Former Exec Makes Wild Declaration If Ashton Jeanty Goes To Bears

The Chicago Bears can go in almost any direction with their 10th pick in the 1st round of the draft next month. Perhaps no player has garnered more of a spirited debate than Ashton Jeanty. Many believe there is a good chance the Boise State running back and Heisman finalist could be available at that spot. If so, the Bears would be in a tough position. Usually, it's considered unwise to take a running back that high. However, his blue-chip talent and the resurgence of running games across the NFL make the case an easier sell.

Besides, the new head coach, Ben Johnson, loves to run the ball, as he has proved in Detroit. The Bears used to take 1st round running backs all the time. They shied away only after the 10-year stretch where they went Rashaan Salaam, Curtis Enis, and Cedric Benson. Jeanty feels like the perfect time to try again. Former NFL executive and top ESPN analyst Louis Riddick is sure of one thing: if the running back does land in Chicago, he's going to do special things right out of the gate.

Ashton Jeanty would be landing in a perfect storm situation.

The Bears just spent the past month overhauling their offensive line, headlining it with three new faces. All of them have strong reputations as run-blockers. That doesn't include Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, who have proven good at it as well. Then you have the threat of D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze in the passing game, so loading the box won't be an automatic solution. Lastly, you throw in Johnson's stellar run scheme and you couldn't ask for a better spot to drop a talent like Jeanty into.

Eric Dickerson set the NFL record for rookie rushing yards in 1983. He finished with 1,808 yards. The next year, he set the single-season record with 2,105. It was undeniably the greatest start to a career any running back has ever had. After some ugly down seasons, it also propelled the Rams back into the playoff picture. No doubt the Bears would hope Ashton Jeanty can have the same impact. After all, He just carried Boise State to the college football playoffs.