As the Chicago Bears are about to flip the calendar to April, all eyes are on the NFL Draft. Might the team use the 43rd overall pick on a running back?
It was about this time a year ago that similar discussions were occurring within the local media and blog writers. And for good reason, as the Chicago Bears had just traded Jordan Howard to the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional six-round pick. That left only Tarik Cohen and Taquan Mizzell as members of the backfield on the roster.
It was nearly a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Bears were going to utilize the first pick on a running back. Without first and second-round picks, it was critical to shoring up the position. Miles Sanders had been mocked to the Bears, but he was taken by the Eagles in the second round. And three picks before the Bears were officially on the clock, the Los Angeles Rams grabbed Darrell Henderson.
Tabbed as a dual-threat back, David Montgomery was an excellent pick for the Chicago Bears in the third round. He played in all 16 games, including eight starts, and rushed for 889 yards while hauling in 25 receptions for 185 yards as well. His 3.7 yards-per-carry was good for 41st in the NFL last season, but much of that was due to struggles along the offensive line.
Tarik Cohen wasn’t much better in 2019. After two productive seasons in Chicago, last year cast much doubt if he was part of the long-term future. And while the offensive line regressed, Cohen proved that he wasn’t capable of being the number two back on the roster.
Next month, the Chicago Bears will have seven picks in the NFL Draft but won’t make their first pick until 43rd overall and in the second round. Fortunately, they have two picks relatively close to one another with the next one at 50th overall, which offers some flexibility in how General Manager Ryan Pace can approach the draft.
The Bears could add another weapon to the backfield
The Bears certainly don’t need to utilize one of their second-round picks on a running back, but in recent mock drafts, both Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and Ohio State’s JK Dobbins have been available. Both guys would provide another dynamic to the Chicago Bears’ backfield so that Cohen could be utilized in a way that is more aligned with his first two seasons.
Jonathan Taylor – Wisconsin
Jonathan Taylor was a star from the day he stepped on campus. He rushed for 1,977 yards on 299 carries in 14 games in his freshman year and followed that with a 2,194-yard campaign in just 13 games. Last year, Taylor became more involved in the passing game. Between 2017 and 2018, he hauled in a combined 16 passes but caught 26 balls out of the backfield for 252 yards during his junior season.
The primary knock on Taylor has been ball security. He fumbled 18 times in three years at Wisconsin. However, looking at players like Adrian Peterson and Tiki Barber, who both struggled in this department, the problem is correctable. If you recall, Barber repositioned the way he held the ball so that it was high and tight just below the neck rather than down along the ribs.
J.K. Dobbins – Ohio State
J.K. Dobbins was a guy who seemed to get better every year in Columbus. Splitting carries with Mike Weber in 2017 and 2018, Dobbins rushed for a combined 2,456 yards. Last year, as the feature back, Dobbins rushed for 2,003 yards on 301 carries and crossed the goal line 21 times. He also hauled in 23 balls out of the backfield for 247 yards.
A backfield of Montgomery and Dobbins – or Taylor for that matter – would make for a formidable duo and would keep pace with the trend of the league. No longer does a team feature a single running back, and teams like the Eagles, 49ers, and Saints have demonstrated how having multiple backs on the roster who can perform well contributes to the overall success of the team.
That said, would taking a running back be the smartest move for Ryan Pace?
It all starts up front
I believe the consensus is that regardless of who is carrying the ball, it won’t make a difference if nobody is blocking for him. And it’s no secret that the Bears offensive line was a trainwreck last year. After a 2018 season that finally conveyed stability along the line, there was regression and injuries at nearly every position last year.
The primary objective in the draft will be to replace Kyle Long, who the Bears declined to offer a contract due to his struggles to remain healthy. Rashaad Coward did his best to fill in for Long, but struggled mightily, allowing a sack while committing four penalties. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Bears found a replacement for Charles Leno Jr. as well, who has been declining since 2017.
Let’s look at a couple of options in the draft to replace both Long and Leno with the 50th overall pick should the Chicago Bears select a running back first.
Lloyd Cushenberry III – LSU (IOL)
Lloyd Cushenberry III is likely to be the best available interior offensive lineman in the second round. He played his entire career at LSU at the center position, but similar to James Daniels, he can transition to right guard. He’s a big dude at 6-foot-3, 312 pounds but moves well given his stature. And just how valuable was he to the LSU Tigers?
He was given the coveted number 18 jersey, which is reserved for players that most resembles what it means to be a Tiger. Cushenberry would be a day one starter in the NFL.
Austin Jackson – USC (OT)
As a four-star prospect from Phoenix, Arizona, Austin Jackson made his stamp on the USC football program. He saw time in 14 games as a true freshman, mostly in a backup capacity at left tackle before permanently claiming the job. Jackson started all 12 games in 2018 and all 13 games in 2019 and displayed good athleticism at the position.
He missed part of the 2019 practices due to donating bone marrow for his sister, who suffers from Diamond Blackfan Anemia. He’s exactly the kind of high-character guy the Bears need on their football team.