Chicago Bears post draft depth chart: RB

With the NFL draft done, what does the Chicago Bears depth chart look like?

The Chicago Bears roster is essentially set as they head into the 2020 offseason where we may see a standstill for a period of time. After a long process of identifying needs and making changes to the roster, it is a good time to look back and see the depth chart as it currently stands. Running back is a position that did not see much adjustment, but that could be a loud statement.

1. David Montgomery

The Bears have clearly invested in a year two breakout from Montgomery. They identified him as their guy, traded to get him, and now the backfield is his. As we identified in his advanced stats review, he was better than his raw stats showed last year. In year two, we need to see more progress.

2. Tarik Cohen

Cohen has his role defined just as well. One of the things we noted is that he needs to be used over the middle of the field more often. The hope is that Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet can take brackets away from Cohen in that area.

3. Cordarelle Patterson

We wrote post-draft that if you look at the number of wide receivers and the number of running backs, it would make a lot more sense for the Bears to use Patterson as a fourth back rather than a sixth or seventh receiver. He is a return specialist and offensive weapon anyways.

4. Ryan Nall

Patterson and Cohen are both offensive weapons more than backs. That leaves Nall as the true power runner if Montgomery were to go down. That is a strong step forward in year three and after beating out Taquan Mizzell and Kerrith Whyte in back to back preseasons, he has less competition than ever.

5. Artavis Pierce

Pierce is from Oregon State and played in the same backfield as Ryan Nall. Nall was ahead of him for two years, and despite Pierce being a rookie, Nall is just four months older than Pierce. He is competition, but Nall has a huge advantage over Pierce as a UDFA.

6. Napoleon Maxwell

Maxwell is a fifth-year senior from Florida International. He has passing game value but is a practice squad stash at this point.

Final Say:

If there is a player the Bears add between now and the start of the season it could be a dependable downhill runner. Devonta Freeman and Carlos Hyde are available but even Spencer Ware, Lamar Miller, or Alfred Blue could be options.

Nonetheless, with a crowded wide receiver room, Patterson does add depth at running back. Maxwell and Pierce are practice squad candidates and the top four names have a great chance at making the roster as it stands today.