Is the next Matt Forte in the 2013 Draft?
By Heather Pink
Matt Forte is 27. Michael Bush is 28. Both are either in their prime or hitting the rocks on the way down. I like Armando Allen a lot, but I’m still not convinced that he’s the next best thing. The Chicago Bears have expressed interest in four running backs going into the 2013 NFL Draft. All would be great additions to the Bears, and maybe even the next big name to the Chicago running game.
November 17, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Johnathan Franklin (UCLA): Out of all the running backs the Bears are looking at, Johnathan Franklin is the biggest name running back. Franklin ran for 1,734 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior year, but that doesn’t scratch the surface with his abilities. He has the finesse of an NFL running back: making defenders miss, attacks the line of scrimmage, finding that small hole to squirt through, and his speed. His weaknesses are his hands and blocking abilities to keep it short and sweet. Most likely Franklin will not be taken in the first round, but I have him off the draft chart in the second round. A very advantageous pick for the Bears, and would be a great addition, but I don’t think the Bears will pick a running back in the second round.