Attention for all NFL prospects will soon turn away from the Combine to the next step in the pre-draft process. In the case of top running back Ashton Jeanty, he will draw considerable interest over the coming weeks. 
Jeanty plans to take top-30 visits with the Cowboys and Bears, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. It comes as no surprise Dallas is among the teams which intends to host the Boise State standout. Jeanty himself said in November he would welcome the opportunity to play for his hometown team.
The Cowboys elected to attempt a committee approach in 2024 after allowing Tony Pollard to depart in free agency. A reunion with Ezekiel Elliott did not work as planned, although Rico Dowdle topped 1,000 rushing yards by handling by far the heaviest workload of his career. After Dallas ranked just 27th in the NFL in production on the ground, though, adding a new top back (especially if Dowdle departs in free agency) is an obvious goal, something which could come as early as the 12th overall pick in the draft.
The Bears (owners of the No. 10 selection) were among the numerous teams which made a splash on the veteran market last offseason. D’Andre Swift inked a three-year, $24MM deal in free agency and handled a career-high 295 touches during his debut Chicago campaign. The former Lion and Eagle’s base salary for 2025 ($7.93MM) will be guaranteed in full by March 17, so he will be counted on to remain a central figure in the Bears’ offense next year.
Chicago traded away Khalil Herbert midway through the 2024 season, while Travis Homer and Darrynton Evans are pending free agents. The team could therefore look to April’s draft to add depth behind Swift and Roschon Johnson. The 2025 class is lauded for its crop of running backs, however, so the Bears (and others) could wait until Day 2 or 3 and find impact players at the position.
Jeanty is seen as a first-round candidate based on his massive output during his time with the Broncos. His 2,601 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns in 2024 alone helped him earn a number of accolades, including an All-American nod and the Maxwell Award. The Heisman runner-up did not take part in on-field drills at the Combine, but he will do so at Boise State’s Pro Day. As the lead-in to the draft continues, visits with several other teams will no doubt be arranged.
Hope Poles is smart. first you get a line. Then you draft the RB. Unless he land 4 new starters in FA this is not the pick as good as he is. Remember it’s Horse then Cart.
Cowboys have a good run blocking line just ask Dowdle…they can get a left guard to replace Martin anytime in the draft…
If they think Jeanty is “Generational” u take him at pick 12 No Questions Asked!!!
If they had the #1 pick in the draft, they couldn’t replace a generational all pro, soon to be hall of famer like Martin.
Yeah, I agree. Booker would be the smart play at 10(especially since Smith was franchised) Jeanty would be the fun pick, almost a luxury pick. But Poles inability to build a proper OL doesn’t give him that “luxury”. I’d like to see OL/DL with first 3 picks, maybe take a swing at RB at 72(Kaleb Johnson?)
Heck even if he DOES somehow get 4 starters via FA, he STILL better draft for the OL with the 10th pick. If Poles drafts anyone other than the consensus OL available then he needs to be fired at that moment. No more ignoring the line, even if he has an amazing FA period, which I doubt, he better not ignore the line in the draft. Typically drafted linemen need at least 1-2 years to get acclimatized to the NFL level of play. IMO, a good GM should be drafting a ‘D’ and an ‘O’ lineman in the first few rounds every year.If by consensus there are none, fine, then you better get one of two developmental guys later in the draft, but Good GMs have to emphasize line continuity to have successful teams.Especially so now with another game in the season and the ease of injuries.
The good news about the Chiefs franchising Trey Smith is now they save 25 million year on a Guard and can now chase an Edge in FA to spend that money on and get more bang for your buck. I’d much rather spend 25 million on a DL than an OG when I have 4 picks in the top 72. Dalman is now the top priority for the Bears as everything starts there and Poles has made absolutely horrible decisions there so far. I mean we have no idea what we have already here. Jenkins isn’t horrible, Amegadjie hasn’t been on the field, Stromberg was a nice add I think even though they were stupid not to play him, Jones is playable but would be a better backup, Pryor also if they bring him back depending on what Johnson wants. They can still get a good RB in the 2nd for sure and maybe even at 72. OT’s though? Not so much if you don’t get one early usually. You build an O Line from the outside in with 2 stud OT’s and a solid C. The rest falls into place.
The draft is pretty deep at RB so you can’t go to wrong waiting. I hope the cowboys go RB, WR, CB in the first 3 but as always it’s whatever the board dictates.
If I have it right, Jeanty fumbled 10 times on 830 touches in college. No way would I use a first round pick on a RB with ball security that weak. Yeah, maybe he can improve on that with pro coaching but there are no guarantees. I’m still upset the Bears gave the Bengals RB Khalil Herbert (solid ball security) for basically nothing in return.
Poles screwed up when he didn’t take Chase Brown when he had the chance and I believe( Not sure) took his flyer on Tyler Scott( Not looking good). Jury is still out on passing on Schmitz the C and taking Stevenson who has alternated looking real good and looking like an extra on Bozo’s Circus. Can coaching make those 2 relevant? Better be really good coaches, As they keep telling us they are. Bienemi wasn’t going to make Travis Homer look like Matt Forte no matter how good he is.
Its not often a guy literally costs you a game with his antics, but gets to actually dress for the next. It just showed how much of Eberflus’s tenor was a clown show
The other really stupid thing the Bears did was trade a 4th round pick for Keenan Allen AND paid him 23 million dollars instead of chasing One of the FA Edge guys that were available LAST year. There was a much better class available. Danielle Hunter was my personal favorite. Sweat and Hunter would be a dominant pair and would have meant more wins IMO than a WR in that spot. Especially after drafting Odunze. After trading for Allen they should have spent that #9 pick on OL help. Or a DT. They’d be in better shape now. Bad draft strategy. I love Rome but with Allen and Moore he was basically a 3rd wheel and so was Kmet. We can only hope they are in the plan this year.