The Chicago Bears were one of the best offensive teams in football last season, but they don't have much depth behind Matt Forte and that could lead Marc Trestman to look at targets to draft like Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason, Andre Williams, Lache Seastrunk, Bishop Sankey, James White or De'Anthony Thomas while a trade for LaMichael James is another option.
The Bears were very good on offense last season and Forte had a career year, but with Michael Bush departing as a free agent, there is a good chance the team could draft an RB this year. According to ESPN.com writer Michael C. Wright, the team is very likely to add at least one running back at some point in the draft, as they have Forte and Michael Ford and that is not much to go into the offseason or workouts with. Forte had a heavy load last season and while he has shown that he can stay healthy, he has had issues with injuries in the past and that could lead to the team picking a back with one of their picks in the second, third or fourth rounds. Wright also speculates that the team could move down in the draft to get some relief with extra picks and they could still draft a back later on.
The Bears have seven picks in the draft this season, with one in each of the first five rounds and then two in the sixth and they do not have a seventh round pick or any compensatory picks this year. No backs are projected to go in the first round and that could give the team a number of options down the line and it comes after they ranked 16th in the league with 114 rushing yards per game. The defense will be a major focus and that could be where their first round pick comes in, as they ranked 32nd in the league in rushing yards allowed and 15th in passing yards allowed per game and Trestman needs to improve those areas.
Forte had a fantastic season in 2013 and he played in all 16 games after missing five the previous two seasons and he had a career high 1,339 rushing yards and nine scored to go along with 74 catches for 594 yards and three scores and those were career high reception and yards numbers as well and he could continue that next season. According to ESPN.com, the team is also looking at James White as an option in the draft, who was a solid running back at Wisconsin behind Montee Ball when he was there. White is a smaller back at 5-foot-9, 204 pounds. Nut he played four years with the Badgers.
ESPN.com reports that White was impressive while leading the senior bowl with 11 carries for 62 yards and one touchdown and while at Wisconsin he ended up fourth with over 4,000 rushing in school history. He also had 45 touchdowns during his time there and last season he was in the mold of Forte, as he had 1,444 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 39 passes for 300 yards and two scores and that puts him as a great option for the Bears, as that is how they use Forte as well. Ty Gaffney and De'Anthony Thomas also could be options for the Bears, as they are fast players that can play out of the backfield as well.