Jaguars could swindle Bears in proposed blockbuster trade for Ashton Jeanty

We’re just a few hours out from the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, and insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic is reporting that GM Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears is seeking a trade up into the top five for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

The Jacksonville Jaguars should be ready to take Poles’ call if Jeanty remains on the board at pick No. 5 overall. 

If the Bears want to jump five spots for Jeanty, the price should be steep. In a recent mock draft for PFF, broadcaster Cris Collinsworth projected Jacksonville to receive pick Nos. 10 and 41 from Chicago in exchange for the fifth overall pick.

If a deal like that is on the table, GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen should be happy to swindle Chicago and cash in on a running back prospect who did most of his damage against sub-par competition in the Mountain West.

Sliding back to Chicago’s current spot at No. 10 overall makes a lot of sense for the Jaguars. There’s a ton of buzz surrounding the team’s desire to draft a difference-maker on offense in the first round, with most of the top draft analysts projecting Jeanty to Jacksonville with the fifth pick. 

MORE: Final Jaguars Day 1 draft predictions: Who NFL experts love for Jacksonville at pick No. 5 overall

The Jaguars don’t have an immediate need at that position, though, and sliding back could land them in a perfect range to select either Tetairoa McMillian — the superstar WR prospect who’s drawn comparisons to Mike Evans — Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, or Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.

Jacksonville enters Day 1 of the draft with 10 total selections. This proposed move would give them 11, with five of them inside the top 90 picks. Adding Chicago’s second-rounder would give the Jags two of the first nine picks of Friday night’s 2nd round, affording the team the chance to either draft an impact player, or potentially trade back up into the first round to land another highly-graded player on their board. 

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Chicago has excellent capital in this draft, including pick Nos. 39 and 41 in the second round. The Jaguars should jump at the chance to snag one of those picks in exchange for Jeanty, and let new Chicago head coach Ben Johnson overpay for the shiny offensive toy in what is expected to be the deepest running back draft class in recent memory.

MORE 2025 NFL DRAFT: SN's 7-round mock | Top 250 big board