Everybody believes the Chicago Bears will go hunting for running back help in the draft next month. New head coach Ben Johnson loves to run the ball, as his stint in Detroit proved. D'Andre Swift is a good player, but nobody sees him as a true every-down back. They need somebody who can make up for his deficiencies. That means a runner who is tough, strong, and can handle a heavy workload, freeing up Swift to use his speed and versatility in key situations. Debates about where the Bears may look have been ongoing for weeks.
The conversation starts with Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty, who is expected to go in the top half of the first round. Two others getting lots of buzz are Omarion Hampton of North Carolina and Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State. However, draft expert Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports thinks they might not be the ones who catch the Bears' eye the most. That honor belongs to Damien Martinez from Miami. He has the blend of size, power, balance, and vision that Johnson would immediately embrace.
The Chicago Bears' interest in Martinez would not be surprising.
His primary comparison via NFL.com is D'Onta Foreman. For those who might've forgotten, Foreman was signed by the Bears in 2023. GM Ryan Poles already has an interest in that type of back. He is a big guy at 6'0, 217 lbs. While 4.51 speed might not be considered fast by some, it is for a player of his size. Martinez couples that with excellent patience and footwork. He never looks like he's running out of control. The best part is he improved every single year in college from rushing yards to receiving yards to touchdowns.
Current projections have Martinez going in the 3rd round. However, if the Chicago Bears would rather target other positions early in the draft, they could seek to grab him at #72. Much of this depends on how confident they are that he would be available. If Poles and Johnson don't want to take the risk, they may decide to pounce on a running back earlier. Then again, neither man is afraid to gamble.
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