Chicago Bears draft: Running backs that could replace Jordan Howard
Whether or not the Chicago Bears trade Jordan Howard this offseason, the team might look for another running back in the middle rounds that better fits Matt Nagy’s new scheme.
If you having caught onto this yet during rumor time, you should know that I love nothing more than a giant helping of unbridled Chicago Bears chaos. And Jordan Howard trade rumors/scares have been providing me with my fix all offseason.
Truthfully, even if the rumors flying that Howard’s Bears career potentially having a fast-approaching expiration date aren’t fully true, I secretly (or not so secretly) still enjoy watching fans panic. I mean, I know I’m a fan, too, but what can I say? I’m a little different.
And if those rumors do come to pass…oh boy. The intrigue around the Bears’ 2018 NFL Draft will ramp up hugely. As of now, I’m already waiting for an onslaught of Saquon Barkley-to-Bears speculation. It’s only natural.
But, as I’ll address later, the Chicago Bears aren’t likely to spend a draft pick that high on a running back, not when other players that could serve other more pressing needs are available.
And even if the Bears did trade Howard before/during the draft, does Barkley move the needle for the team as a whole as much as, say, a dominant pass-rusher would? I’m just not sure that’s the case.
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And why do that when you can wait a little while, as the Bears did for Howard in 2016, and grab a guy with starter potential?
Honestly, why not do that anyway, whether you trade Howard this year or not? If the Bears do view him as expendable no matter what, why wait to find his potential replacement?
With this loaded class of playmaking backs, perhaps Pace can grab one that Matt Nagy can use similarly to his breakout star last season, Kareem Hunt. Now wouldn’t that be fun?
So, let’s take a look at just a few of the running backs in this year’s crop that the Chicago Bears could draft to possibly supplant Howard in the future.