Ranking Ashton Jeanty's Best NFL Draft Landing Spots amid Bears' Interest

With Cam Ward continuing to trend as the Tennessee Titans' choice at No. 1, there might not be much drama at the very top of the 2025 NFL draft. Things could quickly get interesting after that, though, as teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants pick between taking a quarterback or a premium prospect like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty could bring even more intrigue to the draft's opening night.

The 2025 class is expected to be deep at running back, and ball-carriers rarely go in the top 10. However, the sixth-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's draft board is perceived as a difference-maker who should draw interest early in Round 1.

According to ESPN's Matt Miller, the Chicago Bears "love" Jeanty and could take him at 10th overall "if he's still around."

Because of the depth of the running back class, the value of the position and the overall uncertainty of early selections after No. 1, it's hard to predict where Jeanty could ultimately land in the draft order.

It's a bit easier, however, to predict which teams could provide the 21-year-old with an ideal NFL home. We'll do exactly that here by examining factors like supporting cast, projected role and scheme fit.

Why Jeanty's Draft Range Could Be Wide (and What Makes for a Great Landing Spot)

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Theoretically, just about every running-back-needy team could be in play for Jeanty—and not just because first-round trades are a thing.

The Heisman runner-up projects as a future NFL star. The 5'9", 215-pound playmaker possesses an elite combination of power and breakaway ability that allowed him to log 2,739 scrimmage yards and 30 touchdowns this past season alone.

"Jeanty's game translates incredibly well to the NFL," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He fits today's run offenses with wide zone and pin-pull gap schemes. Jeanty is a bell-cow running back who can shoulder the load for an NFL rushing attack."

With such a high ceiling, Jeanty could even garner consideration from teams that already have a starting ball-carrier. ESPN's Rich Cimini recently speculated that the New York Jets might consider "moving" Breece Hall if Jeanty is available at No. 7.

On a related note, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay recently examined four potential trade suitors for Hall if such a scenario occurs.

On the other hand, Jeanty had a very heavy workload in 2024 (374 carries, 23 receptions), and this is a very deep RB class. Jeanty is only the first of nine running backs ranked inside of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's top 100 prospects.

There's a non-zero chance that teams picking in the top half of Round 1 will pass on Jeanty knowing that they can probably find a starting-caliber back on Day 2.

Heading into the draft, Jeanty should be more interested in landing with the right team than in a particular draft slot. While there's roughly a $10 million contract difference between what's slotted for the 10th pick and the 32nd selection, running backs should be eager to earn that lucrative second contract as soon as possible (after three seasons).

That second deal is typically where running backs find their biggest NFL earnings potential.

To get that second deal early—and earn a top-of-the-market deal in the process—Jeanty will want to land with a team that can showcase his talents, put him behind a good offensive line and, possibly, deliver a few individual and team accolades along the way.

With all of that in mind, these are our picks for Jeanty's five best landing spots in the 2025 draft.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Matt Freed

Bengals QB Joe Burrow

There are a couple of reasons Jeanty should be intrigued by landing with the Cincinnati Bengals—either at 17th overall or following a draft-day trade.

For one, the Bengals have an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow and two terrific receivers in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They also have a good complementary back in Chase Brown, who recorded 1,358 scrimmage yards last season.

In Cincinnati, Jeanty could operate without commanding most of the defensive attention. With Brown in the fold, he probably wouldn't be overworked, as many backs are while on their rookie contracts.

If new defensive coordinator Al Golden can produce some defensive improvements, the Bengals could be back in the Super Bowl mix too, which would only help Jeanty's NFL profile.

However, there's a fine line between being overworked and underutilized. Zac Taylor runs a pass-first offense (30th in rushing attempts last season), which could prevent Jeanty from being a perennial All-Pro.

The Bengals probably wouldn't be inclined to give Jeanty an extension at the first opportunity. Cincinnati already has a habit of waiting to do deals, and it will soon have a lot of money tied up in the trio of Burrow, Chase and Higgins.

Add in the fact that the Bengals don't have a great offensive line—it was ranked 30th overall by Pro Football Focus last season—and Cincinnati looks like a good landing spot but probably not an ideal one.

4. Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher)

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll

It only takes a cursory search of internet mock drafts to find connections between Jeanty and the Las Vegas Raiders. It's a pairing that would make sense for Las Vegas because A.) the team doesn't have a quality long-term starter on its roster and B.) new head coach Pete Carroll has a history of leaning on the ground game.

"New coach Pete Carroll is going to want much more out of his run game, and Jeanty could immediately flip the script," ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. wrote in his latest mock draft.

The fit is so obvious that we'll probably see the Raiders go in a different direction at No. 6. (How often do frequently mocked selections actually come to fruition?)

