Some exciting names are being brought to the forefront for the Chicago Bears to make a much needed upgrade to the running back position on their roster. With Justin Fields leading the rushing attack with just 657 yards on the season, they are in desperate need of help.
Khalil Herbert had just 611 yards on 132 carries , and he lead all Bears running backs in yards and carries. Health has been a factor, and when Roschon Johnson comes off the bench there are some flashes, but nothing appears sustainable. The Bears need a work horse back that can carry the load and take the weight off of Fields, or perhaps whoever the new quarterback is heading into the 2024 season.
Barkley and Jacobs’ Free Agency Impact
Multiple reports have linked the Bears to Saquon Barkley. The star running back from the New York Giants was not franchise tagged, and is hitting the free agent market this spring. After injuries hampered Barkely early in his career, he has bounced back to his elite form he showed while racking up the stats at Penn State. In 14 games in 2023 he amassed 1,242 yards from scrimmage, just the kind of back the Bears need to solidify their rushing attack. As long as he can stay healthy, he’s a weapon any team would love to get their hands on.
Barkley isn’t the only name that has been linked to the Bears free agency hopes, as Josh Jacobs and the Bears reportedly have mutual interest. Jacobs lead the league in rushing in 2022 with 1,653 yards on the ground, averaging nearly 5 yards per carry. Jacobs is similar to Barkley in that they have been carrying the load for their teams for a few years now and putting up elite numbers at that, but have not had much success with the team as a whole.
Bears’ High Hopes
As bleak as recent years may seem, the Bears have high hopes for the 2024 season with a potentially brand new offense. Who wouldn’t want to see what kind of production an offense with Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Marvin Harrison Jr or Rome Odunze, and then a crushing running game from either Barkley or Jacobs. It is an exciting thought for sure, but the Bears need to get the wheels in motion fast.
The Bears are not without money to spend, with a whopping $78.7 million (3rd most in the NFL) in cap space to sign free agents to help aid in their cause. It’s easy to see that the Bears aren’t exactly just a running back away from a Super Bowl, or even a playoff appearance for that matter. But adding a star the likes of Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs could really kick this Bears offense into gear.
The competition for these high priced stars is nearly league wide, USA Today reporter Tyler Dragon reported that the Bears, Chargers, Eagles, Raiders, Ravens, and Texans are all rumored to have major interest in Barkley. It wouldn’t be a reach to say they are likely interested in Jacobs as well. But with the third most cap space in the entire league, money shouldn’t be the issue. The Bears need to prove that they are ready and willing to do what it takes to win, and win now. Without that, they won’t receive much interest from star players who have already experienced their fair share of losing.
For More Great NFL and College Football Content
Follow me on Twitter @matt_h_23 and follow us @GridironHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on all things football, click here.