Tashard Choice knows a thing or two about playing running back at a high level. He was a standout at Georgia Tech in college, which helped him become a 4th round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. His productive rookie season helped them to a winning record. Then he scored a touchdown in their first postseason victory in over a decade the next season. Choice played in the league for nine years before transitioning to coaching. His work led him to become the running backs coach at Texas in 2022. That is where he became acquainted with Roschon Johnson.
While Bijan Robinson was the star of the show with the Longhorns, it didn’t take Choice long to realize Johnson was the true leader of that running back room. He explained this to Parkins & Spiegel on 670 The Score. What separates the Chicago Bears’ 4th round pick from others is his unselfishness. He will do literally anything necessary to help his team win. That includes working on special teams and even blocking for his fellow running backs. Make no mistake, though. Johnson can run that football, and Choice declared a strong belief he’ll be the big dog in Chicago not too long from now.
Roschon Johnson feels like the Bears’ possible long-term plan.
They likely didn’t have big designs on drafting a running back. There were other areas of need to address. However, by the 4th round, GM Ryan Poles was stunned Johnson was still available. He couldn’t ignore the value on his board any longer. So the Bears took him. While the young running back was elated to get selected, he was also angry. After working so hard in college and showing he could be the guy in almost any other program, it felt like a personal slight that teams passed on him so many times.
Now the Bears have insurance. D’Onta Foreman is operating on a one-year deal. Khalil Herbert will enter the last season of his rookie contract in 2024. Having Roschon Johnson in the fold gives the organization some leverage if Herbert seeks a significant pay raise after this season. One thing is certain. Johnson is the most versatile player they have in the backfield. While his running ability is on par with Foreman, it’s his receiving prowess and pass protection that set him apart. This could be what elevates him to the starting job.
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