Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Quinshon Judkins |
Dustin Riese
-
- 14 hours ago
As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, which will take place in Green Bay in three weeks, it's becoming more clear what Ben Johnson and this organization intend to do. Not only will they continue to focus on offensive line help, which could come with the No. 9 overall selection, but they are also expected to put a significant focus on the offense as the Bears aim to create one of the more diverse offenses in the league.
While most of their offense seems to be accounted for at this point, no one is going to argue that the Bears should feel the need to address the skill positions in the draft if they see a fit. One of the names being mentioned for Chicago in recent days is Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, who has been linked to the Bears as a possible Day 2 option. When examining the Bears' offense and its current standing, running back isn't what you would call an immediate need. However, with D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson as the only backs on the roster, Chicago could use more help. Adding Judkins would help the Bears by adding more depth, and he would take over the no. 2 running back spot from Johnson to create the perfect 1,2 combo with Swift. Johnson has been discussing that a lot this offseason as he continues to rave about the David Montgomery/Jahmir Gibbs combo in Detroit. Granted, whatever running back duo Chicago creates will be drastically different from Detroit's. Still, Johnson values having two reliable running backs, which is why Judkins does make sense for this team. At 6-0 and 219 pounds, not only is Judkins big for a running back, but he is also a physical runner who possesses more speed than you would expect. Looking back at last season, Judkins averaged 5.5 yards per carry and accumulated 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns. Compare that to his entire career, and you have a guy who averaged 5.3 yards per carry and totaled 3785 yards and 45 touchdowns in three seasons. A lot of that production stems from playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the Nation, but regardless, those numbers can't be ignored, and he could be the Thunder in the Bears' running game to pair with Swift. Being a productive runner is one thing, but being a productive runner who loves to take on contact is a different topic of conversation, as Judkins loves to take contact. He has the burst to break the big run, but has made a living of taking the big hit, fighting through the tackle and battling for all the yards he gets. That may not work in his favor in the NFL, but having a player with the physical nature he brings is something not every team possesses. What makes him potentially more valuable than some of the other running backs, not named Ashton Jeanty, is that Judkins has already played in a two-running back system and would be accustomed to that role. When you look back at this past season, he along with TreVeyon Henderson, made arguably the best 1, 2 running back combo in the Nation, but it was Henderson who stole the headlines more often than not. That's not to say Judkins was overlooked, as he saw plenty of his touches in short-yardage situations and would've been a starter for nearly every other team in the Nation. The short-yardage situations are especially intriguing as the Bears struggled to convert short-yardage plays on the ground last season. Judkins is someone who could solve that instantly, and that alone changes the element of this offense. When it comes to an NFL comparison, Judkins is drawing comparisons to Joe Mixon and you know the type of back he is. While Mixon is a more complete back than Judkins, which is why he puts up the numbers he puts up, Judkins has the potential to put up very similar numbers as long as the reps are there. Those reps may not come in year one or year two, but he would be a valuable asset for an offense that needs to get better across the board.
