5 Late Draft Running Backs for Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have four running backs, but it still not out of the question for the team to draft one late. Who could be on their radar?
Nobody sees running back as the biggest need for the Chicago Bears. While it is not, and does not crack the three biggest needs either, the depth in the position is not strong. While we do not what is had in Taquan Mizzell, we do know the ceiling isn’t necessarily high. The team re-signed Benny Cunningham, but you have to imagine if the team can upgrade from him or Mizzell, they will.
So while it may not happen in the first four rounds, from rounds five through undrafted free agents, a name will pop up. Who are some names who the Bears could look at?
Darrel Williams, LSU
Williams comes in as a power back with plus size, and strength, as shown in his athletic profile.
Williams spent his career as a sidekick to Leonard Fournetet and Derrius Guice. He was a power and goal-line threat who could wear teams down late. However, when he saw the ball, he was excellent. LSU has a strong pedigree of producing running backs in the NFL, whether it be depth or upside talent.
Think of Williams along the Alfred Blue-Jeremy Hill spectrum of career. Effective as a participatory depth piece, but you hope not to get him more than five carries per game. He can handle some goal line duties and short yardage situations. That could be a needed role as the fourth running back and could help the team if Jordan Howard were to go down to injury.
Josh Adams, Notre Dame
Josh Adams could wind up being a steal if he falls low enough. There are knocks on him being a slow starter out of his stance. He is almost awkwardly tall for the position, and while he is a downhill runner, he may not have the strength and power to be the goal line plodder that Williams profiles as.
A lot of Adams speed and power is built up momentum and having a path to the second level. His offensive line can get a lot of credit. However, Adams has better lateral agility than you may think.
Adams is a decisive one-cut runner who can set up his hole, and explode into it with finishing power. It allows him to build up his power, even in goal line situations.
His decisive cuts can get him into the open field, which is where his built up momentum helps him shed tackles and break runs for big gains in space.
Adams also has some pass catching ability, with 43 catches in his college career. NFL.com has Adams as a 6th or 7th round option. At that point, it would only be smart to look to Josh Adams.
Jaylen Samuels
Jaylen Samuels is not necessarily a running back. Nor is he a tight end. However, he is definitely not a wide receiver. He is an offensive weapon, and that seems to be what Matt Nagy is looking for.
Nagy talked highly of the versatility that he can bring with Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, and Dion Sims. He talked about Gabriel can play slot and outside. He was excited to use Cohen for his versatility. Adding a player such as Jaylen Samuels is a total Matt Nagy move.
A lot of teams will not know how to use him, and he will fall into the draft. However, Samuels would essentially be a hybrid of Trey Burton and Jordan Howard.
As a third or fourth running back, you have to find a value for him to consistently stay on the team. Samuels can play special teams. He can line up as a fourth tight end. He can line up out of the slot. And you list him as your fourth running back. Sounds like something Matt Nagy would do.
Chris Warren
Warren is another back who brings versatility. As shown in his athletic profile, he is an abnormally large back.
At Texas, the team lined him up as an extra fullback. However, they also slotted him out in the screen game as a flex tight end as well. The Bears hardly used Michael Burton as it is, and with Chris Warren having much more passing game versatility, the team could kill two birds with one stone in adding a fourth running back and a potentially upgraded fullback option.
As a runner, Warren brings decisiveness and power to bounce off tackles as a runner. He could be a goal-line option with the ball in hands and adds an extra thought into defenders heads as a fullback. Warren will likely be around into the seventh round. At that point, he is a solid option.
Phillip Lindsey, Colorado
Lindsey is undersized, standing at about 5’8″, 190 pounds. He unfortunately did not get a combine invite. However, as a cheaper option than Benny Cunningham and an undrafted free agent, Lindsey could do most of what Cunningham does.
Lindsey is going to make in the NFL as a special teams player. He has proven to be a four-way special teamer at Colorado and could wear a plethora of hats on special teams in the NFL. On top of that, he is a fearless pass blocker. For his reputation, Cunningham was not as great as expected as a pass blocker last season. If Lindsey is an upgrade in that area, it is a huge addition at a low cost.