With his performance over the course of the 2025 season, Caleb Williams broke the long-standing 30-year-old Chicago Bears record for single season passing yards, previously held by Erik Kramer (3,838). However, Chicago remains the only franchise in NFL history to have never produced a 4,000-yard passer, as Williams finished with 3,942.
The Bears are also the only NFL franchise to have never had a quarterback toss 30 touchdown passes in a single season as well. In other words, they are, historically, the very definition of a "run-first" franchise. You know the names- Walter Payton and Red Grange were the best of the best. Gale Sayers, Neal Anderson and Matt Forte were elite as well.
On the current team, running back is far from the top area of
need, but you can never have enough top quality running backs on your roster. The average career duration for a NFL player is just over three years. And for running backs, it's even shorter than that. No position takes a pounding quite as much as the RBs, so try to find reliable, consistent backs whenever and wherever you can.
Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech
Haynes is projected to be a day three guy, but if that's the case, he might be a steal. He originally played for Alabama and put some impressive things on tape during his time in Tuscaloosa. However, the flaws, in both pass protection and the receiving game surfaced as well.
At Michigan, he became the Big Ten's top rusher through the first seven games of 2025. Then an October injury required foot surgery, ending his season early. Now in Atlanta, he's off to a hot start again, as he's top 15 nationally in carries, top 20 in yards and averaging about five-and-a-half yards per carry.
Hollywood Smothers, Texas
Is there a better name in college football than this? Isn't it a joy to just type/say/write the name Hollywood Smothers? Firmly entrenched as a mid-round prospect, Smothers should be the best available back when the Bears are ready to select one. Like Haynes, he's a very well-traveled journeyman, having played at Oklahoma and NC State before transferring to UT. NFL scouts love his versatility and ball security.
He's a great third down back, but like Haynes, his pass pro still needs work. If does become a Bear someday, it would be very cool for the Soldier Field audio people to play Kool and the Gang's "Hollywood! Hollywood swinging!" whenever he makes a big play.
Nate Frazier, Georgia
Remember this is a list of prospects that the Bears might take, not a listing of the best prospects in the class. Frazier is the best of the lot when we get to the portion of the board where the Monsters of the Midway would be shopping for a new running back, Jadan Baugh, Kewan Lacy and Ahmad Hardy will be gone through the first couple rounds.
While it is a small sample size, of just 24 carries, you can't help but be extremely impressed by his 8.4 yards per carry so far this season. Wow indeed! Frazier brings elite qualities as a downhill runner, with a special ability to cut on a dime, and find the burst into the second level and break off an explosion play. He might have the whole package, but he doesn't have a lot of tread on the tires, as UGA employs a steady rotation in their backfield.
We just don't know if he can carry a "feature back" workload yet.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: 3 running back prospects that could fit in with the Chicago Bears
