Chicago Bears must sign one of these three running backs
By Ryan Sikes
The Chicago Bears could stand to add another running back to the mix, given how the rest of the league has approached the position. Let’s look at three in free agency.
Last year, it was evident that the Chicago Bears rushing attack had lost a step from the previous year. At 121.1 yards-per-game, the Bears rushing attack finished 11th and sixth in the NFL and NFC, respectively. However, offseason discussions primarily centered around when Jordan Howard would be traded.
The former fifth-round pick of the 2016 NFL Draft rushed for over 1,300 yards in his first season and provided the Bears with the ground attack they had lost when Matt Forte departed. But coaching changes brought offensive scheme changes as well, and ultimately, Howard was no longer a fit in Matt Nagy’s offense.
The Bears traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in next month’s draft. David Montgomery was tabbed to replace Howard as the team’s second-round pick in last year’s draft. But he struggled to get much going behind an inconsistent offensive line. The Bears tried to utilize Tarik Cohen in the ground game as well, but he’s just too small to run between the tackles.
And while the position is no longer an immediate need, there would be a benefit for the Chicago Bears to add another back to the mix. Long gone are the days that one running back carries the load for teams. Looking around the league at teams like the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, they all have multiple backs who are capable of producing.
As a result, the offense keeps the chains moving while also keeping everyone fresh. It also creates less panic when someone is injured. The first wave of free agency has passed, but there are still several solid backs available that the Bears could add to their roster. Let’s took a look at three of them.