Upgrading the roster was the primary goal for the Chicago Bears. It didn’t matter where. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson only knew they had to land as many good players as possible. That said, certain positions needed help. One of them was running back. While D’Andre Swift posted over 1300 yards last season, the Bears were still 25th in rushing. They needed somebody to complement him in the backfield, especially in Johnson’s run-heavy system.
Free agency was out of the question. Chicago had already given Swift a hefty contract the previous year. If they aimed to find serious help, it would have to come through the draft. Unfortunately, the board didn’t fall their way. Opportunities in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th rounds to land true difference-makers fell through. Rather than forcing the issue, Poles stuck to his board and took higher-graded players at other positions. The move didn’t come until the 7th round with Kyle Monangai arriving via Rutgers.
Some believe the depth chart is fine as is. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune doesn’t think that is the case.
What I do know is a lot of playing time and carries are up for grabs. Opportunity is all Roschon Johnson realistically could have been seeking, and with the Bears unable to land a running back in the draft before the seventh round, his chances haven’t taken a hit. It’s all about what he does with those opportunities from here.
Right now, the primary competition is D’Andre Swift, who has a different skill set, and rookie Kyle Monangai. I’d expect the Bears to add to the backfield before training camp. Whether that’s a player with ample or minimal experience, we don’t know.
The Chicago Bears will likely decide by training camp.
They will use Organized Team Activities and mandatory minicamps to assess where they are in the backfield. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy will be crucial to that. He’s one of the best in the business. If he feels an additional infusion of help is needed, the Chicago Bears will get it. They have some interesting veteran options sitting out there. Former Pro Bowler Nick Chubb is available. Cam Akers, Jamaal Williams, and J.K. Dobbins are others to watch. This will come down to price, health, and fit. Three of those names have a history of health issues, while the other (Williams) fell off a cliff the past two seasons. Maybe the Bears could also look into the waiver wire for help at the end of August.
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