Going into the offseason, the Chicago Bears were widely expected to make a big addition at running back, but that has not happened.
After not doing anything in free agency, rumors suggested the Bears wanted Ashton Jeanty, but they were unable to jump ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders, who ultimately drafted the Boise State superstar at No. 6 overall.
Chicago did eventually draft a running back in Kyle Monangai, but did so with a seventh-round pick, which makes it highly unlikely he’ll pan out, let alone contribute in his rookie season.
With months to go before the start of the season, Windy City Gridiron’s Aaron Leming thinks the Bears could still make a move to address the position.
One player Leming wants to see the Bears pursue is Seattle Seahawks running back, Kenneth Walker III, who he thinks is Chicago’s best bet at an upgrade.
“Walker burst onto the scene in Seattle under Pete Carroll, but has regressed each year since. He’ll be in the final year of his rookie deal, so trade compensation likely starts in the early to mid Day 3 range. This might be their best bet,” Leming wrote.
Walker posted over 1,200 scrimmage yards (1,050 rushing) in his rookie season but has seen his numbers fall off in each of the last two years, and he’s coming off a campaign in which he missed six games due to injury.
Part of the problem for Walker is that he’s tried to play through injuries over the years, and they have no doubt taken a toll on his performance. But, when healthy, Walker is a true difference-maker who can score from anywhere on the field.
Walker would offer a great complement for starter D’Andre Swift, who can handle the majority of passing-down work while Walker serves as the primary ball-carrier.
A dynamic and explosive one-two punch of Walker and Swift would no doubt make Caleb Williams’ life much easier, and Walker could benefit health-wise from not having to carry a huge workload on a weekly basis.
It remains to be seen if the Seahawks would be willing to trade Walker, but there is a chance they could be open to it with the former second-rounder entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2025.
If so, Chicago should be interested.
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