Do the Chicago Bears need to sign a running back this offseason?

The Chicago Bears' running game was hit-or-miss last year. All three of Khalil Herbert, D’onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson had their moments, but all three also had injuries and low points during the season. Foreman is going to sign somewhere else in free agency. Do the Bears need to replace him, and how will they go about doing that?

Do the Chicago Bears need to sign a running back this offseason?

They learned that while they will want to sign someone, they do not have to go out of their way to do it. After the team drafted Roschon Johnson and began to trust him in the offense, it became clear that D’onta Foreman did not have a role. 

Herbert was the more explosive runner, Roschon Johnson was out there on passing downs, and even Travis Homer played special teams which gave him a role on gamedays that Foreman did not have. Foreman was inactive for six weeks throughout the season. 

So, if the Chicago Bears signed a running back, they would either be playing special teams or eating into the work of one of Herbert or Johnson. Or, that running back would be signing with an understanding that if those two are healthy, he will be inactive. Still, that is going to limit the pool greatly. 

If the Chicago Bears do anything noteworthy at running back it would be drafting one late on day three. They could sit as a rookie, then when Herbert is a free agent next offseason the Bears could bring that player into the mix.

Still, as they stand now, the fourth runner could be filled by a UDFA rookie. Herbert will start, Johnson will play passing downs and short yardage, and Homer has his special teams role. The room is pretty set.