The Chicago Bears are set at running back with a duo featuring D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, but what lies past them in the RB depth chart will be a headline to watch during the offseason. One name in particular to keep an eye on is Coleman Bennett, an undrafted free agent from Kennesaw State.
Bennett, 6’0″ and 210 pounds, could find himself in a similar position when Monangai first arrived as the team’s seventh-round selection, and could quickly make a name for himself and push the presumed RB3 in Roschon Johnson out of a job in Chicago.
Bears New RB Coleman Bennett Could Push Roschon Johnson Out of Job
Harrison Graham of Chat Sports had this to say when talking about Bennett’s chances of snagging the RB3 role.
“I think the RB3 role is up for grabs. And how are you going to win that job? Well, in Bennett’s case, he’s shown upside as a pass catcher. And can he play on special teams? That’ll be the key. If he can, he’ll have a chance because that’s where Roschon is kind of stuck around is he’s a pretty good special teamer. So with Travis Homer gone, they need that third running back to do those type of duties.”
Bennett amassed 764 rushing yards on 157 carries (4.9 APC) along with 27 catches for 314 yards and seven total touchdowns last season and could provide more than Johnson, considering Johnson isn’t quite the best when it comes to catching the ball out of the backfield.
“He has elite testing numbers in the agility department, running a 4.25-second short shuttle time,” Jerry Markarian of Chicago Bears SI wrote. “While I think he’ll ultimately land on the practice squad, he at least has a chance to impress in preseason and grab the third running back spot. I don’t think they’re head over heels for Roschon Johnson, who is now entering the final year of his rookie contract, by any means.”
Take the Upside Over Comfortability
A personal take is the Bears know what they have in Johnson. A good special teamer who can’t stay healthy with a history of concussions and other injuries.
This isn’t like Johnson is a focal point of the Bears’ offense either. Chicago has two good RBs with Swift and Monangai, so this is their chance to take a little risk and keep a guy like Bennett on the team and see what he’s capable of.
And if not Bennett, why not someone like Deion Hankins, who the Bears brought in last offseason as an undrafted free agent?
Hankins, 5’11” and 226 pounds, averaged 5.0 yards per carry across his final three seasons in college and provides the Bears with a bigger back, considering Swift (204 lbs) and Monangai (207 lbs) are a bit smaller.
Regardless, the Bears should take the opportunity with two proven backs to test the waters with the RB3 spot. It’s hard to envision Chicago giving a contract extension to Johnson, who’s racked up just 519 rushing yards, 313 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns in 36 career games since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2023.
Why not take a chance on someone like Bennett or Hankins?
Bears New 6’0″ 210-lb RB Could Push Roschon Johnson Out of Job