The Chicago Bears added some major and potentially game-altering weapons to quarterback Caleb Williams‘ arsenal during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Wide receiver Luther Burden has the potential to be one of the steals of the entire draft, and rounds out what could become an explosive trio at wide receiver alongside DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
General manager Ryan Poles and the Bears doubled down on Williams’ potential targets this upcoming season by drafting Burden in the second round having already secured potential three-down tight end and lite route runner Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall selection.
However, for as significantly as the Bears might have upgraded the offense via free agency with veteran reinforcements along what had been a porous offensive line and potentially two dynamic pass catchers added early in the NFL Draft, it was Chicago ignoring a key need throughout draft weekend that raised some eyebrows.
Chicago Bears’ best remaining RB fits
Entering the NFL Draft, running back was viewed as one of the Bears’ most pressing needs, and a position that Poles could target in an effort both to set new head coach Ben Johnson’s offense up for success while also taking some pressure off Williams as the former No. 1 pick enters his second NFL season.
Ashton Jeanty was linked to the Bears as a potential “best fit” at No. 10 overall, but went off the board when the Las Vegas Raiders chose him at No. 6.
However, the Bears wound up going through the entire draft without adding a running back, which seems tantamount to an endorsement of D’Andre Swift as the Bears’ lead-dog once again this fall.
Given that Swift, Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monagai, and Travis Homer are currently the only backs on the Bears’ roster, running back seems like a position that Poles and Chicago could still look to add between now and training camp getting underway this summer.
Here’s a look at the Bears’ potential best remaining free agent fits at running back:
J.K. Dobbins
Even though the Chargers slapped Dobbins with the UDFA tender this week, meaning that he will still count against the compensatory draft pick formula if he signs anywhere before July 22, he just might be worth the cost for the Bears and what Johnson needs at running back.
Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards and nine touchdowns, but more importantly for Johnson, caught a career-high 32 passes for 138 yards. If Johnson envisions deploying a two-back set similar to the one had at his disposal in Detroit, Dobbins could be an ideal scheme and need fit.
Jeff Wilson
Wilson has battled through injuries the past several seasons, but when healthy, has all the trappings of a versatile playmaker and complementary weapon in a backfield alongside Swift.
Where Wilson has thrived throughout his career is as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. At age 29, if Wilson can prove that he’s healthy, he’s worth taking a flier on after catching 74 passes for 585 yards and five touchdowns through the first eight
Devin Singletary
Devin Singletary could be a fascinating trade target for the Bears, after the New York Giants emerged from the draft with former Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo in tow, to pair alongside emerging star Tyrone Tracy.
Singletary, 27, is a dual-threat back equally capable of rattling off a big run, as illustrated by his 4.5 yards per carry career average, as he is as a reliable target in the passing game with 1,283 career receiving yards and four touchdowns.
With the big-game experience from his time with the Buffalo Bills, to experience sharing a backfield in New York last season, Singletary’s leadership presence could be an added bonus for the Bears. If the Giants dangle Singletary in trade talks for a mid-to-late-round draft choice in 2026, Chicago should be one of the first teams inundating Joe Schoen with trade offers.
Chicago Bears GM has a clear plan for second round draft pick on the offensive line
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