Following a disappointing 5-12 season in 2024, the Chicago Bears underwent a coaching change and a vast roster overhaul during the offseason. Chicago hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to lead the rebuild and took an aggressive approach to the offseason, completely revamping its offensive line with four notable additions via trades, free agency, and the draft.
The defensive line was equally prioritized, but one area of potential weakness is Chicago’s backfield. The Bears used a seventh-round selection on former Rutgers Scarlet Knights star Kyle Monangai, but one analyst feels it won’t help Chicago much and predicts they will try replicating Johnson’s tried-and-tested formula of dual-rushing attack in 2026 and beyond.
Chicago Bears Predicted To Pair D’Andre Swift With First-Round RB After 2026 NFL Draft
Last year, the Johnson-led Lions had the best offense on PFSN’s Offense+ metric in the league. Some of that was Johnson’s creative genius, alongside the excellent quarterbacking of Jared Goff, who finished second on PFSN’s QB+ metric.
However, the Lions’ dual rushing attack, led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, added an extra wrinkle. The duo earned the nickname Sonic & Knuckles. The Bears can use that formula with D’Andre Swift already on the roster.
According to Mark Stolte of PFSN, Chicago needs to target Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to complement Swift. Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson have severely augmented the offensive line.
According to Stolte, the Bears will have an average season and end up with the 18th overall pick. However, they trade up three spots to No. 15, sending their first and fifth-round picks to the Minnesota Vikings.
“The Chicago Bears give Ben Johnson a legit running back to pair with a tough O-line and a loaded receiver room,” Stolte wrote. “Jeremiyah Love’s explosiveness is unreal (just ask Indiana). After a huge College Football Playoff run, he’s now a legit Heisman candidate.
“But it wasn’t just the playoffs. Love ranked 18th in FBS in yards after contact per attempt, forced 62 missed tackles (16th), finished 11th in breakaway rushing yardage, and ranked 21st in breakaway run percentage. That kind of big-play threat takes pressure off Caleb Williams and makes the 12 personnel play-action game even more dangerous.”
At 6’0″, 212 pounds, Love is a deadly creator. He’s a slippery, slashing free-strider with hyper-elite vertical burst and an unflappable center of gravity that allows him to cut and gash through arm tackles and routinely refind his feet.
Jeremiyah Love is going to be the best RB in the country next season. ☘️
pic.twitter.com/nCwCXMdALJ— Caleb Conrad (@CalebConrad23) May 31, 2025
Love burst onto the scene last season with an incredible campaign for Notre Dame, posting 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns to go with 28 receptions for 237 yards and two scores through the air.
Johnson has Swift and Monangai to work with for now, but if the latter doesn’t turn out to be a capable back, it might not be far-fetched to imagine that he could use the first-round pick on a home threat like Love in 2026.