The Chicago Bears private meetings for this upcoming 2019 NFL draft should be complete. They won’t go on the clock until late on the second day but there is no question they had to do their due diligence to make sure every possible prospect of note they might have a shot at was covered.
History says the team tends to use those meetings to hone in on guys they covet. Mitch Trubisky? Tarik Cohen? Roquan Smith? James Daniels? Anthony Miller? All had private meetings with the Bears prior to being drafted. It is something that must be taken into account.
No position group in this class has taken more of those meetings than the running backs. Not surprising given the Bears traded Jordan Howard, leaving a wide open void to fill. So how many have they met and what do fans need to know about each of them?
Chicago Bears private meetings extended to 11 running backs
Josh Jacobs (Alabama)
He was never the primary back for the Crimson Tide by he showcased his vast potential in 2018 with 640 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 120 carries. A slashing runner with a good mix of size, speed, and versatility.
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Miles Sanders (Penn St)
Had big shoes to fill when Saquon Barkley left last year. He delivered with 1,294 yards and nine touchdowns. He demonstrated a nice mix of vision, quickness and ability to break tackles. Showed promise as a receiver too.
Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M)
A Little Engine That Could. Only 5’9 but he ran like he was 6’2. Surprisingly tough for his size and consistently gashed the best conference in college football, topping 1,700 yards and scoring 18 TDs last season.
Devin Singletary (FAU)
An ultra-productive back who was the workhorse of the offense for three years despite being only 5’7. He topped 4,200 yards with 66 touchdowns. Though a determined runner with quickness, his lack of speed is an issue.
RyQuell Armstead (Temple)
A hard-nosed runner who quietly produced for his school for three years, topping 1,000 yards and 10 TDs twice. A north-south guy who has considerable power but lacks elusiveness. Can feast between the tackles.
Mike Weber (Ohio State)
Had a good first year replacing Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 with over 1,000 yards and nine TDs. He never seemed to ascend after that. He’s capable of running well and can be effective as a pass catcher. Just not consistent.
Dexter Williams (Notre Dame)
A one-year wonder last season with 995 yards and 12 TDs. Bigger back with a nice mix of size, strength, feet, and vision. He moves well and can catch. Not elusive though and has an off-the-field history too.
Jalin Moore (Appalachian State)
Delivered strong years in 2016 and 2017 with over 2,400 total yards and 22 TDs. Injury set him back last year though, playing only five games. He’s a tough, resilient runner who doesn’t go down easy but lacks versatility.
James Williams (Washington St)
“Slippery” is the best way to describe him. Not really fast or dynamically quick but finds a way to sneak through tackles. A bit undersized but a decent runner with good pass catching ability.
Myles Gaskin (Washington)
Good range of motion that allows him to elude defenders well. Not overly big or powerful but certainly tough enough to take the hits. He can be dynamic at times but also has a tendency to dance too much.
Alexander Mattison (Boise St)
Jack-of-all-trades sort of player. He does almost everything at his position well but isn’t special at anything. He can run with authority and quickness, can catch the ball, and is a determined blocker. Is he a feature guy? No.
