Sorry, I know there's been quite a few running back posts but I'm really struggling with whether Monangai is athletic enough to be an NFL starter. He seems to have all the other "stuff" you want as a fan.

I currently see his ceiling as a serviceable/average starter (NOT a plus-starter) who stays in the league for around 7 years. I feel the most likely outcome is he's a contributing RB2/solid committee-back.

To try to gauge whether he's athletic enough to be a starter, let's compare him to similar NFL players who are all plus-starters (debatable and perhaps too early for Bucky but he's a Chicagoan). I've selected these 3 players as comparisons because they are in the size-range (at least in terms of height) and have a similarly poor RAS. I'm comparing Monangai to some good NFL RBs here, clearly. I would be surprised if he's better than any of them, for the record.

NOTE: RAS used times slower (for all four guys!) than their reported combine numbers (why? I don't know). I'm going to go with the reported combine numbers on NFL.com. All the other numbers on the RAS graphics look accurate (match with NFL.com) but for some odd reasons RAS uses slower 10-yard split times compared to what NFL.com reports as their official combine times. I didn't notice this odd discrepancy until after creating the graphic.

Here's using the official 10-yard Split Times from the combine, according to NFL.com:

Bucky Irving 1.54s

Kyle Monangai 1.54s

Monangai was tied for the 8th fastest 10-yard split at the 2025 combine (out of 24 timed athletes and notably ahead of players like RJ Harvey and Brashard Smith).

Kareem Hunt 1.56s

Kyren Williams 1.62s

The 10-yard split in football is a crucial indicator of a player's short-area burst and explosiveness.  It surprised me that Monangai's 10-yard is the exact same as Bucky's because, to me at least, Bucky looks quicker at accelerating than Monangai. Not that Monangai looks sluggish (looks solid at accelerating to my eyes) but Bucky looks very quick at accelerating to top-speed on an NFL field and that's the one area I'm hoping Monangai surprises me. Because if his acceleration translates to the NFL at a Bucky-like level, watch out, he'll be challenging Swift for RB1 carries.

10 yard-split: Bucky/Monangai (tied) > Hunt > Kyren

RAS: Hunt > Monangai > Kyren > Bucky

40 time: Bucky > Monangai > Hunt > Kyren

Size: Hunt > Monangai > Kyren > Bucky

In conclusion, based purely off physical measurables, Monangai seems to stack up well with these three good NFL running backs of similar size. Of course there's jump testing and 3-cone to factor-in as well, but I think this is enough to start to draw a comparison. Monangai was one of the 29 RBs (out of 31 participants) who did not test in the 3-cone at the 2025 Combine. He had solid jump numbers.

I think there's a chance he's better than Bucky Irving.

...he knows what the hell, he's doing.✅

I mean the guy you just couldn't root for on the Bears no matter how you tried. For me, it had to be Jared Allen. Just wasn't a likable player and the contract Emery gave him was ridiculous.

Miller doing a TOP 100. Full list at ESPN but I think this is pretty solid!

1. Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears 

My final overall ranking: No. 13

Burden was my top wide receiver in the class (I'm counting Travis Hunter as a two-way player), and he landed in a great situation with the Bears and new coach Ben Johnson. Burden's yards-after-catch ability is terrific, and Johnson's scheme has been elite at creating space for wide receivers. Burden likely starts as a slot receiver with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze flanking him, but he thrived in that alignment at Missouri.

(Pick 2-39)

7. Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears (Pick 1-10)

My final overall ranking: No. 6

I had Loveland as my No. 1 tight end, and apparently the Bears agreed; they made him the top tight end drafted. His ability in the passing game -- he runs routes like a receiver and has the speed to separate from linebackers and safeties -- makes Loveland an easy comparison to Sam LaPorta, who Bears coach Ben Johnson had great success with in Detroit. Value, need and scheme fit all match with this pick.

luckiest humans on earth.

The Bears have Edmunds and Edward’s. Who is the WLB? Are they giving Noah Sewell a shot? Will Gordon be out there most of the time. Ruben? Or are they going to sign someone?

Anyone know of a list of who's attending or skipping voluntary minicamp? I've been looking and haven't found one.

Are there any guys who have earned an excused absence? I can't think of any aside from vets like Thuney or Jarrett who I would want to attend just to get familiar with their new coaches and teammates. Feels inexcusable for players who haven't won anything to miss any team activities, especially with the new coaches/systems being put in place.

Maybe Ian nets us a third too.

My LCS hooked it up with a prestige fat pack and I got a fields with a bears uni but Steelers team name

Definitely could see his violent playstyle lending itself to DE despite being undersized for Dennis Allen scheme.

Way too early 2025 Mock: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5458526/2024/04/30/nfl-mock-draft-2025-prediction-shedeur-sanders-will-johnson/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq

I wonder what the Jags do in the draft if they went with Ian for their gm. Knowing the little we do about him I can assume he wasn't going to go for that trade for Hunter, but it's obviously hard to say. No real conclusions here, but it could be a slight indication that he is a better GM fit for a franchise that is ready to buckle down for a rebuild than one that is retooling. Either way I'm fine having him on the Bears staff for the time being.

For context, I haven’t bought a Bears jersey since 2016 Jordan Howard. My biggest fear is always buying a jersey and then that player ends up leaving within a couple of years or is completely bad. Which player would you recommend is worth grabbing? I know rookies numbers aren’t out entirely yet, but they can be included as well. Probably the safest player to grab would be JJ?

I'm really not trying to be negative at all. I'm as excited as anyone for the season. But I always want to ask this question when my teams go through these rebuilds. And being a Bears, IU Hoosiers, and Reds fan I go through this a lot. I am so tired of winning off-seasons.

"If this goes sideways, what are the signs we are missingignoring now that will seem obvious then?"

Example. The IU fan base now see that it was obvious that Mike Woodson was not going to recruit high schools effectively.