Raiders were able to draft Ashton Jeanty over Bears after assist from the Browns

The Las Vegas Raiders landed one of the blue-chip prospects of the 2025 NFL draft in Boise State superstar running back Ashton Jeanty, but they needed a bit of an assist from the Cleveland Browns to get him.

According to the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer, the Chicago Bears had their sights set on moving up to the No. 5 pick to grab Jeanty, but the asking price from Cleveland was simply too much for general manager Ryan Poles.

Wiederer adds that the Browns were looking for the Bears' No. 10 pick and at least one of the team's original second-round picks. The Bears said "no" and the Raiders were able to draft the running back at No. 6 overall.

“Jeanty was widely considered one of the truly elite prospects of the draft class, regardless of position,” Wiederer said. “And while the Bears made exploratory but purposeful calls to gauge trade-up possibilities, Poles couldn’t justify the price tag for jumping ahead of the Raiders at No. 6, even with the Browns open for business on trades at No. 5. In all likelihood, the Bears would have had to send the No. 10 pick plus at least one of their original second-round picks to make such a move.”

In the end, the Browns, who initially traded back from No. 2 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, drafted Mason Graham, who was reportedly one of the possible fallback options for Las Vegas if Jeanty wasn't on the board, as was Jalon Walker.

“And if Jeanty wouldn’t have been there, you know, a Mason Graham, a Jalon Walker… [but] probably Jalon,” On SI's Hondo Carpenter said of the Raiders' possible fallback options for Jeanty.

Meanwhile, the Bears did not draft a running back until the seventh round, so they're set to enter the season with a room that includes D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and Kyle Monangai, the seventh-rounder.

Look for Chicago to continue exploring a way to upgrade that room ahead of what is a crucial season for Caleb Williams and the Bears.

MORE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS NEWS

Where Las Vegas Raiders rank in strength of schedule for 2025 NFL season

Raiders may have preferred 2 prospects over Ashton Jeanty in NFL draft

Proposed Raiders signing adds $100 million wide receiver as insurance for draft picks