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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
D'Andre Swift shares first impression of Bears rookie Kyle Monangai
D'Andre Swift shares first impression of Bears rookie Kyle Monangai The Chicago Bears didn't make any major moves at running back this offseason, with the only addition coming with the selection of Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft. Adding Monangai to the running back room, which will feature new position coach Eric Bieniemy, brings plenty of eyes and attention to every running back on the roster, especially D'Andre Swift. In what many, including himself, felt was a disappointing 2024 season, Swift not only vows to bounce back, but is also ready to be a mentor for his rookie teammate. Swift had high praise for Monangai, a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 2023 and 2024, and what he's done so far this offseason. "Real good, really good. Really excited for him," Swift said. "Very talented, very talented. He's cool, and he's from Jersey. I'm from Philly, he's from Jersey, so close. But he's been really good so far, excited for him." While there could be an opportunity to crack into the rotation as a rookie, it's equally as important to see the veteran Swift speak highly of him early in the offseason program. With Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Monangai, head coach Ben Johnson will have plenty of options and opportunities to utilize all three backs, who all have a different style of play and running ability. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Defining short- and long-term expectations for the Bears' Day 3 draft picks
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Running back Kyle Monangai, the Chicago Bears' seventh-round pick this year, knows his film includes highlights of linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, a new teammate from Maryland. They simply played against each other a lot in the Big Ten. 'I'm sure if we looked, it's going to be a lot of just him-and-I collisions,' Monangai said, smiling. 'I hope I won most of them.' Advertisement The Bears' selection of Hyppolite in the fourth round seemingly surprised many. He didn't participate in the NFL combine or Senior Bowl. But Monangai knows what the Bears have in Hyppolite. 'Him being around me, that's what I remember,' Monangai said. 'At Maryland, I saw him every year. Me and Ruben know each other well on the field, obviously. Now we get to know each other off the field. Great player, great linebacker. We've met a lot of times in that hole.' Both players will have opportunities to play for the Bears early on this season. This is Part 2 of my annual look at the short- and long-term expectations of the Bears' 2025 NFL Draft class. (You can find Part 1 on the Bears' first four picks below.) Round 4, No. 132 pick Where he fits in 2025: Jobs can't be won in the spring in shorts. Coach Ben Johnson said that, and others have repeated his message. But there is a wide-open competition at strongside linebacker in the Bears' base defense. Hyppolite is in that mix along with Noah Sewell, Carl Jones and Amen Ogbongbemiga. 'The No. 1 thing is he can run,' defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said of Hyppolite. 'The things that we're going to have to ask our 'backers to have to do, they've got to be able to match up with tight ends, with running backs at times. They've got to be able to match up with wide receivers; sometimes that's carrying things vertical down the field. We're looking for guys that can run, and then we're looking for guys that have a physical mentality, physical demeanor. I felt like he exhibited those things on tape.' Hyppolite can fly. He ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds at Maryland's pro day. His time would have been first among linebackers at the combine if he had attended. His speed should help him secure a place on special teams but also as the top backup behind T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. The Bears are teaching him the responsibilities of all three linebacker spots. Advertisement 'I played mike and will in college,' Hyppolite said. 'We had a great (defensive) line my entire career there, so the big boys ate a lot when I was playing. It was just about me being a leader and going out there and playing, doing my best, doing my job. When the plays came, they came. I made the plays. Now, just looking forward, I look to make a lot of plays and get a lot of opportunities to do so. That's where my head's at now.' .@rubenknows1 gettin' after it 💪 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 11, 2025 Where he fits in the long term: Speed is important. But it's not everything. What Edwards lacks in speed, he makes up for with instincts and smarts. He went undrafted out of Wisconsin but is in his seventh NFL season and on his third contract. Production matters. 'Obviously, T.J. has earned his keep,' Hyppolite said. 