Bears could make risky $8 million move for veteran free agent

The Chicago Bears have had a busy offseason, highlighted by the hiring of Ben Johnson. Even though the draft is over, the Bears could still add an interesting player for Johnson's offense.

Johnson relied on Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to lead his offense with the Detroit Lions. Many expected the Bears to add an elite running back prospect early in the draft to complement D'Andre Swift. However, the Bears did not pick a running back until the seventh round when they selected Kyle Monangai from Rutgers University.

The Bears have Roschon Johnson, but they may not want to put too much on the young player's shoulders as they prepare to compete in one of the toughest divisions in the league. USA Today's Mike Pendleton listed J.K. Dobbins as a potential target for the Bears.

"J.K. Dobbins, like (Nick) Chubb, is a veteran running back who has battled injuries throughout his career but had a respectable resurgent season last year," wrote Pendleton. "After suffering two torn Achilles injuries in his career, Dobbins signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers and made the most of his year, leading the team in rushing yards as he worked back to healthy form. Dobbins carries big injury concerns, as does Chubb, but he's younger and coming off a good season, which could mean he's a bit more costly on the open market."

Spotrac projects Dobbins to sign a two-year, $8 million deal in free agency. Last season, he had 905 rushing yards in 13 games. He also added 153 receiving yards. He had nine total touchdowns, showing he can still be a valuable player.

Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp

However, his injury history makes him a risky addition. He missed four games last December and has never made it through a full season in his career.

More NFL: Patriots Day 2 draft pick could force $11 million veteran out of role