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The Chicago Bears are heading into training camp with plenty of eyes on their offense, but one position battle might get more intense than expected.
On a roster filled with questions about how the new-look unit will come together, one quiet late-round selection could cause some real noise in the weeks ahead.
Can Kyle Monangai Shake Up the Bears’ Depth Chart?
Chicago made a high-dollar commitment to revamp their backfield this offseason, handing a $24 million deal to former Lions and Eagles standout D’Andre Swift. Just months later, however, it’s a seventh-round rookie who’s suddenly creeping into the conversation.
Rutgers product Kyle Monangai wasn’t expected to climb far up the depth chart in Year 1. He was selected with the 233rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and entered camp sitting behind Swift and second-year runner Roschon Johnson.
But there’s growing chatter, including a bold prediction from PFSN’s Jacob Infante, that Monangai could carve out a role much sooner than expected.
Infante predicted the rookie would “eat into Swift’s carries,” calling him a “stout, tough runner” with enough shiftiness between the tackles to force the Bears’ staff to take notice. Monangai is coming off back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons at Rutgers. At 5’9″ and 209 pounds, he’s a compact physical presence that could add depth to Chicago’s backfield rotation.
“Despite their struggles running the ball in 2024, the Chicago Bears didn’t make any major moves to their running back room. Keep an eye on seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai going into training camp, though. He’s a stout, tough runner who’s shifty in between the tackles and could earn some playing time with an impressive rest of the summer,” wrote Infante.
Will Swift’s $24 Million Contract Guarantee the Starting Role?
While Monangai has plenty of momentum building around his camp performance, Swift isn’t going away quietly. He’s still the projected RB1, and for good reason. The 26-year-old signed a three-year deal with Chicago this offseason after his time with Philadelphia.
With a cap hit north of $9 million in 2025, the Bears are clearly financially invested in making this work.
That doesn’t mean Swift won’t face competition for touches during camp, though. If Monangai continues to impress in camp and preseason action, it’s not out of the question for him to earn real touches. The depth chart could shift depending on how the rookie’s physicality translates to the NFL level.
At the very least, Chicago’s depth at the position now feels a lot more intriguing than it did on draft day. If the rookie’s college production carries over and his frame holds up against NFL defenders, the Bears might’ve found a steal who can impact this backfield rotation sooner than anyone expected.
If Kyle Monangai keeps turning heads, the Bears’ backfield may not just be Swift’s show; Chicago could be gearing up for a two-headed monster.
