What draft experts said about new Bears RB Kyle Monangai

USA Today

01-05-2025

What draft experts said about new Bears RB Kyle Monangai
The Chicago Bears added another weapon for Ben Johnson's offense with the selection of Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai with the 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Monangai posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He had a career year last season with 256 carries for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added 14 receptions for 75 yards and one score. Monangai has zero career fumbles in 670 attempts, per Pro Football Focus.
Monangai joins a Bears running back room led by D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson, so the Rutgers product will have an opportunity to compete for carries and a roster spot.
Here's what some expert draft analysts had to say about Monangai during the pre-draft process and what Bears fans can expect to see:
"A three-year starter at Rutgers, Monangai was the featured weapon in offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca's zone-blocking scheme that was built around the run game. Despite being one of the lowest-ranked recruits in Greg Schiano's 2020 class, Monangai became one of the best running backs in the Big Ten and finished No. 2 in school history with 3,221 rushing yards (behind only Ray Rice).
A first-generation Cameroonian-American, Monangai isn't going to stand out as the fastest or most powerful back in this class, but he runs hard and decisive, following his blocks on traps and reaches to motor through gaps. His ball security (zero career fumbles) and overall dependability as a workhorse will be appreciated by NFL coaches. Overall, Monangai lacks breakaway speed, but he can pick, slide and weave through the defense with shifty quickness and run toughness. His competitive profile and promising reps on passing downs should make him an effective utility back in the NFL."
"Short but stout two-time team captain who is bundled tightly into a compact, muscular frame. Monangai is quicker than fast and lacks breakaway speed but can change the track of the run at a moment's notice with unpredictable cuts at sharp angles. His vision is average and his lack of run-lane discipline will irk offensive line coaches, but he creates yardage out of nowhere and has exceptional contact balance to repel would-be tacklers. He lacks ideal third-down value, so teams will need to be comfortable with tabbing Monangai as an early-down backup who can handle a heavier carry load if needed."
"Monangai is hoping to become the second member of his family to reach the NFL—his brother, Kevin, rushed for over 3,000 yards at Villanova and spent time with the Eagles and Vikings. Monangai is a tone-setter who relishes contact—it's what drives him. However, his physical play style also highlights his limitations. He lacks the ability to consistently make defenders miss or outrun them in space. As a pass blocker, he takes pride in his work, embracing contact and bringing the fight to pass rushers. He is also exceptionally secure with the football, having recorded zero fumbles on 676 career carries. While some teams may not prioritize his power-rushing style, those that do will value him as a depth or rotational back who can help establish a physical culture in their running back room."
"Kyle Monangai is a two-year starter in Rutgers backfield. In 2023, he was able to turn his talent and potential into production. Monangai offers a volume running back who gets stronger and better with more touches. For the Scarlet Knights, Monangai is the engine of their offense.
Monangai plays with good mental sharpness. He blends vision, instincts, and an overall feel for the game. He is a strong leverage reader and processor, identifying whether the edge is soft or hard and adjusting his run path accordingly. Monangai is great on inside zone and duo run calls, where he reads the DL and LB leveraging to pick the right running lane. He has a plus-level vision to find lane openings before pressing too far outside on stretch zone calls.
Monangai runs hard behind his pads with great core and lower-body strength. He packs a punch upon contact downhill with his shoulders squared. Monangai is a forward faller when running with a head of steam. He has a compact, bowling ball frame to bounce off tackles on contact.
He possesses electric quick feet to change directions on a dime. After identifying a hard edge, he makes sudden and sharp cuts upfield. His lateral agility is great, Monangai cuts laterally to evade defenders and change run lanes. He strings together cuts in the open field. He is one of the most elusive runners on tape with an innate ability to generate forced missed tackles. He catches the ball well in space and can create yards after the catch.
Monangai is a willing participant in pass protection. His efficiency is hit or miss. He doesn't sustain blocks consistently and struggles to stonewall free runners with downhill momentum. Improving this aspect of his game will ensure third-down snaps at the next level. Rutgers doesn't factor Monangai in the passing offense. He looks functional at worst in limited touches, but more opportunities are needed to paint a clear picture.
Monangai will probably lose snaps on short yardage and red zone situations to a bigger RB at the next level. He went five games straight without a touchdown. Cashing in on red zone opportunities and running hard between the tackles will be a key development in 2024.
Monangai projects as a dynamic and productive zone running back at the next level. He has the skill set to be a heavy all-purpose or yards-from-scrimmage RB. Monangai will be a nice target for teams that do not value the position early in the draft. At worst, he will be a nice RB2 in the NFL."
"Entering the 2025 NFL Draft cycle, Monangai grades out as a top-75 prospect, who could feasibly command early-round capital. In a deep RB class, he carves out his place as a uniquely energized and physical back, with exciting three-down security.
Monangai needed a year to calibrate after taking the reins full-time following Pacheco's departure. But in 2023, the veteran back reached new heights and compiled impressive tape week in and week out — now he might follow in Pacheco's footsteps as a future NFL starter.
Monangai isn't quite as fast or explosive as Pacheco, nor is he quite as heavy. But Monangai is extremely dense and well-leveraged, and he brings urgent short-area motion and a relentless mentality. He maximizes that short-area quickness with sharp vision and a creative feel.
Monangai has never eclipsed 10 catches in a single season, so his receiving value is relatively unproven at this point. But there are flashes of high-level route-running nuance, and he might be the best pass-blocking RB in the class with his awareness, technical prowess, and physicality.Though Monangai's ceiling might be a bit lower than some of the top running backs in the class, he still profiles as a solid NFL starter with a particular affinity for inside zone, gap, duo, and counter scheme. He also has pass-down security with additional receiving upside."
"Rutger Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai is a well-rounded runner who does a lot of the little things well. He's got good vision, runs hard, offers good leverage, protects the football, and can win in pass protection with consistency. It all adds up to the right kind of back you'll want in your stable of players, but his athletic limitations underscore the nature of his position and why the league values it the way it does. Monangai is missing an athletic differentiating trait that could coax a team to instill him as a featured back."
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