LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — The Bears had a need at running back entering the NFL Draft, but they didn't find a match until the seventh round.
The Bears weren’t comfortable with the cost it would've taken to trade up for Boise State star Ashton Jeanty, who was selected at No. 6 overall by the Raiders. They didn’t have North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton rated as highly as Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, whom Chicago took with the 10th overall pick.
The Browns selected Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins at No. 36 overall and the Patriots took fellow Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson at No. 38 before the Bears were on the clock at No. 39. Early in the fourth round, the Jaguars picked Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten and the Giants took Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo shortly before the Bears were on the clock at No. 109 overall, a pick that Chicago instead traded.
The Bears finally landed a rusher by selecting Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round. Monangai rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2024 after posting 1,262 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground in 2023. He never fumbled during his collegiate career.
“Every draft has pockets that you just don't fall into,” Poles said. “If you're going to be disciplined, you're going to let the board dictate how you do things and it just happens that way. Because of that, you wind up in some really cool situations in acquiring talented players who might come from a different position than you maybe would have liked them to. But at the end of the day, you're increasing the talent on your football team. And I do think you can get into a lot of trouble when you start trying to manipulate things to get into certain pockets where it ends up hurting your team long-term.”
While the Bears are hopeful they found a late-round steal in Monangai, they can't count on him until he proves himself at the NFL level. So, where does that leave the backfield ahead of the 2025 season? For the time being, veteran D’Andre Swift will continue to lead the way as he's set to enter the second season of a three-year, $24-million contract. Swift averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season. Those struggles were due in large part to run blocking issues and an offense that lacked an identity.
Though the Bears explored the running back market this offseason, they've continued to view Swift as a key piece moving forward. The Bears are also hopeful that new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who’s demanding and highly regarded, can help Swift improve.
“I think very highly of him,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said of Swift. “He’s an explosive athlete. There’s a number of things he can do, both in the running game and the passing game. I think he can ignite an offense because he’s got that playmaking ability.”
The Bears’ backfield also includes Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and Ian Wheeler alongside Swift and Monangai.
If the Bears want to add more help externally, Nick Chubb and J.K. Dobbins are two of the veterans who remain available on the free-agent market.
Chubb, 29, has enjoyed a stellar career in Cleveland. He has earned Pro Bowl honored four times and rushed for 51 touchdowns in 85 career NFL games. However, Chubb underwent a significant knee reconstruction in 2023 and fractured his foot late last year. Dobbins, 26, was second in the AP Comeback Player of the Year voting while playing for the Chargers in 2024, but he missed four games due to a knee sprain late in the season.
The Chargers recently placed an unrestricted free-agent tender on Dobbins, which means he's included in the compensatory pick formula if signed prior to July 22. Los Angeles will own exclusive negotiating rights after that date.
There are other veteran running backs still available as well, but none would be considered starting-caliber for the Bears.
In 2024, the Bears had visions for an effective running game being an important feature of their offense that was led by then-rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Those hopes never came to fruition as Chicago ranked 25th in the NFL in rushing yards per game.
Moving forward, the Bears are confident an overhauled offensive line and a more functional offense will open up chances for their running game.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.