GM Ryan Pace has remained busy over the past week. While the Chicago Bears haven’t made any splash moves thus far, they’ve done a solid job of adding cheap veterans who provide good depth for their roster. Jeremiah Attaochu at outside linebacker. Angelo Blackson on the defensive line. Elijah Wilkinson at offensive tackle. Christian Jones at inside linebacker. Now the team has added another to that list. This one with a pretty well-known track record.
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams last played an NFL game in February of 2020. That day he helped carry the team to its first Super Bowl title since 1969, piling up 104 yards rushing and scoring two touchdowns. Unfortunately, the arrival of COVID-19 forced him to opt out of playing last year. His mother had stage 4 cancer. Now he is back and ready to resume his career. It seems that will be in Chicago.
The #Bears have agreed to terms on a 1-year deal with former Super Bowl hero RB Damien Williams, source said. Lots of familiarity, as he knows Matt Nagy’s offense from KC, and he was OC Bill Lazor with the #Dolphins.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2021
This is a strong move by the Bears.
Williams knows the offense they play from Kansas City but also has connections to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. The two were together for a couple of seasons in Miami. He is 28-years old but not nearly as worn down as somebody his age would normally be at that position. Having a full season off no doubt helped him heal from nagging injuries. He’ll have fresh legs. Word is he’s also in phenomenal shape.
This is a great depth move for the Bears. While David Montgomery remains the starter, the team suffered from a lack of alternatives last season. Tarik Cohen tore his ACL and Cordarrelle Patterson was never meant to be a running back. Williams solves this problem. He can be a primary back when asked and offers versatility as a pass catcher.
Chicago Bears are now clearly operating with a plan
As pointed out in previous articles, Pace always tends to treat free agency the same way. It isn’t normally his avenue to find stars for the Bears. He instead uses it to address needs. Fill as many holes as possible in March. Then come the NFL draft in April, he’d be free to take the best players available, regardless of position. It isn’t a bad way to operate.
Williams is another example. Adding a guy with his proven track record at a cheap price is smart business. He is an upgrade over what the Bears had in the likes of Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce. A trio of he, Montgomery, and Cohen gives them a backfield with a great mix of strong running prowess and receiving ability. This will give the Chicago Bears coaching staff loads of flexibility with how they attack opponents.
It also helps ease the burden on Andy Dalton.
Everybody knows the new quarterback in Chicago isn’t a superstar. He is a serviceable player who can be effective when he has help around him. A solid running game would definitely be a major way to ensure the 33-year old isn’t swamped by the burden placed on him. It seemed like last year the Bears were moving more towards a balanced offensive approach. Signing Williams is a further indication of that.