Chicago Bears: 3 Free agent running back targets for 2019

As the Chicago Bears now focus on the 2019 NFL Free Agency, they look to build on the great season they just had. One area of priority is at running back. Here are possible targets.

Now that the heartbreak of how the Chicago Bears‘ season is more and more behind us, the team shifts its focus on building on the success it had in 2018. As the 2019 NFL Free Agency approaches, running back is a position of priority.

Practically from the moment head coach Matt Nagy came to Chicago, there’s been speculation that Jordan Howard‘s days as a Bear were counted. There were rumors that the Bears might trade him to the Miami Dolphins for wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

Nothing was ever confirmed and the Miami Dolphins eventually traded Landry to the Cleveland Browns. At one point Howard deleted all information that had to do with the Chicago Bears on his social media accounts. That just ramped up the speculation.

The reason many feel Howard is on his way out is that he isn’t the type of running back Nagy demands in his offensive system. He requires not only a back who can run and get good yards but also one who makes catches out of the backfield. Howard is a great runner but his catching skills are basic. I think Nagy feels the more you throw at him the lower his catch percentage.

He may have a point. This season he had the highest catch percentage of his career. However, he had the fewest targets in his career as well. The most targets he had occurred in his rookie season in 2016, and it was also his lowest catch percentage.

• 2016 — 50 targets, 29 catches, 58.0 percent catch percentage
• 2017 — 32 targets, 23 catches, 71.9 percent catch percentage
• 2018 — 26 targets, 20 catches, 76.9 percent catch percentage

While Howard struggled early in the season to get yards, he got into a good groove in the final five games. He had 399 of his 935 rushing yards in just his final five games. His average per carry in those games was 4.5 yards as opposed to his 3.7 for the year. Even so, he only had eight passing targets (though he did catch six of them).

Having a running back who is dependable in the passing game is crucial for Nagy’s system. Without it, the offense sometimes bogs down. Tarik Cohen is great out of the backfield, but that’s mostly when he’s lined out at the slot.

With that said, here are possible running back targets who may be available through the 2019 NFL free agency.