With money to spend ahead of the start of NFL Free Agency next week, the Chicago Bears may be preparing to add a two-time Pro-Bowler to their offensive backfield.
The early speculation is that the Bears are expected to be in the market for a veteran running back with the likes of Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, and Josh Jacobs set to become unrestricted free agents next week.
While both Barkley and Ekeler have been oft-rumored names for the Bears' backfield, Jacobs may be the running back that the team has an eye on.
Former Chicago Bears fullback Jason McKie shared an interesting tidbit on Wednesday. McKie, who shares an agent with Jacobs, revealed that there is mutual interest between the Bears and Jacobs.
THE CHICAGO BEARS PODCAST @ChicagoBears and Josh Jacobs have a mutual interest 👀
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) March 6, 2024
full show: https://t.co/neQ9rnTBPo pic.twitter.com/LRnzNEPDsw
After rushing for over 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns during a Pro Bowl campaign in 2022, Jacobs struggled last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Jacobs was limited to 13 games last season while rushing for 805 yards and 6 touchdowns. Jacobs averaged 61.9 rushing yards per game last season, a mark that was over 35 fewer yards than what he averaged in 2022.
While spending on running backs is often a practice few-and-far-between in the NFL, given the depth of the free-agent class of running backs and the financial flexibility that the Bears have, the team would be in a position to spend on a veteran running back without fear of handcuffing their future moves. This fact carries even more weight if the Bears reset the quarterback contract clock by trading Justin Fields and selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
A veteran running back such as Jacobs would be an ideal addition to the Bears' offense. Jacobs would give the Bears a dynamic play-maker at the running back position to go along with a second-year running back in Roschon Johnson.