted that Jeanty has no experience with SEC or Big Ten opponents. He gained 85 yards in a defeat to UCLA last year, 44 yards in a loss to Washington last year, but broke loose for 192 yards in a loss to Oregon this season, 226 yards in a win over Washington State, and 259 yards in a victory over Oregon State. Those were easily the best opponents he faced.
It should also be noted that Jeanty has no experience with SEC or Big Ten opponents. He gained 85 yards in a defeat to UCLA last year, 44 yards in a loss to Washington last year, but broke loose for 192 yards in a loss to Oregon this season, 226 yards in a win over Washington State, and 259 yards in a victory over Oregon State. Those were easily the best opponents he faced.
The safest approach would be to develop a running offense around high-draft pick lineman and a good, multifaceted back.
The bet that may pay off big time or blow up in a team’s face is to base a turnaround in the running game on Jeanty but not fix the offensive line until Round 2.
The Bears do have two second-round picks, however. Given that GM Ryan Poles is supposed to be an offensive line expert, it appears that the Bears will lean in the opposite direction, drafting linemen. However, those highlight runs are a lot of fun.
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