Should the Bears try to upgrade running back during the 2024 offseason?

The Chicago Bears are far from a complete roster. Their list of needs remains relatively long and includes an edge rusher, center, wide receiver, and, depending on what happens with Jaylon Johnson, a cornerback.

But there’s another position that could end up getting a long look by GM Ryan Poles for an upgrade this offseason: running back.

Sure, the Bears have a healthy Khalil Herbert and second-year back Roschon Johnson on the roster, both of whom are on cheap rookie deals, but do either of them qualify as a fear factor player?

Herbert finished the 2023 season with a career-high 132 carries for 611 yards and two touchdowns. His yards per carry, while respectable, dropped by over one yard from 5.7 to 4.6, and it was the second season in a row that he couldn’t log a full 17 games. Herbert’s appeared in 25 of 34 games over the last two seasons.

Still, when he was on the field, he flashed the upside that had Bears fans excited about his 2023 campaign.

Huge hole for Khalil Herbert to get the Bears into the red zone @JuiceHerbert#CHIvsWAS on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/YCeYJnyJmB pic.twitter.com/aiRsbVU7cu

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2023

Unfortunately, Herbert fell short of expectations. There were times during the season that he looked very pedestrian, including a three-game stretch to begin 2023 when he totaled 23 carries for 93 yards and no touchdowns. The game script impacted Herbert’s effectiveness, but he didn’t contribute as a receiver, even in contests that the Chicago Bears trailed by a wide margin. He had just six catches in that three-game span.

The best running backs in the NFL provide value on all three downs. Herbert’s inability to produce as a receiver and his struggles as a pass protector lower his ceiling. In 2023, Herbert had the worst Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of his career (53.3).

Perhaps Khalil Herbert’s skill set is maximized most when he serves as a complementary running back like when David Montgomery was the lead guy for the Bears during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Can Roschon Johnson be that lead runner? I’m not sure.

Johnson, as a rookie, had 83 carries for 352 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. He added 34 catches for 209 yards, which suggests he can do more as an all-around running back than Herbert has shown, even if he isn’t as explosive.

We did find out early in Johnson’s rookie season that he’s a powerful dude.

Look at former Texas RB Roschon Johnson running over Packers defenders in his Bears’ regular season debut! pic.twitter.com/HyLkq3sRjC

— Hook’em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) September 10, 2023

Johnson reminds me of a Leonard Fournette-type running back, which is fine. Fournette was never a guy who won with wiggle or big plays. Instead, he was a powerful running back who developed into one of the league’s better pass-catchers at the position. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had 312 catches during a six-year span.

But Fournette wasn’t a consistent 1,000-yard running back. He eclipsed 1K only twice in his career and never topped the mark during his three seasons as a Buccaneer, which some would argue were his most effective in the NFL.

Could that style of running back be fine for the Chicago Bears in 2024? Sure. But is it the kind of game-changer this offense needs? No.

Remember: Johnson is a young pro. He’s a hard worker and has a chance to outplay this projection. Maybe he ends up being a 1,200-yard back. But I don’t think the Bears should bet on it, especially not with the running back options that should be available in free agency.

(I can hear the screams already. Don’t spend free-agent money on a running back!)

I get it. I really do. And if the Bears weren’t as close to becoming a playoff team as they are right now, I wouldn’t advocate for signing a player like Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs. But the Chicago Bears are close to being a playoff team, and if they end up with Caleb Williams as the starting quarterback, Poles will have the luxury of spending a bit more on a position where teams usually look to save money.

Ah, the benefit of a rookie quarterback contract.

Imagine an offense with Williams, DJ Moore, Malik Nabers (or Rome Odunze), and Barkley (or Jacobs). Suddenly, opposing defenses must respect the run because the Bears have a fear-factor player at running back.

In the case of Barkley, he’s more offensive weapon than running back.

Saquon Barkley comes up with the 46-yard catch down the sideline pic.twitter.com/lMtGqmkZxV

— Giants Nation (@GiantsNationCP) January 7, 2024

Free agency will give the Chicago Bears several options to become a more explosive team in 2024. Running back is one of them, even if it’d be an unpopular strategy.

The Bears have plenty of salary cap space (top five in the NFL), and if their quarterback is on a rookie contract, the luxury of “overpaying” a running back will present itself to Poles. Perhaps he’ll think Barkley (or Jacobs) is the fancy sportscar needed to rev up the offense.

What do you think, Bears fans? Should Chicago pursue Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs in free agency? Create a free user account and share your opinion! If you’d like an ad-free Bears Talk, consider upgrading to a premium account for just $3.49/mo or $29.99/yr. You’ll gain access to all of our exclusive content, too. Bear Down!