As the Chicago Bears look to bolster their running back room, veteran Nick Chubb has frequently been linked to the team. In fact, some reports say the Bears are preparing a “serious” offer for the running back. However, Chicago must be cautious before making any Chubb decision.
While the running back has four Pro Bowl nominations to his name, Chubb has also dealt with numerous injuries. An ACL/MCL injury wiped out almost all of his 2023 campaign while a broken foot held him to just eight in 2024. If the Bears were going to sign Chubb, they need to make sure he is cleared 100 percent medically.
But perhaps Chicago doesn’t even need to turn back to the free agent market to fix their rushing issue. Maybe the franchise already has their answer on the roster. Adam Rank of NFL.com argues the Bears don’t need Chubb, as seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai will have major role on the team, via The Sick Podcast.
“I truly believe Kyle Monangai is going to have a huge role on this team. I don’t think we’re going to sign Nick Chubb or any of these other guys, and I don’t think they want to. Because I think they’re going to be so thrilled with Monangai. No block, no rock? That’s that guy’s middle name. I love that pick, I think teams have made a mistake.”
The #Bears don't need Nick Chubb when they have Kyle Monangai…@adamrank: "I truly believe Kyle Monangai is going to have a huge role on this team. I don't think we're going to sign Nick Chubb"#thesickpodcast @GBraggsJr23 pic.twitter.com/s5YkOTri4P
— The Sick Podcast with Adam Rank (@sickpodadamrank) May 1, 2025
Chicago Bears debate Nick Chubb vs. Kyle Monangai
If the Bears were to actually sign Chubb, Monangai’s roster spot would then be in question. Chicago still has D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson, as well as special teamer Travis Homer. Chubb would be guaranteed a spot barring injury, meaning Monangai would need to have a truly breakout training camp to make the final 53-man roster.
There are clear positives to signing Chubb, seeing as he is a four-time Pro Bowl nominee. However, the injury concerns might outweigh those positives. The running back suffered a serious ACL/MCL injury in 2023, limiting him to just eight games. While he made his return in 2024, a broken foot held Chubb to just eight games. So while the potential of Chubb being a wrecking ball out of the backfield is intriguing, Chicago needs to ensure that the running back is still capable of being an NFL difference maker after the injuries.
There’s plenty of reasons Monangai dropped to the seventh-round. His 5-foot-8 may be the primary concern. Based on draft capital alone, the running back is more of a dart throw then a surefire offensive addition. However, at least to Rank, and the Bears organization, Monangai has the look of a difference making running back.
Over his five years at Rutgers, Monangai ran for 3,222 yards and 27 touchdowns. In 2023, he led the Big Ten with 1,262 yards. A year later, he led the Big Ten in rushing attempts with 256, turning them into 1,279 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns. Monangai was named First-team All Big-Ten.
The running back’s game is built on physicality and an underrated level of quickness. But it’s fair to wonder how he will match up against bigger NFL defenses. If Monangai proves to be a strong fit in Ben Johnson’s new offense, then the Bears will have found a diamond in the rough. But he won’t have the longest leash on the roster as a seventh-rounder.
A strong performance during Chicago’s offseason program from Monangai could ward off the team from signing Chubb. But if running back continues to be a problem in Johnson’s eyes, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team sign Chubb.
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