Ryan Poles must avoid overreaching and trading up for this player

The NFL Draft is mere hours away, as rumors and mock draft reach a fever pitch with what the Chicago Bears could potentially do with the tenth overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Over the past few days there have been significant rumors that believe that general manager Ryan Poles could be intent on trading up in the first round to ensure that the Bears are able to select running back Ashton Jeanty from Boise State. Although there might be a desire to move up, it is actually in Poles’ best interest to avoid trading assets, especially for a running back, with the remaining roster needs that Chicago currently has.

Ryan Poles can’t afford to be all in on Ashon Jeanty and sacrifice other positions of need

Several NFL insiders, including Pat Leonard and Simon Charles, have linked the Bears to potentially trading up depending on how the draft breaks out through the first five selections. Both pundits believe that Poles and Chicago is keen on taking Jeanty if they trade up from the tenth spot. Given the slew of high-talent prospects available within the first ten selections of the draft, Ryan Poles needs to invoke restraint if he has a desire to move up.

The issue if Poles trades up in the first round is the additional resources the Bears will lose to move up in a draft that is very deep at the running back position. Depending on who a potential trade would be struck with, it could cost Chicago either one of their two second round selections or a third-round selection. Although Chicago is in need of a running back for new head coach Ben Johnson’s run-first offense, Ryan Poles isn’t in a position to spend multiple picks on just one player.

Chicago is in a unique position of having three selections in the top 41 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft and have several positions of need, including defensive end, offensive tackle, tight end, and safety. Given the deep depth of prospects at the defensive end, defensive tackle, and running back position, Ryan Poles can address several needs within the first two rounds of the draft. However, there could be a position left unaddressed if Poles believes that Jeanty is too good to miss out on, even with the deep class of running backs.

Furthermore, with how the 2025 NFL Draft is projected to shake out, the Bears could be in a situation where they can take the best player available at a specific position, whether be Mason Graham, Tyler Warren, or Will Campbell. There is also a chance that Jeanty is there for Poles and the Bears at ten depending on if the draft unfolds a certain way where Graham and Warren are off the board. With multiple mock drafts from several prominent NFL analysts, the consensus belief for the Bears is that there will be an elite-talent there for the team if they stay at the tenth spot.

If Poles doesn’t trade up and Jeanty is off the board before the tenth pick, the Bears still have a chance to grab a potential day-one starter at ten and another with the 39th selection in the second round. Ryan Poles only gets one starter if Chicago trades up and loses their second-round pick in a trade up with another team. There is also a scenario where the team walks out taking Jeanty at ten and then another quality player such as Nic Scourton or Derrick Harmon in the second round without a potential trade up.

Ryan Poles must refrain from giving into fear of missing out on Jeanty, especially with how he has been fearful of missing out on a specific talent in prior drafts. Last year, Ian Cunningham had to talk Poles out of trading up a few spots to take wide receiver Rome Odunze, who the Bears were able to draft ninth overall after holding off on potentially trading up. Other teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots could force the Bears to give up more than they could potentially want to, knowing how the general manager has shown desperation in previous drafts.

Running back depth in the draft gives Ryan Poles immense flexibility to save or acquire more draft assets

Another aspect that Poles needs to consider when potentially trading up to take Jeanty is the small drop off from the Boise State back to other running backs expected to be taken in the first and second round. Ball-carrying prospects, including TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Kaleb Johnson, and Omarion Hampton are all expected to be drafted before the third round. Furthermore, all of the running back listed are seen as a potential difference-makers with a few being seen as good as Jeanty.

Imagine a scenario where Poles and the Bears stays at ten to select either Graham or Warren and then are able to take either Henderson or Johnson, who are seen as potential starting caliber running backs. This would enable Chicago to address multiple positions of need because Ryan Poles refrained from trading up to get a ball-carrier that costs the team multiple picks. Not trading up would also keep the Bears from losing valuable mid-to-late round selections over the next two years would protect the team from not being able to address an offensive line that could potentially need another overhaul by 2027.

The depth at running back gives Poles and Chicago leverage not only to stay at ten but also gives the team the opportunity to trade back if there is another team wanting to move up to ten. There could be a situation where a team like the Colts want to trade up to take a tight end or the Steelers wanting to move up to take a quarterback, which would allow the Bears to move back and add selections in later rounds. Adding another second round or third round selection should be an option for Ryan Poles if the draft plays out to where if a prospect they like projects to fall a few spots.

The one certainty for the Chicago Bears leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft is that there will be a plethora of players available at multiple positions regardless of if they trade up or not. Ryan Poles cannot afford to sacrifice addressing one or two positions solely to address the running back position by trading up to take Jeanty. Poles is in a rare position to take three prospects within the first two rounds of the draft which is a rarity and something a franchise gets to do once in a generation and is something lost if a trade up takes place.