NEWSLETTER
It’s time for the next step of the Chicago Bears’ offseason of talent acquisition: The 2020 NFL Draft. We’re going to look at some of the best prospects at various positions of interest leading up to the draft in search of fits for the Bears’ needs.
Previous: Quarterbacks, Safeties, Wide receivers, Cornerbacks, Tight ends, Offensive line, Edge defender
Today’s position: Running back
Need: Medium-low
Currently on the Roster (2019 Pro Football Focus Grade):
• David Montgomery (66.6)
• Tarik Cohen (60.6)
• Ryan Nall (59.9)
BN’s Composite Ranking
Ranking prospects is difficult, in part, because no one publication has the same set of fundamentals or preferences. In an attempt to work through that noise, we’re using a composite ranking based on opinions from PFF, ESPN, CBS Sports, and Walter Football and adapting them to a points scale. The best of the top-10 prospects gets 10 points, the 10th ranked prospect gets 1, and prospects outside the top-10 get 0. From there, the prospects are ranked by total points.
Here’s how the running backs stack up (points in parenthesis):
1) DeAndre Swift, Georgia (39)
2) Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (35)
3) J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State (29)
4) Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU (28)
5) Zack Moss, Utah (24)
5) Cam Akers, Florida State (24)
7) La’Mical Perine, Florida (7)
7) AJ Dillon, Boston College (7)
9) Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (6)
10) Antonio Gibson, Memphis (5)
Best of the rest: Anthony McFarland Jr. (Maryland), Eno Benjamin (Arizona State), Lynn Bowden Jr. (Kentucky), Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State), Joshua Kelley (UCLA), J.J. Taylor (Arizona), Salvon Ahmed (Washington)
Team Fit
David Montgomery carries a bulk of the load, gets gritty yards between the tackles, and makes plays in the passing game. It’s yeoman’s work, to be sure. But not what was expected from a player whose team traded valuable draft capital for in 2019. The Bears would be wise to add to the running backs room and diversify their attack.
Most Likely to be Available When the Bears Are on the Clock:
Even if just one running back goes in the first round, it means a vast majority of the top backs could be in play for the Bears when they go on the clock with pick No. 43. But because there are needs elsewhere, it is tough to imagine the team using one of its two second-rounders on one.
The Bears Have Reportedly Met With…
• Darius “Jet” Anderson, TCU (Senior Bowl)
• Dre Brown, Illinois (Pro Day)
• Jason Huntley, New Mexico State (Pro Day)
If I Had to Pick One:
I don’t know what’s in the water in Memphis, but the Tigers have put together some fun-looking offenses in recent years. And last year, Antonio Gibson was in the middle of it all.
Gibson racked up 1,104 scrimmage yards and scored 12 offensive touchdowns. While most of his damage came in the air (38 catches, 735 yards, 8 touchdowns), he also added 33 carries, 369 yards, and 4 more touchdowns on the ground. Gibson also contributed 23 kick returns for 645 yards and a touchdown. He’s a triple threat and could be the type of do-it-all playmaker who could thrive in the Bears’ system.
In Gibson’s NFL.com draft profile, Lance Zierlein gushed about the Memphis product as a four-phase player. Gibson has kick return (and coverage ability), can run the ball out of the backfield and on jet sweeps, and can catch passes from the slot. His size (6-feet, 228 pounds) is one of those things that could ding him on draft weekend, but running an eye-popping 4.39 40-yard dash should give him a solid place on many draft boards.
The Bears did extensive work on the 2019 class of running backs. A year later, they still have a need to fill at the spot between Montgomery’s physical style and Cohen’s finesse gadgetry. Perhaps Gibson could be the type of late-round find that GM Ryan Pace has been able to find on previous draft weekends.
