Going into Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, there were a whole lot of running backs still available. Given head coach Ben Johnson, absolutely nobody would've questioned the Chicago Bears' selection of a running back.
But, as the fourth and fifth rounds went by, the Bears stayed put. And then, the sixth. And then, the draft was over. The Bears chose not to select a running back, even though one could've argued the value was tremendous as you saw Day 3 get into full swing.
Look at it this way.
Jonah Coleman and Mike Washington Jr. went in the fourth round. Emmett Johnson, Nicholas Singleton and Adam Randall went in the fifth. Kaytron Allen and Demond Claiborne went in the sixth.
A few of those players could have fit real well in Chicago, eventually, but Johnson stayed put.
The Bears staying put at running back might've been a sneaky victory in the 2026 NFL Draft
Here's the thing: drafting a running back actually made a good amount of sense for the Bears. But, it made even more sense to hold off.
Starting running back D'Andre Swift is going into the final year of his contract. He is coming off a career year, in Chicago, but there are two layers here.
First of all, Swift is not guaranteed to continue seeing the same success. 2025 was fantastic, but we need to see it again to believe it's sustainable.
Ah, yes. Would he even be given the opportunity to sustain his success in Chicago after the 2026 season? If he does have another strong year, then his price goes way up as a free agent in 2027. I don't see the Bears investing in a multi-year contract there, especially knowing they'll have bigger names to pay, soon enough.
Kyle Monangai looks like a strong candidate to be around for a while and as part of a one-two punch. But, if and when Swift is ultimately gone, then Monangai will need a running mate.
Looking at someone like Washington Jr. (Las Vegas) or Johnson (Kansas City) might have been especially tempting for Johnson and Ryan Poles. But, they stayed put and stuck to their board. Whether we like the result or not, they stood their ground.
Looking ahead to the 2027 class, that's when the Bears could address the running back room in a real way. Something tells me this will be Swift's final year with the Bears. He is a good player, but he's not special. He isn't one of those running backs you prioritize yet another contract for.
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Instead, the 2027 class should provide Chicago with its next starting running back to pair with Monangai. The Bears resisted temptation this time around, and that means they'll be able to get even more out of the entirety of a rookie running back's contract next year.
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