'Tremaine has earned his keep. I'm just here to learn. … I got great vets in the room. I'm grateful for that, and I just want to pick their brains, have them coach me up, and we go forward from there.' The floor for Hyppolite seems to be as a special-teamer. His speed is needed there. But there are reasons he wasn't invited to the combine and Senior Bowl. He's thankful for the Bears' belief in him, but he also feels slighted by others. That could benefit the Bears. 'I just love my story for anyone who's out there who thinks that they need things like the combine, things like a Senior Bowl invite, who thinks that they need those things to get drafted,' he said. 'You don't. You just got to put your best foot forward. You got to run fast. And you've just got to be your best self every day, and I feel like I'm showing that.' Hyppolite won over Allen and the Bears during his visit to Halas Hall before the draft. 'I'll tell you what I did learn is that he's very mature and he's very business-oriented,' Allen said. 'He's got his life together off the field, which is going to allow him to be able to focus on the field with the football. There's not going to be a lot of outside distractions with this guy, and I think that's a positive. I think he's going to be a guy that's going to learn how to be a pro really quickly because of that maturity level. Advertisement Round 5, No. 169 pick Where he fits in 2025: The Bears appear set at cornerback with Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith. How well Stevenson bounces back from last season and fits in with Allen calling the defense will be a storyline throughout the year. So it's difficult to see where Frazier fits in the early going beyond earning a special teams role. Allen described Frazier as a 'young, developmental corner.' But he also sees some of Al Harris in Frazier. Harris is the Bears' defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator. He played 14 years in the NFL, including seven years with the Green Bay Packers, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2007 and 2008. He began his career as a sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1997. 'Who better to work with him than Al Harris?' Allen said. 'A guy that's got kind of a similar frame and played a long time in this league, had a lot of success. I think we're excited about getting the opportunity to work with him and seeing him grow.' Where he fits in the long term: Harris is more than a coach for Frazier. He's the one who helped put Frazier on the Bears' radar before the draft. He should get his opportunities to impress Allen, Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles because of it. At worst, it's safe to view Frazier as a long-term backup option. 'Being coached by (Harris) is really a blessing,' Frazier said. Harris' confidence in Frazier should be a factor this season and throughout his rookie contract. Harris is the one who envisioned Frazier as the long and fast cornerback who can handle the man coverage that Allen wants. And Frazier knows that. 'It definitely boosted my confidence because I got a coach that did it, too,' he said. 'So he's just going to give me the game. I can just add to my toolbox and be ready to work every day.' Advertisement Round 6, No. 195 pick Where he fits in 2025: It wouldn't be surprising if Newman is cut and signed to the practice squad after training camp. But it also wouldn't be surprising if Newman beats out Ryan Bates (who struggled to stay healthy last season) or Doug Kramer and becomes one of the Bears' interior reserves up front. The Bears appear to have a late-ascending player in Newman. He was a decorated left tackle at Holy Cross before transferring to Michigan State, where he started every game last season at left guard and faced better competition — players who have since been drafted — from Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. Newman played left guard during rookie minicamp, which included time next to rookie tackle Ozzy Trapilo. But he seemingly wants the challenge of playing center. He has acknowledged that center fits his physical makeup. 'I really look forward to learning and adapting to center a lot more,' he said. Where he fits in the long term: The interior of the Bears' offensive line is set with left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson. Dalman and Jackson are signed through 2027, and an extension for Thuney is still expected at some point. For Newman, it's a great spot to develop, even if that's as a reserve for the foreseeable future with the Bears. 'I just want to see and learn how they handle themselves as a professional,' Newman said. 'Like, I want to see what those guys do for their bodies, their recovery. I want to see what they do nutrition-wise, what's right for them. I want to see how much time, what they're studying in the film room, what exactly they're looking at and what they're keying in on. And I just really want to learn how they handle themselves, really more off the field than on.' Round 7, No. 233 pick Advertisement Where he fits in 2025: Monangai's place on the roster is different from the Bears' other Day 3 picks. There's a role to be had immediately in Johnson's offense. D'Andre Swift remains the Bears' top back, but this appears to be a make-or-break year for running back Roschon Johnson. 