The Chicago Bears didn’t have the busiest offseason in 2019. At least, not compared to the countless number of moves GM Ryan Pace made in 2018. But that doesn’t mean Pace didn’t take a calculated risk at one key position on offense.
The Bears decided after one season with Matt Nagy at the helm that running back Jordan Howard wasn’t the right fit in his system; this despite Howard’s track record of success that included a franchise rookie rushing record in 2016 (1,313 yards) and back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons to start his career.
Sure, Howard regressed in 2018. He had just 935 yards (3.7 yards per carry), but he did manage to tie his career-high with nine touchdowns.
Still, it wasn’t enough for Pace and Nagy to keep him around for a second year in the offense. Howard was traded to the Eagles and the Bears drafted his likely replacement, David Montgomery, in the third round.
It was a move deemed the team’s riskiest by Bleacher Report.
The Bears knew what they had in Howard. They had a back who rushed for 935 yards last season and 3,370 yards in his first three seasons. Howard also caught 72 passes in three years, so he did bring some versatility to the backfield.
What Chicago has in Montgomery is completely unknown—at least as it relates to the pro game.
Regardless of how good Howard once was for the Bears, Pace has a track record when it comes to identifying talented running backs. Howard was one of his many Day-3 selections who proved worthy of a starting job at the position, as is Tarik Cohen, who should factor mightily in Chicago’s offense once again in 2019.
There’s no reason to doubt Montgomery’s ability to step in right away and provide at least the same level of production Howard had in 2018. When adding Montgomery’s more well-rounded skill set as a playmaker, the decision to move on from Howard feels like the right call for now.
