Bears: Assessing needs to address in 2020 offseason

6. Running back

Here’s one thing you already know: David Montgomery is the Bears running back of the future. Then there’s third-year pro Tarik Cohen, who’s contract expires in after the 2020 season. But the Bears also have running backs such as Ryan Nall and Kerrith Whyte Jr. on the practice squad. Meanwhile, veteran Mike Davis isn’t guaranteed to be on the roster in 2020. If the Bears cut him next offseason, they can save $3 million dollars.

While Montgomery and Cohen are guaranteed roster spots in 2020, beyond that, the Bears will need to have another running back on the roster. Nall and Whyte could be options to be the third guy considering the fact that it doesn’t make sense to spend a draft pick on a position that has such a high turnover rate.

Running back is only a need if the Bears are not confident in what Nall and Whyte’s abilities to be third-down running backs. Montgomery will be the primary running back while Matt Nagy has shown that Cohen is more of a gadget player meaning being a running back isn’t his primary duty.

Overall, this isn’t a major need for the Bears but it is one worth monitoring. The Bears do have some young running backs in-house but they could pursue names like Corey Clement in free agency that could round out the running back room if Nall and Whyte don’t impress enough to be the third-string running back.