Chicago Bears veteran put on surprise notice after rookie has impressive minicamp

During an appearance on 670 The Score Monday morning, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune said there’s a real competition at running back this year. Even though Monangai was taken in the seventh round, the Bears believe he can be a true contributor in the league.

“It’s a wide-open competition there at the running back position,” Biggs said. “You would imagine D’Andre Swift is going to be in the front of that. But there’s opportunity for two things, playing time and touches, and that’s why they drafted him (Monangai).

“Like you look at a lot of these day three picks, and in a lot of cases players are drafted on day three because of traits–like the size, speed, the testing numbers. This kid was drafted because of production in the Big Ten for Rutgers, and you’re envisioning him being able to transfer some of that production that he had in school into the NFL.”

Kyle Monangai has to prove it in training camp

Monangai recorded 3,222 yards and 27 touchdowns on 669 carries (4.8 yards per rush) during his five seasons at Rutgers.

Biggs said that it’s hard to gauge too much during rookie minicamp, as Monangai has to show he’s worthy of touches when the pads come on in training camp later this summer.

However, the big news is that Chicago thinks he has a legitimate chance to unseat Swift in 2025. Seventh-round picks are typically special teams contributors who get a chance here or there on offense during the season.

While the Bears aren’t likely to completely go away from Swift in the upcoming season, it appears Chicago plans to have a running back by committee. That will especially be the case if they sign a veteran running back like Nick Chubb or J.K. Dobbins.