Chicago Bears: 3 free agent running backs to address weakness
By Ryan Heckman
2. Devonta Freeman
It is no secret I have been pounding the table for this guy for a while now. I’ve written about the Bears signing him multiple times, and at this stage, I think Devonta Freeman is the absolute perfect running back to bring into Chicago as the primary backup to Montgomery.
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It still sounds strange thinking Freeman would back up anyone in Chicago right now, but that’s the case. He remains unsigned, surprisingly, and the Bears should seriously consider inking him to a friendly 1-year deal.
It feels like Freeman has been in the NFL forever. Believe it or not, he began his career in 2014 just like Crowell did. It seems like longer ago, but Freeman is still technically young at 28 years old.
Freeman is a 2-time Pro Bowler having rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016, and since then he has run for 865 yards in 2017 and 656 yards in 2019. Injuries have plagued him a bit, as he missed all but two games in 2018. Yet, if he is cleared and healthy right now, Freeman adds one heck of a veteran presence who is still, by all accounts, capable of playing in the NFL.
What makes him lethal is the ability to catch and run afterwards. Freeman has caught at least 50 passes in three seasons and went over 70 receptions once. He is the ultimate well-rounded back, and if Montgomery went down for some reason, he’d be able to handle more work.