August 20, 2025

The Chicago Bears selected Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft. The former Scarlet Knight had back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons in his final two years in college, earning First-Team All-Big-Ten honors in 2023. Monangai joins the Bears' running back room that consists of D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer. Last season, Chicago ranked 25th in rushing yards and averaged the third-fewest yards per carry in the NFL. New head coach Ben Johnson is looking to change that, as he coordinated an elite rushing attack with the Detroit Lions, which never had fewer than 480 rushing attempts in his three seasons as coordinator. Johnson ran a two-back committee with a "Thunder and Lightning" approach. Swift will have the "Lightning" role in this offense, with his big-play ability and his receiving prowess, but the "Thunder" role is up for grabs. Johnson is the favorite for that role, but averaged the fewest yards per carry among any running back in 2024 (2.7) and had a 0% breakaway run-rate. Monangai's path to playing time is by beating out Johnson for this role. However, only one seventh-round pick has ever run for over 500 yards in their rookie season, with only fellow Rutgers alum Isiah Pacheco accomplishing this feat. Monangai has an opportunity to contribute in his rookie season, but the odds are stacked against him due to his draft capital.--Nathan Harvey