The rumors surrounding a potential Jordan Howard trade this offseason reached new heights when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported several teams expressed interest in the Chicago Bears’ veteran running back at the 2019 NFL combine.
Schefter is the most tuned-in NFL insider in the business and his intel is usually spot on. So if he’s already pushing this narrative, a Howard trade is more than likely to occur on draft day.
We touched on what Howard’s trade value is here.
If the Bears decide to trade Howard, they’ll have several options to replace him in the NFL draft and free agency; what they do on the open market will ultimately determine if they use a draft pick on a running back.
Here are four veteran free-agent options Chicago could consider signing.
Le’Veon Bell
Bell is the biggest free-agent prize at running back but he’ll come with a price tag that could be too rich for the Bears to pay. Still, the opportunity to add a dynamic superstar who can dominate both on the ground and as a receiver would be a dream-come-true for Chicago.
The main reason Howard is on the trade block is his inability to do it all for coach Matt Nagy’s offense. He’s an average receiver and isn’t the most explosive player with the ball in his hands.
Bell is the anti-Howard. But at 27 years old and after a year away from football, the risk might outweigh the reward.
Tevin Coleman
Coleman turns 26 in April and is primed to take over a starting gig after being blocked by Devonta Freeman the last few seasons in Atlanta.
Coleman had the most productive season of his career in 2018 when he ran for 800 yards four touchdowns (4.8 yards per carry) and he set a career-high with 32 receptions.
He’s a big-play weapon who can contribute in the passing game, something that’s certain to appeal to Matt Nagy.
Spencer Ware
If the Bears want a running back who knows the system, Ware is the obvious choice. He looked poised for take off in his career in 2016 when he carried the ball 214 times for 921 yards to go along with 33 catches for 447 yards. In fact, Ware looked like Kareem Hunt before Kareem Hunt.
An unfortunate knee injury ended his 2017 season and opened the door for Hunt to win the NFL rushing crown as a rookie and while Ware did appear in 13 games last year and averaged 4.8 yards per carry, his time with the Chiefs looks all but done.
Signing Ware would make a ton of sense, and probably wouldn’t break the bank either.
T.J. Yeldon
Yeldon is another name on this list whose path to the field has been blocked by a more highly-regarded player. In this case, it’s Leonard Fournette. But Yeldon has flashed promising upside when given the opportunity to play.
The most exciting thing about Yeldon’s game is his ability to contribute as a receiver. He caught 55 passes in 2018 and at only 25 years old, his best years as a runner are still ahead of him.
Yeldon could end up having a hotter-than-expected market once free agency kicks off and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to Bears fans if they’re in the mix for his services.
