The Chicago Bears should consider a trade for Austin Ekeler

The Chicago Bears might not have David Montgomery in 2023 which is why they should be looking elsewhere for a running back. They will certainly need the help at that position which is becoming important in the NFL again after a few years of it being less important.

On Monday, we learned that Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers wants permission to seek a trade away. That is huge news across the National Football League as he is one of the best running backs in the league right now. He was amongst the most productive in 2022.

The Chicago Bears have had a tremendous off-season up to this point and now might be time to grab a good running back. If Ekeler is willing to seek a trade to Chicago, the Bears should be all-in on that for a variety of reasons.

The first reason is that they’d be bringing in one of the most productive offensive players going right now. In 2022, he had 915 rushing yards and 722 passing yards. That is a lot of all-purpose yards for a running back in the NFL.

He also had 13 rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns. Again, 18 total touchdowns is a lot. He might not have had 1000 rushing yards but he was well over that when you combine it all. He is nothing short of elite.

The Chicago Bears could use a veteran running back like Austin Ekeler.

The second reason is that versatility might really help Justin Fields take the next step. Having a running back that he can hand it off too regularly in addition to throw to would really upgrade the offense. It would also take the pressure off Fields who felt the need to run a lot in 2022.

Taking fewer shots will help his longevity which will help the Bears win more football games. They are certainly going to upgrade the offensive line so added weapons like Austin Ekeler to go with DJ Moore would go a long way.

It is unclear what a return for Ekeler would be but the Chargers would probably want a decent haul. 2023 will be his age 28 season so there is a lot of good football left in him. Again, the Bears should be all in on players like this.