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Forbes
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Will Ashton Jeanty Be The Best Running Back In This Draft?
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 31: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos runs the ball against ... More Tony Rojas #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by) The running back position in college football has come a long way since last season. In 2024, there were 19 running backs selected in the Draft. Of those 19 halfbacks, only two finished with over 450 rushing yards in their first NFL season. Much more is anticipated with the 2025 Draft Class ahead of Thursday's first round, with multiple names being discussed as potential first-round options. From the Heisman runner-up, to two National Champions, and even the younger brother of an NFL running back, the 2025 NFL Draft could be one of the deepest drafts for the skill position in some time. Ahead of decision day, which running back has a chance to be the best professional amid the group? Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty enters the Draft as the presumed top option at running back after a historic season for the Broncos. Jeanty finished the 2024 season with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in 14 games, which is the second-most in NCAA history, behind Barry Sanders. With a Mountain West-leading 374 touches on the season, Jeanty averaged 7.0 yards per attempt, and was the primary reason for Boise State making the inaugural College Football playoff, after being expanded to twelve teams. While the initial knock on Jeanty would be the quality of opponent Boise State played in 2024, Jeanty rose to the occasion in their two ranked opponents. In Week 2 of the season, the Broncos lost by just three points to Oregon, with Jeanty posting a statline of 25 attempts, 192 yards and three touchdowns. After winning the Conference Championship, Boise State had a date with Penn State in the first round of the playoff, where Jeanty still compiled over 100 yards despite the game script forcing the ball out of their running back's hands. At 5'9' and 211 lbs, Jeanty has the frame of an NFL running back, and possesses the patience and tackle-breaking abilities of a team's top option, making him the clear decision to go first amongst the position group. The only question is if Jeanty is so sought after that a team will sacrifice a first-round pick on him. CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 27: Omarion Hampton #28 of the North Carolina Tar Heels scores ... More against Lovie Jenkins #1 of the Florida A&M Rattlers during the fourth quarter of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 56-24. (Photo by) Omarion Hampton found his way on the top of NFL Mock rankings after back-to-back seasons surpassing 1,500 rushing yards for North Carolina. In fact, Hampton finished third in college football in 2024 with 1,660 rushing yards, alongside 15 rushing touchdowns and 373 receiving yards. While North Carolina may not have an extensive track record of developing NFL running backs, with Michael Carter and Giovanni Bernard being the only two alumni currently on an active roster, Hampton features the athleticism of a player coaches will love. Especially if Hampton falls on day three of the Draft. Standing 6'0' and 220 lbs, with the ability to run a 4.46 second 40-yard dash, it is easy to envision Hampton in an NFL backfield soon. New England Patriot fans may be able to envision Hampton in their backfield, potentially rejoining his former quarterback Drake Maye. Whether it is the Patriots or another team in need of a running back in the middle rounds of the draft, Hampton is an NFL-ready prospect who had the third-most rushing yards after contact in college football. While he may not have as many eye-popping collegiate numbers as some of the running backs behind him, Hampton has one of the highest floors of the backfield options in this year's draft, making him a safe choice in the third or fourth round. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 01: Cam Skattebo #4 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after throwing ... More a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) One running back that could have an argument to be selected before Hampton is Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo. Skattebo entered the National limelight as the Sun Devils made a last minute push to the College Football Playoff, winning the conference by going on a 6-0 run to end the regular season. In that stretch, Skattebo compiled 720 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 223 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns to earn a date with Texas in the first round. In that first round thriller that took two overtimes to determine a winner, Skattebo ran for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, while reeling in eight catches and 99 yards in the backfield. The two-way threat trailed just Jeanty for the most scrimmage yards in college football with 2,316. For a player that takes a healthy dosage of both rushing attempts and targets, Skattebo is the first player since Christian McCaffrey in 2015 to record over 1,500 rushing and 500 receiving yards. At 5'10', 219 lbs, the task of tackling the physical running back will continue to be a challenge at the NFL level. The question remains if his speed can translate to be an effective running back in space. However, with the abilities to transition to either a fullback or to be utilized as a third-down back and put in a spread offense, the flexibility alone may be worth a selection in this year's draft. ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball ... More in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by) If it were not for TreVeyon Henderson sharing a backfield with another 2025 Draft Prospect, Henderson may have more of an argument for being the top running back available. Henderson finished his collegiate career by hoisting the National Championship for the Ohio State Buckeyes after starting as a true freshman. In his freshman season, Henderson led the Big Ten in yards per attempt with 6.8 on 183 total attempts. After two seasons that Henderson failed to produce at as efficient of a level as he did in 2021, he returned to Ohio State for his senior year. In 16 games, Henderson returned to the top of the Big Ten in terms of yards per attempt with 7.1, which was also eighth-best in the FBS. The 5'10', 202 lb athlete has years of experience in Ryan Day's pro-style offense, with relatively low mileage for a running back that played in 47 collegiate games (590 career carries). The only issue that may hurt Henderson's case to rise in the draft is the fact that he was never the 'bellcow' running back that the rest of these top options were for their respective programs. In a single season, Henderson has never surpassed 1,250 rushing yards, barely surpassing 1,000 in his senior year. Plus, with the embarrassment of riches seen in Ohio State, especially on the offensive line, teams may be hesitant to commit to Henderson as the RB1. Instead, it may be best for Henderson's career to join an NFL team in contention, where he can grow in prominence in a 'running back by committee' offense. For teams that do not need the running back they draft to be the top option by Week One, but are instead looking for a potential day-three steal, there will be a multitude of options still available. Whether teams are interested in Henderson's partner in the backfield at Ohio State, Quinshon Judkins, whose athletic abilities jumped off the screen at the NFL Combine. The 6'1', 224 lbs frame of Iowa's Kaleb Johnson may have gotten himself drafted, even if he did not rush for 1,537 yards and 21 scores in 2024. Or, for any teams that were unable to select Travis Etienne in the past, Trevor Etienne from Georgia has the potential to be a player worth taking a flyer on. However the 2025 NFL Draft unfolds, more teams than not will be taking a look into the loaded running back class for this year. Only time will tell which team was able to find the standout, or if the standout was the student athlete who nearly broke a 30-year record.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Predicting the Bears' first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft
The 2025 NFL draft is here, and the Chicago Bears have the 10th overall pick, where they'll be looking to add an impact contributor to the roster. The Bears will have no shortage of top prospects to choose from with their Top 10 selection, but there are questions about how the board will fall. Offensive skill players like running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Tyler Warren have been linked to Chicago, but there's no guarantee they make it to 10. Meanwhile, it's not out of the question for the Bears to once again address the trenches after overhauling the offensive and defensive lines in free agency. Advertisement Then there's the possibility of trading back (or even trading up). But it's important to remember that Chicago has four selections in the Top 75, so there will be opportunities to add several impact players between the first two days. Ahead of the draft, our Bears Wire staff is taking a crack at predicting what Chicago does with its first-round selection at 10th overall. And it shouldn't come as a surprise that we all can't seem to agree in what's expected to be a "wild" first round. Alyssa Barbieri: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Boise State Broncos during their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Dec. 31, 2024. There's been some speculation about Chicago potentially trading up for running back Ashton Jeanty, but I think they can stand pat and still land a top playmaker for head coach Ben Johnson. It's no secret that the Bears are interested in Tyler Warren, who Johnson praised as 'the definition of a football player." Add in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen talking about how Warren will give defenses a headache, and it sounds like he's a real possibility for Chicago at 10th overall -- should he make it past the New York Jets at seventh overall. Warren is one of the top playmakers in this draft, and he would thrive in Ben Johnson's offense with his ability to line up anywhere and create mismatches. A 1-2 punch of Cole Kmet and Warren would be huge for this offense. Brendan Sugrue: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan It seems like every day, there is a new player that I think the Bears will zero in on at No. 10—or possibly earlier if you buy into the rumors swirling around. With the day of the draft finally here, I'm betting that the Bears stay put and simply cannot pass up the opportunity to draft Mason Graham when he falls to them at No. 10. Graham is the top defensive tackle in this year's class and can be the three-technique they have been lacking in recent years. Adding him to a group that includes Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, and Andrew Billings would be a major boost for the defensive line. Ryan Poles has spent every first-round pick on an offensive player. This time, he goes defense. Mike