Running back is supposed to be easy. Draft one late. Plug him in. Move on. And yet, somehow, every draft cycle reminds us why that logic breaks down the moment you actually turn on the tape. <\/p>\n
On the Building the Board running back episode, Ron Luce<\/a> and Danny Meehan<\/a> dove head\u2011first into what they openly admitted is a weak RB class filled with wildly different archetypes, frustrating evaluations, and a few players who quietly make too much sense for Chicago. This isn\u2019t about finding the next Bijan Robinson. It\u2019s about identifying who fits, where value exists, and how Ben Johnson\u2019s offense actually uses the position. Previous episodes include:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Story continues below.<\/p>\n More Sports News<\/p>\n \t .wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla), \t\tsvg { Below is a tiered watch list of Bears running back draft prospects, built from the show\u2019s discussion.<\/p>\n Tier 1: The Outlier (Elite, Untouchable)<\/p>\n Jeremiyah Love \u2013 Notre Dame<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball,\u201d \u2013 Danny Meehan<\/p>\n Love is the class of the class. The cream of the crop. Explosive, versatile, dangerous in space, and capable of turning nothing into something in a snap, he\u2019s the only true blue\u2011chip back in this draft. The only real criticism? He is prone to freelancing, bouncing runs, trusting his athleticism over structure, and occasionally showing frustration when he doesn\u2019t get his touches. That matters at the NFL level. Still, it doesn\u2019t change the reality: the Bears will not have a chance at him.<\/p>\n Tier 2: The Other Notre Dame Back (High\u2011End Starter Traits)<\/p>\n Jadarian Price \u2013 Notre Dame<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the no\u2011nonsense back. One cut and go,\u201d \u2013 Ron Luce<\/p>\n Price might be the most \u201cNFL\u2011ready\u201d runner in the class. He\u2019s decisive, physical, downhill, and plays with purpose. He doesn\u2019t dance or hesitate. Price\u2019s only real knock is that he played behind Love and lacks the true game-breaking athleticism that Love brings to the table. Otherwise, he\u2019d be talked about as RB1 or RB2 in this class.<\/p>\n Tier 3: The Winner (Fit Over Flash)<\/p>\n Jonah Coleman \u2013 Washington<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not a better fit for this offense in this class,\u201d \u2013 Ron Luce<\/p>\n This is where irony takes over. Coleman isn\u2019t the fastest or the most explosive. He doesn\u2019t jump off the screen the way Love does. And yet, at 5\u20199\u201d, 230 pounds, Coleman runs with discipline, vision, ball security, and zero wasted motion. He presses the hole, plants his foot, and gets downhill. Coleman never fumbles. He thrives in zone concepts, exactly where Ben Johnson thrives. Coleman didn\u2019t \u201cwin\u201d the tournament because he\u2019s the best back. He won because he makes the most sense for the Bears.<\/p>\n Tier 4: Traits Bets & Scheme Swings<\/p>\n Mike Washington Jr. \u2013 Arkansas<\/p>\n \u201cIf he ever cleans things up, you\u2019re talking about something special,\u201d \u2013 Danny Meehan<\/p>\n Washington is the trait swing. At 6\u20192\u201d, 223 pounds with 4.3 speed, he looks like the prototype. Washington is patient, powerful, and explosive when given space. The concern is awareness, particularly in the passing game. Still, if you\u2019re betting on upside, Washington is one of the few in this class worth the gamble.<\/p>\n Adam Randall \u2013 Clemson<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re drafting the mismatch, not the finished running back,\u201d \u2013 Ron Luce<\/p>\n Randall might be the strangest evaluation in the class, and one of the most interesting Bears fits. A former wide receiver turned running back, he\u2019s massive (6\u20192\u201d, 230), fast, and a natural pass catcher. He\u2019s raw, inconsistent, and still learning the position. But there\u2019s nothing else like him in Chicago\u2019s RB room, and that matters.<\/p>\n Noah Whittington \u2013 Oregon<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe might be small, but he knows how to get hit without getting hurt,\u201d \u2013 Danny Meehan<\/p>\n Whittington is chaos. Controlled chaos. He\u2019s undersized, but smart. He avoids big hits, understands space, and maximizes every carry. He won\u2019t dominate touches, but he survives in a sport that aims to obliterate him, and that skill alone gives him staying power.<\/p>\n Tier 5: Speed, Utility, and Role Players<\/p>\n DeMond Claiborne \u2013 Wake Forest<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a water bug. He runs hard as hell,\u201d \u2013 Ron Luce<\/p>\n Claiborne is fast, violent, and relentless. Size limits his ceiling, but speed keeps him relevant. In Bears terms, Claiborne feels like a situational weapon, not a foundational piece. His value comes from pace, not volume.<\/p>\n Desmond Reid \u2013 Pittsburgh<\/p>\n
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