Chicago Bears: Why they should add a RB this offseason

David Montgomery may be the future at running back for the Chicago Bears, however, the Bears should still add a running back.

With the offseason officially beginning for the Chicago Bears, it’s clear that the major needs to address on offense include the offensive line, quarterback, and tight end. For now, the Bears appear to be set at wide receiver but should explore adding a running back this offseason. While 2019 third-round pick David Montgomery had a stellar rookie season, the Bears didn’t give Montgomery enough opportunities to showcase what he could truly do.

Here’s the deal: Montgomery is going to be a stud. However, the Bears lack a true running back duo that can carve up defenses on the ground. Tarik Cohen regressed massively in 2019 while guys like Ryan Nall and Mike Davis were rarely used. If one looks at some of the best offenses in the NFL over the last few years, one thing that’s common among all of them is a running back duo that features a power runner and then a running back who can thrive in space.

While Montgomery can do a bit of both, he can’t carry the entire load for the Bears in 2020. If the Bears wear him down early on in his career, it could have an effect when he reaches his second contract.

Luckily for the Bears, the 2020 NFL Draft is projected to be deep at the running back position. While the Bears have two second-round picks, they shouldn’t spend either on a running back unless it’s a player such as Georgia’s D’Andre Swift which likely isn’t happening. The best thing that the Bears can do is look to add a player like Eno Benjamin who could end up being the perfect complement to Montgomery.

Adding a running back who is solely a complement to Montgomery would have other advantages to the rest of the Bears’ offense as well. It would make certain players like Cohen, Anthony Miller, and Cordarrelle Patterson more expendable.

Another reason that the Bears should look to add a running back this offseason is that Cohen’s contract expires after 2020 and there’s a chance that the Bears don’t extend him because there are more valuable players to extend. Additionally, apart from Montgomery, the Bears really can’t rely on a guy like Ryan Nall to be a situational running back in 2020. Nall has shown flashes but hasn’t been very consistent.

Overall, running back isn’t a big need but the Bears could benefit by adding a player to the group via the NFL Draft as it would create competition and have hidden advantages for the offense that many would not expect to see.