The Chicago Bears are almost guaranteed to draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty if he makes it to the 10th pick. Everybody from the national to the local levels believes it. However, they also believe the odds are low that Jeanty will be available. There are realistic possibilities he could be taken anywhere from #5 overall to #9. The Jaguars, Raiders, and Saints all have smoke around them. In the event that happens, most believe running back is off the table. However, the Bears seemed to alter that thinking when they met with North Carolina standout Omarion Hampton.
Experts believe he is another 1st round lock due to a well-rounded game and outstanding college tape. The problem is that most don’t think he’s quite at Jeanty’s level, meaning a top 10 selection is dangerous. Then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It only takes one team to fall in love. Maybe the Bears don’t feel the same concerns about taking him that high. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune offered some clarification. He believes the Bears’ interest in Hampton is more as an option were they to trade down.
If Jeanty somehow makes it to No. 10 — and it sounds as if the chances of that happening are slim — the Bears could get a special player in a strong draft for running backs. If Jeanty is off the board, I think the chances are greater the Bears would be willing to wait until the second round, when they have two picks, or the third to scoop up a running back.
It’s possible the team is doing extended homework on Hampton in the event Ryan Poles can swing a trade down in Round 1.
Omarion Hampton is projected to go a bit later.
The consensus ranking has him landing somewhere in the early 20s range, where teams like Denver and Pittsburgh both need running backs. That means if the Bears were to drop down to the mid-to-late teens, they still have reasonable odds of landing him. Omarion Hampton has drawn comparisons to David Montgomery. He is an absolute battering ram who can power through tackles with ease, turning four-yard gains into 12, 16, and 20-yard gains. He isn’t a home run hitter, but that doesn’t matter. Sooner or later, he will pop one thanks to his ability to wear defenses down. Omarion Hampton would be a great complement to D’Andre Swift, providing the power element the Bears are missing. If they can get him after a trade down, it would be a huge win.
@Dr. Melhus —
Okay, okay!
You were wrong once; and I was wrong twice!!
I think, we may subconsciously be working on our Ryan Poles and Ian Cunningham act for TikTok.
I’ll let you decide which of the two GMs, you want to portray.
Enjoy the NFL Draft week.
@TGena: Okay, we both missed it. 50 milliseconds, or 1/20th of a second. Too many numbers floating around in my head right now.
I don’t want to sound like Swifts agent at an arbitration hearing but it seems he’s getting undersold here. I completely agree that all RB’s have a better chance to put up good numbers with good OLines. So yes, Swift did have good seasons in Phi and last year with Det where he averaged over 5y/p. What can we use to gauge his season with Bears since it’s the only one he’s had with them? One is Roshan Johnson. He was there for the year before Swift with bad Bears line, and he was there with Swift with same bad… Read more »
Montez Sweat on short yardage would be a beast! Otherwise please stop comparing Hampton to Montgomery and projecting him middle first round.
@Dr. Melhus —
Thank you for correcting my error.
D’Andre Swift’s 10-yard split was 20 milliseconds slower than Montez Sweat’s NFL Combine 10-yd. split.
Swift: 1.59 seconds,
Sweat: 1.54 seconds.
.05 seconds = 20 milliseconds
@jmscooby —
Don’t be impertinent.