Chicago Bears Mailbag: Free agency, running backs, and the NFL draft

3. What about the 2016 fifth-round pick?

My bold prediction for Jordan Howard? He’ll be shipped out. As mentioned on the previous slide, the Bears have looked into multiple running backs already. Couple that with the fact that the Bears received a third-round pick for Howard in October as part of a trade package but declined means that Howard’s days of being a member of the Bears are over.

See here’s the deal with Howard: He isn’t a bad running back, he’s a typical North-South runner but he does have his limitations. Howard isn’t the best at catching the football and in an offense that requires running back to be good at catching the ball, it’s clear that he’s not an ideal fit.

No matter where he’s playing in 2019, Howard will still be an effective NFL running back. As of right now, he’d thrive in a running back by committee, solely being a power runner. He isn’t the type game-changing running back that will consistently provide a major spark to an offense.

If the Bears are not able to trade Howard this offseason, then 2019 is going to be his last season with the team. The Bears will have other players like Leonard Floyd and Cody Whitehair, both of whom have becomes regular contributors for the team.

One major sleeper team that I think could end up trading for Howard is the Philadelphia Eagles. They’ve got a clear need at running back and sniffed around trading for Howard during the 2018 deadline. They could once again approach the Bears with an enticing trade offer and snag Howard from the Bears.