Chicago Bears NFL Draft: 3 running backs to add for insurance

Running backs the Chicago Bears could target for insurance in the Draft: Chase Brown, Illinois

Probably one of the fan favorites to come to Chicago would be a guy that wouldn’t have to travel very far. Illinois running back Chase Brown could stay close to where he played his college ball, although not where he originally calls home.

Brown grew up in Ontario, Canada and didn’t move to the States until his junior year in high school. He played college ball at Western Michigan before transferring to play for the Illini in 2019. As a 5-year collegiate player, Brown enters the NFL as a 23-year-old rookie, which is a bit scary for professional teams.

That means he’ll only have a shelf life of probably four years before we might see a decline in production, if we’re looking at a league wide average.

Still, a rookie running back contract is a beautiful thing, as is a rookie quarterback contract.

Brown is a high-volume runner that stands 5-foot-10, weighing 209 pounds. He is no stranger to being a workhorse, as Illinois ran him an average of 27 times per game last season. He took those carries for over 1,600 yards on the ground and 10 scores.

Brown possesses excellent speed, running a 4.43 at the Combine and is great in the open field. He can also catch the ball well, running above average routes out of the back field. As a fifth rounder, you couldn’t go wrong selecting Brown. He’d be a great fit in Chicago and could wind up replacing Foreman in 2024.