The 2021 NFL Draft is fast approaching. And it’s a big one for GM Ryan Pace, who enters the final year of the extension he signed in 2018. The same can be said for Head Coach Matt Nagy, the NFL Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2018, who aims to fix an offense that has been spinning its wheels since the start of 2019. Starting today, we’re looking at some of the best prospects at various positions leading up to the Draft in search of fits for the Bears’ needs.
Previous: Quarterback, Offensive Line, Wide receivers, Defensive backs, Tight ends
Today: Running backs
Need: Between David Montgomery’s 2020 breakout, extending Tarik Cohen, and signing Damian Williams in free agency, running back doesn’t look like a need. But Montgomery has just two seasons left on his rookie year, Cohen’s best role is when deployed as a non-traditional back, and Williams didn’t play in 2020. All of this to say the Bears could still value a late-round running back as a long-term fit as a tandem back with Montgomery and Williams, which would allow Chicago to be more liberal with its usage of Cohen.
Currently on the Roster (2020 PFF Grade):
David Montgomery (80.2), Tarik Cohen (62.6), Ryan Nall (59.9), Artavis Pierce (81.4), Damian Williams (N/A)
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, The Draft Network, and Pro Football Network 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. Najee Harris, Alabama (38)
2. Travis Etienne, Clemson (36)
3. Javonte Williams, North Carolina (34)
4. Michael Carter, North Carolina (27)
5. Trey Sermon, Ohio State (23)
6. Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis (17)
7. Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech (9)
8. Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma (8)
9. Chris Evans, Michigan (5)
10. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State (5)
10. Jermar Jefferson, Oklahoma State (5)
Best of the rest: Demetric Felton (UCLA), Javian Hawkins (Louisville), Pooka Williams Jr. (Kansas), Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana), Kyle Hill (Mississippi State)
Team Fit
We learned it the hard way, but teams can’t have enough running back depth. It’s a position group that sees annual turnover because of the wear-and-tear it puts on the body. But because there are waves of capable backs, the drop-off down the depth chart isn’t as steep when the position group is properly put together. On the surface, the Bears running backs room looks fine. It’s certainly in a better place now than where it was at the start of 2020. But because the depth chart can be flipped on any given snap, it’s always wise to have a rotation ready to roll if called upon.
Most Likely to be Available When Bears Are on the Clock:
If Chicago is to address the running backs room in the draft, I don’t imagine it will do so before Round 6. That would put the Bears out on any of the top backs. But that might not be much of a problem. GM Ryan Pace has done well with backs in the later rounds. Tarik Cohen (4th round, 2017) and Jordan Howard (5th round, 2016) are prime examples of Day 3 finds. The team also has RB depth with undrafted free agents Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce.
All in all, we could be looking at players such as Rhamondre Stevenson (Oklahoma), Chris Evans (Michigan), or Pooka Williams Jr. (Kansas).
Bears Connections…
The Bears brought in Michael Pitre to coach the team’s running backs after Charles London left for Atlanta. Prior to arriving in Chicago, he coached Jermar Jefferson while at Oregon State. As a Bears assistant, Pitre was sent to North Carolina’s Pro Day, where h had eyes on Javonte Williams and Michael Carter. Bonus points if he snuck a peak at Sam Howell, who could be in the running to be QB1 in next year’s class. (Hey, don’t give me that look!)
If I Had to Pick One:
One thing the Bears seem to value in their running backs is tackle-breaking ability. In his early years, Jordan Howard was a force to bring down. Tarik Cohen is slippery as heck. David Montgomery is a load opposing defenses can’t handle with simple arm tackles. Even the Mike Davis signing was a decision rooted in Davis being a known tackle-breaker. With that in mind, there is one prospect who fits that mold for me:
Javonte Williams is the best tackle-breaking RB in the 2021 NFL Draft 😤 pic.twitter.com/vMHvGTpEew
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) April 20, 2021