Ben Johnson is the offensive mastermind for the Chicago Bears’ new offense. Everybody expects him to target a running back at some point in the upcoming NFL draft. He loved featuring the ground game in Detroit over the past three years. While D’Andre Swift isn’t a bad player, he doesn’t have certain capabilities necessary to Johnson’s style. One must not forget the head coach signed off on trading the veteran a couple of years ago. Expecting him to feature Swift in the primary role this year was always naive. Everybody believes the Bears will seek out an alternative, and few names are hotter than Kaleb Johnson.
The Iowa running back burst onto the scene last year. After being a complete non-entity on the national level for two years, he exploded for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024. While he isn’t special in any one category, he has a blend of specific traits that make him an easy projection as an NFL starter. Matt Bowen of ESPN, a former safety in the league, believes the Bears are a perfect fit for him.
RB Kaleb Johnson to the Bears
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 224
College: IowaWhere Chicago could get him: Pick Nos. 39 or 41
The Bears could target Johnson early on Day 2 to pair him with D’Andre Swift in the backfield. He’s a linear glider with the north/south acceleration to create big plays. Last season at Iowa, he rushed for 21 touchdowns and added 43 carries of 10 or more yards.
Johnson would be a good fit for the outside zone scheme that new coach Ben Johnson has run in the past. And with an uptick in usage in an NFL pass game, he’d produce on screens and backfield releases for Chicago.
The beauty of Kaleb Johnson is where the Bears can get him.
Due to his good-not-great ceiling in the eyes of evaluators, nobody expects him to go before the 2nd round at the earliest. Some even believe he lasts until the 3rd. That means the Bears can wait to grab him until then, freeing up their 10th overall pick in the 1st round for another position of preference. There are two primary concerns with Kaleb Johnson. One is his track record. He is a one-year wonder, which makes his projection more difficult. Then there is the track record of Iowa running backs. None have been drafted since 2009. Is he an exception to the rule or a mirage? These are questions the Bears must wrestle with ahead of April 24th when the action begins. The good news is Ben Johnson has a sharp eye for running backs. If he thinks the Hawkeyes star is the real deal, Chicago can rest easy.
