David Montgomery Gets Favorable Spot in NFL RB Rankings

David Montgomery is a rookie. He has yet to play a down in the NFL. This makes it difficult to place him in any sort of rankings among other backs in the league because it would be entirely based on projections rather than proven productivity. Sure he was excellent at Iowa State and appears to have all the tools for the pro level, but it's still left to question.

That didn't stop Maurice Jones-Drew from giving him surprisingly favorable placement on his rankings for the top 32 starting running backs in the NFL. Jones-Drew is a former three-time Pro Bowler himself. So his analysis and opinion carry a lot of weight on this subject. There were a few easy choices with Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara, and Ezekiel Elliott all landing in the top five.

Where it got interesting was the bottom half of the list. Montgomery came in at 27th. Pretty solid considering he ranked ahead of names like Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman.

The rookie should fill the void left by Jordan Howard, who was traded to the Eagles this offseason, as a physical runner who forced 99 missed tackles last season at Iowa State (leading FBS RBs), according to Pro Football Focus. He may also have a role in the Bears' pass game. Reigning Coach of the Year Matt Nagy has been impressed with Montgomery this offseason, saying, "We always knew he had great hands. You don't know with these college backs how great a route-runner they are, but he's a great route-runner."

Getting early praise from Nagy is huge considering how much he loves to use running backs in the pass game. I can see Montgomery beating out Tarik Cohen for the RB1 spot and serving as the team's first- and second-down back.

David Montgomery already has the attention of Bears coaches

While some tempering of expectations would be wise in this situation, there is no question the rest of the Bears team isn't shy about singing Montgomery's praises. He has looked sharp from the moment he stepped on the field in practice. Not only is he running with quickness and vision, but his receiving prowess is standing out even more than expected.

If he stays healthy, with a play caller like Nagy behind him? It's hard not to envision him having a strong year. It just depends on how many touches he gets. The Bears have made it clear they plan to involve Tarik Cohen and new addition Mike Davis plenty as well. Montgomery may be the "starter" but he may not get the usual number of carries that come with that title.

Not in this offense.