It’s no secret the Chicago Bears are likely to add another running back in the upcoming NFL draft. It comes down to a matter of who that is and when they’ll be taken. With less than three weeks left, the Bears have met with no fewer than 15 prospects in the 2019 class either privately or at various events. There is no question that they’re doing their absolute best to find the player who fits what they want to do.
There is plenty of speculation about who that might be. Plenty of names have been thrown around but there is hardly a consensus among fans or the media. So what about the guys who got paid to do this for a living. Gil Brandt was a decorated executive in the NFL for a long with the Dallas Cowboys. He’s now on his way to the Hall of Fame, so his eye can be trusted on these matters.
When determining the best fit for certain running backs with teams in the draft, he made a conclusive choice for the Bears. That player? Penn State standout Miles Sanders.
“Sanders racked up 1,274 rushing yards on 220 carries (5.8 yards per carry) and 24 catches for 139 yards last season at Penn State, showing very good running and pass-catching skills, which could make him an ideal candidate to become the No. 2 back behind Tarik Cohen, with free-agent signee Mike Davis sliding into the No. 3 role. He also should have relatively fresh legs, given that he was working behind reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley in his first two seasons with the Nittany Lions.”
Miles Sanders fits exactly what the Chicago Bears like to do
People are still trying to figure out who Sanders is. He was virtually an unknown before last year due to being stuck behind Nittany Lion legend Saquon Barkley. When elevated to the starting job, he played quite well with over 1,200 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Is he special like Barkley was? No. However, he has a versatile skill set that would make him attractive in a system like the Bears’.
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He can run with power but has a degree of quickness that allows him to sift through traffic and find the open lanes. His speed isn’t top gear but he can deliver long runs when the windows are there. Most importantly, he has a soft pair of hands that allow him to be a factor in the passing game beyond just occasional dump-offs.
There is no denying the fit. The question is whether the Bears can get him. Speculation by many experts is Sanders will likely go somewhere in the late 2nd to early 3rd round range. That’s well above where they stand at #87 overall. So either they’d need to think about moving up or hope that the board makes it where Sanders could slip to them.
