The Chicago Bears learned the hard way that while it may not be the most pressing issue, every team needs strong depth options at running back. Getting Tarik Cohen back will help, but in a game without Cohen and David Montgomery last season, they learned that they cannot rely on Cordarelle Patterson as a backup running. He is a nice gadget player, but not a player who can step up for a banged-up Montgomery.
Even Tarik Cohen would not fully fill the shoes of Montgomery, and they would need to look for better options no matter what. The Bears do not have a lot of cap space, but it is not going to be expensive to sign a veteran running back to a cheap backup contract.
Who are options that would perfectly fill that role?
5. Brian Hill
Hill came into 2020 with 109 career carries but wound up toting the rock 100 times last season, putting up 465 yards. The Bears saw him first-hand as he put up nine carries for 58 yards and a touchdown back in week three. They saw him outmaneuver Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan, and may be attracted to what he can bring as a backup runner.
He was perfect in his role behind Todd Gurley last season. He never took the bulk of the carries but was the more efficient runner coming in cold off of the bench. Hill is great for grinding away games and giving a power runner like David Montgomery a breather.
Hill showed out with more carries, but no team is looking at him as their answer to start. A few carries a game and a true role if Montgomery went down could be enough to entice him to be the backup runner in Chicago.