Chicago Bears: Biggest ripple effects from 2023 NFL Draft picks

Ripple effects from the Chicago Bears’ 2023 NFL Draft class: Justin Fields will run the ball far less

When the Bears drafted Texas running back Roschon Johnson in the fourth round, they sent a very clear message to the rest of the league.

This Bears team was going to continue to run the football early and often, and they were going to do it in an aggressive manner. Johnson is six feet tall, weighing 219 pounds and possessing an aggressive running style.

He’s a back that served as second fiddle to no. 9 overall pick Bijan Robinson, but had Johnson not had Robinson ahead of him, he very well could have been a top-5 back in this class. Now in Chicago, Johnson is going to help a 3-headed monster continue to pound the rock. Between Johnson, D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert, the Bears have plenty of rushing power.

Hopefully, that means Fields will be running less. But it’s not only about the back field, as Fields now has more weapons than he did a year ago. With more weapons, better protection and a ton of talent at running back, that’ll take pressure off the young quarterback not having to take off and run as much, which will in turn prove to keep him upright and healthy.