Photo Credit: Kirby Lee - USA Today Sports
The Chicago Bears added another name to their backfield by drafting Kyle Monangai in the seventh round. While he may not have been a high pick, Monangai brings something rare to the table—ball security.
The former Rutgers standout led the Big Ten with 2,541 rushing yards over the past two seasons and, impressively, didn’t fumble once in his college career. That’s 669 carries without a single slip.
“The way you kind of see me carrying the ball throughout my whole college career, that’s something that was preached, something that I worked hard on — grip strength with my hands,” Monangai said during rookie camp. “Ball security definitely means a lot, and having zero career fumbles is something I definitely say with pride.”
The Bears clearly valued it, too. General manager Ryan Poles used their final pick at No. 233 to take the 22-year-old, praising Monangai’s toughness and skill in pass protection.
“We believe he can come in and compete,” Poles said.
But with D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, and Ian Wheeler already in the mix, Monangai will have to earn his spot. The Bears’ run game struggled last season, ranking 25th in the NFL with just 102 rushing yards per game. They needed help at running back, but didn’t pick one until the final round.
Draft Board Didn’t Fall Their Way
The Bears had interest in top running backs like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, but moving up in the draft was too expensive. Jeanty was taken sixth overall by the Raiders, well before Chicago’s first pick at No. 10. Poles said trading up “didn’t make sense” financially, especially with players they wanted still available in the second round.
Running backs kept flying off the board early. Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson were taken just before the Bears grabbed Missouri receiver Luther Burden III at No. 39. More backs were picked in the fourth round, pushing Chicago to trade back from pick No. 109.
In the end, Monangai was their guy. He rushed for 21 touchdowns in his final two college seasons and led the Big Ten with 256 carries last year. What’s more, over 40% of his yards in 2023 came in the fourth quarter, showing his ability to deliver late in games.
That kind of production could catch the eye of new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, especially in a rotation role.
Can Monangai Carve Out a Role?
The Bears didn’t make a big splash at running back in free agency, so the competition is wide open behind Swift. Chicago signed the 26-year-old to a three-year, $24 million deal this offseason after he rushed for 959 yards and six touchdowns last year. Still, he only averaged 3.7 yards per carry and had just one 100-yard game.
Johnson, who coached Swift in Detroit in 2022, thinks he can do more in this new system.
“I feel really good about having worked with him in the past,” Johnson said. “He had a really good season the year that I called it [542 yards and 5 TDs on 99 carries; 5.5 yards-per-carry average].
“I think he’s got good vision. The negative plays are one area that we’re going to talk to him about where, ‘hey, let’s limit those a little bit in terms of where we were a year ago.’ Not necessarily look for the home run every time. Have some more dirty plays where we’re getting the twos, the threes, the fours and staying on track on offense.”
Right now, the Bears have five running backs. Johnson says they’ll likely carry six or seven into training camp. That means more help could be on the way—either from rookie tryouts or free agency.
Veteran Options Still on the Table
Two names stand out: Nick Chubb and J.K. Dobbins.
Chubb, 29, is a four-time Pro Bowler who had four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Browns before a major knee injury in 2023. He came back in 2024 but was later sidelined by a foot injury.
Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns last season and finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting behind Joe Burrow. The Chargers placed a free-agent tender on him, so signing him before July 22 could affect the Bears’ compensatory draft picks.
Either veteran could bring stability to a group still figuring itself out behind an improved offensive line. Swift had a career-high 1,049 yards in 2023 running behind one of the league’s top blocking units in Philadelphia.
What’s Next?
The Bears may wait until training camp to decide if they need more help. Johnson, a 2023 fourth-round pick, dealt with injuries and inconsistency last year, finishing with 150 yards and six touchdowns. Wheeler, a Hard Knocks fan favorite, tore his ACL during preseason and missed the year.
Poles made it clear they want to see what they have before making a move.
“I know we really want to get this new coaching staff with the players that we have to see if they believe that they can help us,” he said on ESPN 1000. “We’ll always keep our eye on the short list to see if we need to bring someone in to come in and create competition and see if we can raise the level of talent in that room.”
More must-reads:
Wetzel: Forget the Girlfriend Drama. Belichick Will Be Just Fine
Ravens Release Justin Tucker Amid NFL Investigation
This report used information from ESPN.