Pendleton: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State I'm not buying into the chatter of needing to trade up to take Ashton Jeanty higher than the 10th overall pick. A lot of the smoke comes up to see what team may want to jump in the fire, only to normally regret the price they paid to move up. I believe the Bears can call other teams' bluff, stand pat, and let Jeanty fall to them. While some may feel that a running back that early is a big risk, Ben Johnson proved that theory can be proven wrong when Detroit drafted Jahmyr Gibbs. There was plenty of criticism around D'Andre Swift's first season in Chicago, but an improved offensive line, and Jeanty would completely rebuild the offense and rushing attack. Vincent Parise: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas Nov 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) blocks Kentucky Wildcats player during the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images The Chicago Bears should take one of Mason Graham or Will Campbell if one of them miraculously falls to them at 10. In the likely scenario that they are both gone, Kelvin Banks Jr. needs to be the selection. The offensive line is better, but it isn't good enough to pass on using a Top 10 pick to help it some more. The defensive linemen depth in this draft makes it worth going for one in the second round if they can snag a good offensive lineman like Banks. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Predicting the Bears' first-round pick
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Will Bears Move Up In The Draft To Land A Cornerstone Player?
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 31: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos runs the ball during ... More the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Penn State defeated Boise State 31-14. (Photo by) There's no way to know what the Bears are going to do with their first-round pick in Thursday night's draft. If you knew how the first nine were going to fall you could make an educated guess about Ryan Poles' thinking with No. 10, but even then it would be a guessing game. This much seems certain: Poles' focus is on improving the offense around second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who was outplayed by Jayden Daniels as a rookie. The players of the highest interest for the Bears seem to be running back Ashton Jeanty, tackle Will Campbell and tight end Tyler Warren, with the perceived second-best tackle, Armand Membou, possibly also a major consideration. But if those standouts are flying off the board, Poles may have to make an uncomfortable decision to move up in the draft before they're all gone. The options are to stay put and take the best available player, regardless of position — most likely looking to a defensive player — or make trades to move down in the draft, where the price wouldn't be as high to take a less celebrated prospect. If Poles wanted to move downward, he could turn the seven picks he's holding into 10 or even 11 players. One projection compiled using Pro Football Focus' draft simulator showed the Bears with 11 players, including running back Omarion Hampton at 22, tackle Josh Conerly Jr at 31 and tight end Elijah Arroyo at 65. It's questionable whether those players will last that long, but you get the idea. But what if Poles covets Jeanty, Campbell, Membou and Warren so much he wants to move up in the draft? That would mean he'd have to be creative to have seven or more picks when the draft ends Saturday. The most realistic possibility might be the Charlotte Panthers, a familiar trade partner for Poles who this year are holding nine picks. The issue for General Manager Dan Morgan is that there's a gap of 49 picks between their first-rounder and their second-rounder, which started out with the Rams. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported the Panthers are looking for more picks. The Bears are holding two second-rounders (39, which came to the Bears in the swap of the first overall pick in 2023, and 41), which would make them a good fit if Poles has a chance to land Jeanty, Campbell, Membou or Warren. Trades during the draft come in a variety of ways but rarely stray too far from the chart NFL Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson drew up. He assigned a value to each of the first 224 picks (although this year's draft runs 257 picks). The best fit for the Panthers and Bears has Chicago sending Carolina the 10th and 41st picks this year for the eighth this year and a second-rounder in 2026. Another combination that makes some sense is that the Bears send Carolina the 41st overall for the 74th overall after swapping picks in the first round. The Johnson chart says the Bears could also ask for the 114th overall but you wonder if Morgan would do a three-for-two swap in terms of picks. That answer lies in how badly he wants to add a pick in the second round rather than wait for his one in the third to come around. Jacksonville (No. 5), Las Vegas (No. 6), the Jets (No.7) and New Orleans (No. 9) are also candidates for potential upward moves by the Bears. The cost of doing such business is most expensive with the Jaguars and least with the Saints. The Johnson chart says the cost for the Bears to move into the fifth spot would be swapping the 41st overall — the second of Chicago's two second-rounders — for the 107th overall, which is the first of Jacksonville's two fourth-rounders. Poles would have to be awfully motivated to make this move but don't rule it out. Don't rule anything out, for that matter. The first two hours on Thursday night are going to be fascinating.
