Bears rookie running back Roschon Johnson is already garnering a ton of hype ahead of his first season.
Many analysts expect the fourth-round pick to bring plenty of competition to the running back room, where Johnson will compete with veterans Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman — and perhaps establish himself as a long-term starter.
Pro Football Focus‘ Dalton Wasserman and Jim Wyman dubbed Johnson the Bears’ rookie to watch during the 2023 season, as he’s someone who could make an immediate impact on the roster.
There are a ton of choices here amid Chicago’s huge draft class. Johnson is a terrific fit for their offense. The Bears may have an elite run-blocking unit next year for Johnson to play behind. He’ll likely start third on Chicago’s depth chart, behind Herbert and Foreman, but that doesn’t mean he is buried. His hard-charging style makes him perfect for cold weather. Johnson’s missed-tackles-forced-per-attempt figure in 2022 was better than his Texas teammate Bijan Robinson.
Johnson will likely start the season as third on the depth chart behind veterans Herbert and Foreman. But in what will be a committee approach to Chicago’s rushing attack, Johnson should see plenty of opportunities as a rookie.
Following the departure of David Montgomery in free agency, the Bears lost a running back who’s solid in pass blocking and a receiving threat. Johnson certainly appears to check those boxes, unlike Herbert or Foreman, which should help him earn additional playing time.
