Right after the Detroit Lions were eliminated from the playoffs, the Chicago Bears announced their intent to interview Tennessee State head coach Eddie George for their head coaching position. Anybody with common sense could see it was their way of satisfying the Rooney Rule before making their push to get Ben Johnson. Details were soon revealed that George agreed to it because it was a way to get his name out there for possible NFL positions in the future. By all accounts, the interview was excellent.
However, it doesn’t end there. Apparently, Chicago had further motives beyond just the Rooney Rule. George revealed on the Stripe Sports podcast that GM Ryan Poles and his staff expressed deep interest in Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins. It might seem puzzling at first since George doesn’t coach there. One must not forget that George was a Heisman Trophy winner for the Buckeyes. His ties to the program run deep. Few people likely have a better feel for Judkins than him.
Eddie George made it clear Judkins is a bonafide stud.
He believes the Ohio State standout can be that bell-cow running back who can get you 1500-2000 yards if put in the right situation. He isn’t embellishing, either. He had over 1500 rushing yards as a freshman for Ole Miss and had 1,040 yards on just 196 carries this past season. Draft experts have compared him to Joe Mixon and Kareem Hunt. He’s big, thick, strong, a good pass-catcher, and has excellent contact balance. Don’t forget Johnson loved to run the football in Detroit with David Montgomery. Judkins is precisely that type of back.
Asking Eddie George, a former All-Pro running back, for his assessment was a crafty move on the Bears’ part. They were able to check several boxes at the same time. This confirms the team will likely be active at running back early in this draft if nothing else. Judkins is expected to go somewhere on the second day, either in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. Chicago has three picks in that range. Adding Judkins alongside D’Andre Swift would give them a strong 1-2 punch for next season, especially if they can bolster the offensive line.
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Something I’d like to see, but the trenches are our priority.
The Bears Running Game Coordinator position is still open for Eddie George. I think he qualifies.