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
New York Jets 'Moving in Silence' For Two Prospects at No. 7?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New York Jets could go a variety of different ways in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sitting with the No. 7 overall pick, most predictions have had them looking in the direction of Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou and shoring up the offensive line. However, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, new head coach Aaron Glenn could be looking in a different direction. Tyler Warren #44 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a pass for a touchdown over Ty Benefield #0 of the Boise State Broncos during the third quarter in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Tyler Warren #44 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a pass for a touchdown over Ty Benefield #0 of the Boise State Broncos during the third quarter in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl."The Jets, who own the No. 7 pick, have made a concerted effort to "move in silence" this offseason, as new coach Aaron Glenn put it at last month's league meeting... What the Jets wind up doing this week still is the subject of speculation, shrouded in more secrecy than usual. But they did recently and quietly have Penn State's Tyler Warren in for a visit, and there are certain members of their organization who are said to be enamored with the player many consider to be the top tight end in this class." Warren, who is coming off of a season in which he won the Mackey Award for college football's best test end, would be a great get for New York at No. 7 to help out new quarterback Justin Fields. He can play all over the field and is a threat everywhere from the red zone to the deep ball. However, Schefter also mentioned that the Jets could surprise even more people, and take a prospect who plays Glenn's old position. "If the Jets target the other side of the ball, some people around the league believe Glenn could target a cornerback, with Texas' Jahdae Barron as an option. Glenn, of course, played cornerback for 15 seasons in the NFL." Barron himself is also coming off of a spectacular year with the Longhorns, being named a consensus All-American and winning the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in the process. He would also be a great fit opposite of Sauce Gardner, and give the Jets an extremely dangerous pass defense in the process. Suffice it to say, no matter which way the Jets elect to go, they will should find a tremendous player at No. 7
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Ashton Jeanty Reveals His Projected Target Range in NFL Draft
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For months now, it has seemed inevitable that Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty would end up somewhere in the top 10. With the Raiders being the most highly projected suitor for some time now at No. 6, as well as recent projections for Jeanty to each of New England, Jacksonville and Chicago, it seems somewhat of a lock. But according to Jeanty, the highest possible outcome for him still seems to be Las Vegas. Running back Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos runs during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024. Running back Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos runs during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024."I think the earliest that I will go is No. 6," Jeanty told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "That's my belief and that would be the Raiders at that pick or somebody else trading up to to get in front of them. Possibly, I think that's what's gonna happen. That said, it also appears the worst case scenario seems to be Jeanty falling into the lap of his dream team with the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12. "I would say No. 12. Yeah, I would think that would be the floor," Jeanty told Florio when asked about the lowest possible outcome. "That's them Cowboys." Jeanty, of course, has long been connected to the Cowboys as well, thanks in part to his open campaigning to end up with a star on his helmet. After all, as a native of Frisco, TX, he grew up as a fan of America's team. "I think it would be dope, a lot of great people there, a lot of talented players," Jeanty said in February," via "Potentially to be a part of that, I think that would be a great opportunity... It would be special, growing up in Frisco, spending a lot of time out there, I think it would be cool to have the star on my helmet again. Playing for Lone Star, I had a star on my helmet as well, so it would be a dope moment if that were to happen." He will find out one way or the other on Thursday night, when the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft officially kicks off.
