Stat predictions for the Chicago Bears 2023 rookie draft class

Chicago Bears 4th-Round Draft Pick: Roschon Johnson, RB

550 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 200 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

You rarely find a collegiate backup as highly-regarded as Roschon Johnson was, but that says more about the player ahead of him at Texas (eighth overall pick Bijan Robinson) than it does his skill set. Many believe that Johnson, whom the Bears selected with their first fourth-round selection, would have been drafted much earlier had he taken the bulk of the carries for his college offense.

The former five-star recruit possesses elite physicality from the running back position and is one of the most well-rounded backs in this year's class. Johnson might not have received many carries in college, but he made the most of his opportunities. His 45% missed tackle rate over the past two seasons ranks first in the country. It's also easy to put a positive spin on his lack of touches, as he enters the league with fresh legs at a position with the shortest shelf life.

Johnson's future is bright, but he might get relegated to backup (and third-down) duties early in his career. Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman will probably get the first crack at the early down work, as they are equally high-potential options who are both coming off really effective seasons.

He might not be an early-down workhorse right away, but it is safe to pencil him in for a few carries a game since Chicago seems likely to deploy a full-blown committee right out of the gate. On top of that, he will probably also lead the Bears' running back room in receiving, as there is no reason he shouldn't be on the field on every third down, and his pass-catching skills were an underrated part of his game in college.