Still, Jeanty could do much worse than landing in Las Vegas. While the Raiders offensive line isn't great (ranked 26th by PFF), it has some solid pieces in Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham and Jackson Powers-Johnson. The supporting cast, which features Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, has become fairly strong with the addition of Geno Smith.

Jeanty should be heavily featured in Chip Kelly's offense, especially with Carroll leading the overall game plan. He'd be a very strong complement to free-agent addition Raheem Mostert, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Las Vegas double-dipped into the RB pool over draft weekend.

Given Carroll's recent history of using a committee backfield, Jeanty could probably avoid being overused to the degree that Josh Jacobs often was while on his rookie deal with the Raiders.

3. Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

If Jeanty wants to find the NFL spotlight—and, possibly, the endorsement deals that come with it—he couldn't ask for a better team than the Dallas Cowboys. Whether they're good or bad, the Cowboys are regularly in the headlines and on the rundown of sports talk shows.

Though they've gotten away from it in recent years, the Cowboys also have a history of rewarding their best players with early extensions. Dallas used the fourth overall pick on running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 and handed him a six-year extension after his third season.

Dallas' supporting cast is fairly solid too. Dak Prescott is an above-average quarterback when healthy, and CeeDee Lamb is one of the league's better No. 1 receivers. While Jeanty would be the centerpiece of the rushing attack—Dallas let 2024 starter Rico Dowdle depart in free agency—he wouldn't be regularly asked to carry the offense by himself.

Jeanty would likely lead a committee that also includes Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.

Schematically, the Cowboys would provide a strong fit. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer has traditionally emphasized the running game and a balanced offense. As Dallas' offensive coordinator over the past two seasons, Schottenheimer helped both Dowdle and Tony Pollard record 1,000-yard seasons.

Jeanty's only real concern with Dallas might be its lack of a quality offensive line. Pro Football Focus ranked the Cowboys' line 25th overall last season, and that was before future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin retired this offseason.

2. Denver Broncos

AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan

Broncos head coach Sean Payton

Denver made the postseason in 2024 despite struggling to find a consistent running game. Head coach Sean Payton tried to find balance, but while Denver ranked 13th in rushing attempts, it ranked only 21st in yards per carry.

Adding Jeanty would immediately solve the Broncos' rushing issues. He'd be a high-end complement to speedy change-of-pace back Jaleel McLaughlin and would aid second-year quarterback Bo Nix tremendously.

Jeanty would also find a great supporting cast in Denver. Nix proved to be an above-average starter last season, while Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele were solid receivers.

Denver's offensive line was ranked second overall by Pro Football Focus, behind only that of the Philadelphia Eagles—who just paved the way for Saquon Barkley's record-setting rushing campaign.

Payton's system would be a wonderful fit for Jeanty. He emphasizes offensive balance, and he's traditionally used a two-back tandem to help preserve his backs. He would have that in Jeanty and McLaughlin. In Denver, Jeanty would likely find a featured role without being run into the ground before becoming extension-eligible.

While it feels unlikely that Jeanty would fall to the Broncos at 20th overall, it could happen because of the aforementioned reasons—for what it's worth, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson recently mocked Jeanty to Denver at No. 20.

And if Jeanty slides out of the top 10, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Broncos move up to get him.

1. Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Erin Hooley

Bears RB D'Andre Swift

The Bears, it would seem, are hoping that Jeanty lasts until the 10th overall pick—or, at least, falls into within a reasonable trade range.

"The Bears love Ashton Jeanty, according to scouts around the league who've observed the team's activity this offseason. So the Boise State running back could be the pick at No. 10," Miller wrote.

Jeanty should be very interested in landing with the Bears too, and not just because of that top-10 rookie contract.

Chicago has a promising quarterback in Caleb Williams and very good receivers in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. It has a top-tier tight end in Cole Kmet and a quality starting running back in D'Andre Swift (1,346 scrimmage yards in 2024).

While the Bears had serious offensive line issues in 2024 (ranked 24th by PFF), they took steps to improve their line this offseason. Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright were a solid tackle tandem, and Chicago added interior linemen Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson to the mix.

Most importantly, the Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be their head coach. Johnson's scheme and Williams' skill set would create an ideal situation for Jeanty.

"Jeanty's patience, vision, elite contact balance and fit for zone-blocking concepts will pair well alongside Williams," Parson said in the B/R Scouting Department's latest mock draft. "Jeanty will help elevate their play-action and RPO passing attacks, which is where Williams thrives."

In Detroit, Johnson used formation spacing and creative blocking schemes to forge a dynamic rushing attack. He also used a true two-back system that allowed both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to shine. If he could do the same with Jeanty and Swift in Chicago, the rookie could become an instant NFL star while still having the legs to be a starter well into his second contract.

Jeanty may not last until the 10th pick, and the Bears may ultimately decide that they can find better value at No. 10 by targeting a different position. However, landing with Chicago might be a dream draft-day scenario for the Boise State product.