
Following the trade of Jordan Howard, the reports of multiple visits with top running back prospects, and recent mock drafts projections, it’s safe to say the Chicago Bears are most likely targeting a running back with one of their top picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, that top pick won’t be until No. 87 in the third round this year, thanks to the Anthony Miller trade with the Patriots during the 2018 draft that saw the Bears move up from No. 105 to No. 51 and send them a 2019 second-round pick, and the Khalil Mack trade with the Raiders in which the Bears sent two first-round picks in 2019 and 2020, a third round, and a sixth-round pick in 2020.
But if recent history holds true, the Bears can find a quality starting running back in the third round, particularly in this year’s draft where the position is deeper than in year’s past. Below are all the running backs drafted in the third round over the last four years and how their careers have turned out since being selected.
Here’s a look at third-round running backs drafted since 2015.
2018 NFL Draft

Royce Freeman, Oregon
Denver Broncos, Pick #71
Royce Freeman was the only running back selected in the third round in last year’s draft and was poised to take control of the Broncos backfield. But he ended up splitting time with undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay in the first few games. When Freeman was sidelined with an ankle injury, Lindsay quickly took over the starting spot and never looked back. Lindsay rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns while Freeman finished with 521 yards and five touchdowns.
2017 NFL Draft

Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
New Orleans Saints, Pick #67
The third round of the 2017 draft was littered with running back gems, starting with Alvin Kamara. Kamara formed the best running back duo with Mark Ingram during his rookie season, averaging 6.07 yards per carry. Kamara continued to roll in 2018, even with Ingram suspended for the first 4 games of the season. Now that Ingram is in Baltimore, Kamara appears ready to shoulder the load as the Saints’ featured back.
Kareem Hunt, Toledo
Kansas City Chiefs, Pick #86
Looking strictly at the football side of things, Kareem Hunt was an absolute steal in the third round. Thrust into the starting lineup due to a torn ACL for Spencer Ware, Hunt rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns in his first game as a Chief and never looked back. He ended up leading the league in rushing his rookie year. Hunt picked up where he left off in 2018 before his off the field issues came to light and the Chiefs released him with five games to go. Hunt then signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 2019 season but will be suspended for first eight games of the year.
D’Onta Foreman, Texas
Houston Texans, Pick #89
After rushing for over 2,000 yards at Texas, D’Onta Foreman didn’t have to go far to start his career, landing with the Texans. Foreman had a lackluster start before a two-touchdown performance in week 11. However, he tore his Achilles tendon on the second touchdown run, ending his season. Foreman missed all but one regular season game in 2018 while recovering from surgery and he has a lot to prove in 2019.
James Conner, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers, Pick 105 (Compensatory Selection)
One of the best stories to come out of the 2017 draft, James Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during rehab for his torn MCL he suffered in the season opener. He went through treatment for months before finally receiving the news he was cancer-free in the offseason. Conner had a successful senior season with Pitt and was then selected by his hometown Steelers. He beat out three other backs for the #2 spot behind Le’Veon Bell, but only 144 yards on 32 carries. Conner assumed the starting role when Bell refused to sign his franchise tag and report to the team and ended up producing a pro-bowl season, finishing with 973 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 13 games.
2016 NFL Draft

Kenyan Drake, Alabama
Miami Dolphins, Pick #73
Kenyan Drake was primarily a backup at Alabama but was billed as an NFL-caliber change-of-pace running back coming into the draft. Drake contributed on special teams his rookie year, only receiving 33 rushing attempts for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He received more playing time in 2017, earning six starts and nearly 900 yards from scrimmage. Drake split time with Frank Gore in 2018, producing similar numbers to his previous year, but had a career highlight when he scored on the “Miracle in Miami” play against the New England Patriots.
C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame
Seattle Seahawks, Pick #90
The Seahawks had a void in their backfield following the (brief) retirement of Marshawn Lynch and drafted Prosise to compete with Thomas Rawls. After weeks of limited playing time, Prosise got the start in week 10 against the New England Patriots, rushing for 66 yards on 17 carries. He had a hot start the next week against the Philadelphia Eagles before suffering a broken shoulder that shelved him for the season. Prosise’s next two seasons would end in injury and he rarely saw the field when healthy.
2015 NFL Draft

Tevin Coleman, Indiana
Atlanta Falcons, Pick #73
The Falcons drafted Tevin Coleman to give the team a 1-2 punch with Devonta Freeman and when both backs were healthy, they were a force to be reckoned with as each had the ability to run in between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield. Coleman improved each season in the league, culminating in a career year in 2018 when he rushed for 800 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, 32 catches, and five receiving touchdowns, all career highs. Coleman hit free agency and signed a two year, $10 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
Duke Johnson, Miami (FL)
Cleveland Browns, Pick #77
The Browns drafted Duke Johnson to provide a pass-catching spark out of their backfield and he delivered. In four years, Johnson averaged nearly 59 catches for 543 yards. He joined Herschel Walker as the only running backs to have 500 receiving yards or more in his first three seasons. Johnson’s future is uncertain, however, as he requested a trade following the Kareem Hunt signing.
David Johnson, Northern Iowa
Arizona Cardinals, Pick #86
David Johnson may not have been the Cardinals first choice (they initially wanted Ameer Abdullah who went to the Detroit Lions in the second round) but it proved to be one of the best picks in the entire draft. Johnson had a promising start to his career but shined during his sophomore season, rushing for over 1,200 yards, 16 touchdowns, and adding nearly 900 receiving yards and another four scores, earning first-team All-Pro. Johnson ended up dislocating his wrist the next season in his first game and going on injured reserve. He finished 2018 with nearly 1,000 yards and ten total touchdowns in an up-and-down season.
Matt Jones, Florida
Washington Redskins, Pick #95
Matt Jones’ career with the Redskins started well as he was a productive backup to Alfred Morris during his rookie season and earned nearly 800 yards from scrimmage. When Morris left in free agency, Jones was named the starter and was solid throughout the first half of the season. But multiple fumbles and an injury resulted in him losing his starting role to Rob Kelley and he was made inactive for the rest of the season. He was released in 2017 and played sparingly with the Indianapolis Colts before being cut that same year.
In the last four years, 11 running backs were drafted in the third round. Of those 11, four became pro bowl players (Kamara, Hunt, Conner, and David Johnson) and all but three (Foreman, Prosise, and Jones) played significant roles for their respective teams in 2018. Recent drafts show the Bears should be able to find someone who can become a quality starter in the NFL at worst, with the chance to turn into a pro-bowl running back.