Many analysts have connected the Chicago Bears and top-tier running back prospect Ashton Jeanty in the weeks leading up to the 2025 NFL draft. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, multiple NFL personnel people believe the Bears are “praying” that Jeanty will fall to them at No. 10 overall and allow them to form a dynamic backfield duo with him and veteran D’Andre Swift. The chances of that happening for Chicago may have just taken a hit, though.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently flagged the Jacksonville Jaguars as a potential “sleeper” team to target Jeanty at No. 5 overall amid rumors that the team is shopping former first-round running back Travis Etienne Jr. on the trade market. The Jaguars have also seen their betting odds for Jeanty surge in recent days. The latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook have the Jaguars (+130) near even with the Las Vegas Raiders (+120), who remain the odds-on favorites. The Bears (+320) are behind them at third with a significant lead over the rest of the field.
The Bears have shown clear interest in Jeanty throughout the pre-draft process. Not only did they meet with the Heisman Trophy runner-up formally at the NFL combine, but they also brought him to Halas Hall for a top-30 visit afterward. Jeanty’s appeal is also obvious. He ran for 2,601 yards – the second-most single-season total in NCAA history – and 29 touchdowns during his final season at Boise State in 2024 and would supercharge the Bears’ offense. Unfortunately for them, they are at the mercy of the nine teams ahead of them in the draft order when it comes to targeting Jeanty with the No. 10 pick.
The Raiders have seemed like the biggest threat to them landing Jeanty over the past few weeks with the No. 6 pick in hand, but the Jaguars’ emergence in the conversation will only add to the anxiety if they plan to hold out at No. 10. Alternatively, the Bears could look to trade up for Jeanty, but their path to doing so becomes much more complicated if the Jaguars want him at No. 5. Things could still work out for the Bears in their pursuit of Jeanty, but it is hard to view the Jaguars’ involvement as anything other than bad news for them.