Despite rumors connecting the Chicago Bears to all sorts of running backs during the 2025 NFL Draft, it wasn't until the 7th round that they added a rookie to their backfield. The Bears added Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai with their final selection.
It seemed like there may have been several points in the draft where the Bears were planning to take a running back before ultimately seeing the player get selected just ahead of them. Of note, the Cleveland Browns selected Ohio State running back in the second round only to add another running back (Dylan Sampson) ahead of the Bears in the fourth round.
Of course, this was after the Bears opted against trading up in the first round to select Ashton Jeanty.
The biggest confirmation from the 2025 NFL Draft is that the Bears do feel comfortable with D'Andre Swift having an important role in the team's offense under Ben Johnson. If they weren't, the team would have likely had more of an aggressive pursuit of a running back during the earlier rounds of the draft. One thing is also clear: the Bears will be adding a veteran running back before the start of the season.
The Bears' next free-agent signing is obvious
As it stands, Swift, Roschon Johnson, Ian Wheeler, and Monangai are the running backs the Bears have on their roster. Factor in Johnson's concussion history on top of Wheeler returning from an ACL injury, and the Bears are incredibly thin at the running back position.
There are still several veteran running backs on the free-agent market who could make sense for the Bears. However, there is one running back that the Bears should quickly look to sign. Circling back to the Browns, with their drafting of two running backs, it seems likely that Nick Chubb will be playing elsewhere next season. Chubb was believed to be in talks about a potential return to the Browns, but this weekend seems to have changed that direction.
Making his way back from a devastating knee injury in 2023, Chubb played 8 games for the Browns last season, totaling 332 yards on 102 carries. Finally, in an offseason where he is fully healthy, Chubb could be an ideal bounce-back signing for the Bears as they look for a change-of-pace from Swift.