Why D'Onta Foreman Was A Disgusting Steal For The Bears

The Chicago Bears have operated with an interesting approach to free agency. They've only taken one really big swing on the market, signing former Pro Bowl linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a massive contract. Everybody else has come on surprisingly affordable contracts. All of them are on the younger side too. GM Ryan Poles has operated with a consistent philosophy. He wants younger guys who don't cost too much and fit their schemes. One name that isn't being talked about enough is D'Onta Foreman.

Running backs usually don't get all the love from fans when they sign with teams. It comes with the nature of their position. The NFL is a pass-first league. Running the ball is so passe. However, it's also what the Bears do best. So investing in the position makes sense. Foreman was a breakout star for Carolina last year, reviving their offense with over 900 yards rushing, most of them coming in the final 11 games. People may not grasp what makes him such a robbery for the Bears at $2 million for the season.

Fantasy and analytics expert Jakob Sanderson put it in perspective.

D'Onta Foreman can be another Khalil Herbert.

People must understand why this is important. It doesn't mean much in the grand picture of the NFL. That changes when narrowing the focus to only the Bears' offense. Herbert was a nightmare for defenses when the scheme switched to outside-zone. He averaged a whopping 5.7 yards per carry, going for 731 on only 129 carries. Foreman has a similar playing style. He has smooth footwork, great vision, and the ability to accelerate once he puts his foot in the ground. That was a big reason the Bears parted ways with David Montgomery. He lacked those traits.

The Bears don't need him to be a featured guy. They like having a running back-by-committee approach. D'Onta Foreman pairing with Herbert might actually be more dangerous than Herbert and Montgomery. It comes down to whether Foreman can stay healthy. Injuries have given him trouble in previous years. Last season had no issues. If he and Herbert can stay on the field, they will see tons of success, thanks to the ongoing threat of Justin Fields.