Ashton Jeanty remains one of the focale points of the draft as the top back and the Bears have a greater need for an all-purpose starting running back than they do just about any other position.
Maybe only edge rusher is as big of a need for them now that they've addressed the offensive line, and they have starters at the edge position. They always can find top edge candidates suitable for their particular scheme into Round 2.
Could they find someone better for their offense than Jeanty anywhere in the draft? It seems unlikely.
There are other good backs in what is an excellent crop of backs overall, but Jeanty is the standout.
THE OBSTACLE TO BEARS DRAFTING ASHTON JEANTY
The latest mock draft from the website Drafttek.com, the site that for years has been the one posting the draft value chart started by Jimmy Johnson, has Jeanty as the 10th pick overall to the Bears in Round 1.
DraftKings currently has the Bears as odds-on favorites to draft Jeanty at No. 10.
It seems entirely unlikely with all of the noise being made about the Raiders and Pete Carroll hoping to draft Jeanty.
The 33rd Team's James Foster has the Raiders selecting Jeanty in his most recent mock draft.
Mocks for ESPN's Field Yates, CBS Sports' Garrett Podell and Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick all had Jeanty landing with the Raiders.
The logic behind this is sound, but one other possibility often mentioned in mocks is how Dallas covets Jeanty and will trade up with the Raiders, who actually need wide receiver help more than anything else. Still, it's hard to see the Raiders satisfied to move back to No. 12 and take a less prospect.
There is a way the Bears can circumvent all of this and still acquire Jeanty for themselves.
They need to trade up and pick Jeanty before the sixth overall pick routes him away to Las Vegas or Dallas.
The Bears are equipped to do this. According to Drafttek's value chart, they could simply offer one of their second-round picks and move all the way up to fifth and grab Jeanty.
