NFL analyst has surprising need atop Chicago Bears’ list ahead of NFL Draft

It’s entirely conceivable that the Chicago Bears plan on upgrading at running back during the NFL Draft.

There has also been rampant speculation that Boise State dynamo, and one of the premier prospects in the entire class, Ashton Jeanty, could be at or near the top of general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears’ board as draft night approaches.

Even with D’Andre Swift currently on the roster, and despite the fact that running backs don’t carry the premium positional value as an offensive tackle, edge rusher, or defensive back might in the grand scheme of things, It isn’t difficult to envision the Bears prioritizing taking one of the top runing backs in this year’s class.

Why the Chicago Bears’ best course of action may be a Round 1 running back

ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak suggests even if Jeanty isn’t available when the Bears go on the clock at No. 10 overall that the Bears should still take a running back in the first round.

“I would very much like for the Bears to draft running back Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), one of the best players in this class,” Solak writes for ESPN. “They have a big need, as D’Andre Swift didn’t look the part in his first season in Chicago and is cuttable in 2026. New coach Ben Johnson would also have no issues feeding a two-headed backfield like he did in Detroit. Jeanty to the Bears at No. 10 would be one of the best picks in the first round — and if he doesn’t fall their way, a trade-back for Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) would also earn a high grade from me.”

Conventional wisdom might suggest that the Bears should invest their top picks in positions with more traditional value. But, given the potential impact of a game-altering talent such as Jeanty or Hampton lining up alongside Caleb Williams in the backfield and the chances that he significantly boosts the young quarterback’s development combined with how head coach Ben Johnson might be able to use him, taking a back early makes sense.

Jeanty’s seven-yard per carry average and 2,601-yard campaign in 2024 speak for themselves, and Hampton has the chance to be an electrifying weapon alongside Williams, which make betting on a running back on the heels of Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs each making franchise-altering impacts in their first season with their new team worthwhile for Chicago.