Should Chicago Bears draft Northwestern RB Evan Hull?
The Chicago Bears may be looking for a running back on day three of the 2023 NFL draft. Does that mean that Northwestern running back Evan Hull could be on their draft radar?
Chicago Bears Draft Profile: Northwestern RB, Evan Hull
Evan Hull redshirted his freshman year and did not see the field much until he was a redshirt sophomore. However, from there he took over the Wildcats' backfield and wound up with 196 rushes for 1,009 yards. He also added 33 catches for 264 yards. He followed that up with 221 attempts for 913 yards and then five rushing touchdowns. Evan Hull added 55 catches for 546 yards as well.
He got an invited to the Senior Bowl, and an the NFL combine.
He is a bit below average in size, but athleticism makes up for it. The speed and explosion are exactly what you want to see from an NFL running back.
Where Northwestern RB Evan Hull translates to the NFL
The explosion he proved in the gym shows up on tape as well. Evan Hull can hit the hole with explosion, and when there is a running lane, he can get after it. He is much better as a zone runner, and when he can get outside, his decision-making between the tackles can be hit or miss. At times, he will press the hole too quickly.
Beyond that, he is a great pass catching back. Per PlayerProfiler, his college target rating is in the 97th percentile. This gives him the upside to be a passing down back, but if he wants to get on the field in the NFL, he has to improve in pass protection. He gets run over far too often in this area, and NFL coaches will not trust him in the area he is best if he cannot be competent here.
NFL Comparison for Evan Hull
The best NFL comparison for Evan Hull is Donald Brown. Below you can see the physical comparison.
Donald Brown went in the first round and that will not happen to Evan Hull. However, they actually do have similar profiles. The same reasons Brown was drafted high will get Hull drafted at all. That is passing-down play and athletic upside. Both of them are explosive and hit big plays, and both were excellent pass-catching threats in college. The thought with Brown was that Peyton Manning had an Alvin Kamara type.
The big issue is that Brown was inconsistent as a decision-maker between the tackles, and also was unreliable as a pass protector. He was great when Manning would pass it to him, but Manning would tell coaches to play lesser backs who can protect him. Hull can be a big hitter and change of pace back, but until he gets better in pass protection, he will be in a limited role.
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Will Chicago Bears draft Northwestern RB Evan Hull?
Between D'Onta Foreman, Travis Homer, and Khalil Herbert, Homer is the easiest to replace. That would be the passing down back. Hull could beat Homer as a pass catcher, and could provide similarities between the tackles. However, Homer is much better in pass protection and it would be hard to see Hull beating him out. This would set up for fans of Northwestern to see Hull break a big run in the preseason and then complain all season when he is inactive behind Homer. It is possible, but Evan Hull would to go around round seven.