Chicago Bears Favorites To Land All-Pro RB This Offseason

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is heading into free agency this offseason. While several teams may be interested, the Chicago Bears are considered the frontrunners to sign him, according to Bet Tennessee. The three leading teams in the race to sign Henry are the Bears, with +600 odds (a 14.3% chance), the Houston Texans, also with +600 odds (14.3% chance), and the Baltimore Ravens, holding +700 odds (12.5% chance).

Is Derrick Henry a realistic option for the Bears?

Derrick Henry's dominance in the league is widely acknowledged; he's a true powerhouse and superstar. With 90 rushing touchdowns in his first 8 seasons and a remarkable 2,000+ rushing yards in a single season four years ago, he has consistently proven his value in an offense. Over the past two seasons, Henry has maintained reliability and consistency, surpassing 1,100+ rushing yards. In 5 out of his 8 NFL seasons, he has totaled over 1,000+ rushing yards. Despite the Bears lacking a star running back, they were second in the NFL for rushing, partly due to having Justin Fields as their quarterback.

The Bears are currently 9th in available cap space in the NFL, and potential cuts in the upcoming months might propel them even higher. This presents an opportunity for Ryan Poles to make substantial moves. However, the addition of a 30-year-old running back, even one as skilled as Henry, may be a risk he is hesitant to take.

Derrick Henry wouldn't cost as much as you think.

According to PFF, Henry is projected to secure a 2-year deal in free agency worth $20 million in total, with $13 million guaranteed and an average of $10 million per year. Although the cost isn't extreme, the question remains whether Ryan Poles is inclined to make a splash signing for a position that isn't deemed premium around the NFL. Should the Bears decide to sign a running back in free agency, my preference would be for them to pursue Saquon Barkley from the New York Giants. At 26 years old, he is four years younger than Henry. It's evident that his market value could be higher, especially with competitive teams vying to land a dynamic playmaker like Barkley in the event he doesn't re-sign with the Giants.

Did the Chicago Bears hire Shane Waldron to fix Justin Fields?

In the most recent episode of the BFR Podcast presented by Sports Mockery, Dave and Ficky discuss the latest updates on the Bears hiring new OC Shane Waldron. You can watch the episode by clicking on the video below or listen to it on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.