'Adding Kyle to that mix is going to be awesome with the group that's in there, with Roschon and those guys,' offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. 'Adding Kyle is a very positive thing, but I think that we're going to find out more about this group as we move forward.' The Bears also have Travis Homer and Ian Wheeler, but Johnson has the most to lose with the addition of Monangai. Homer's value is on special teams, and Wheeler, an undrafted signing last year, is returning from a torn ACL. It's only May, but Monangai has made an impression on the coaching staff. 'There are a lot of areas where we're going to have to coach him up,' Doyle said. 'He's a very physical player. He's very willing. And then, the best thing about him that translates is that he's a consummate pro. The last couple of days, we've been able to meet with these guys. He's front and center. He's taking notes. He's attentive. We're asking questions of the group, and he's answering. I think he's going to carry himself that way. I think that guys who do handle themselves that way give themselves a shot.' Where he fits in the long term: For now, Monangai can enjoy being a running back drafted by Johnson and Doyle. But that could change. Monangai's position is one the Bears will thoroughly evaluate every year. Johnson will always be looking for elite weapons. Monangai could be the Bears' No. 2 back in 2025, but two years later, he could be their No. 3 if the team drafts his replacement. Of course, how well Monangai plays in Johnson's offense will affect the perceived need at his position. 'I haven't thought about any roles or nothing,' Monangai said. 'I'm just trying to prove to the coaching staff, let them know that they made the right decision to bring me here.' (Top photo of Kyle Monangai: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ruben Hyppolite: Bears teammate Kyle Monangai is best running back he's faced
Ruben Hyppolite: Bears teammate Kyle Monangai is best running back he's faced The Chicago Bears were expected to add a running back in the 2025 NFL draft, but they didn't do it until the seventh round with the selection of Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. Monangai, who was named to the All-Big Ten team in 2023 and 2024, is a powerful runner who put himself among the best running backs in the conference, and he left a lasting impression on one of his new teammates and fellow rookies. Before they selected Monangai in the seventh round, the Bears drafted Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite in the fourth round. Having gone against Monangai in their college careers -- both playing in the Big Ten -- Hyppolite had high praise for his new teammate, calling him the best running back he's ever faced. "I tell everybody that he's the best running back I faced in my career in the Big Ten," Hyppolite told the CHGO Bears Podcast. "He has a great ability to run behind his pads, he's fast and slippery. He knows how to get through the holes and he knows how to finish runs, he's physical. When you look at him you don't really expect physicality with his size, when he runs the football you definitely feel it when you tackle him. I played him for about three, four years, so I had to see him every year, it was always a good battle." Both Monangai and Hyppolite will have a chance to earn playing time as rookies with competition at their respective positions. There's optimism about both rookies having a role in what should be a very competitive roster for new head coach Ben Johnson. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Bears Q&A: Does Kyle Monangai compare to David Montgomery? Which games could be in prime time?
The NFL offseason never sleeps. After the Chicago Bears drafted eight new players two weekends ago, they'll get their first look at them on the field this weekend during a three-day rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Then next week brings the much-awaited 2025 schedule release. Brad Biggs' weekly Bears mailbag begins with a question about the last of those draft picks. Watching Kyle Monangai highlights reminded me of David Montgomery's running style. How do combine stats and college production compare for Monangai and Montgomery? Does Monangai have upside potential comparable to Montgomery's career? — Ryan Y., Libertyville Combine measurables for the two running backs are similar. Monangai measured 5-foot-8, 211 pounds with 28¾-inch arms. His 40-yard dash time was 4.60 seconds, and he had a 34½-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-9 broad jump. At the 2019 combine, Montgomery measured 5-10, 222 with 31 3/8-inch arms. He ran the 40 in 4.63 and had a 28½-inch vertical jump and a 10-1 broad jump. Neither had impressive 40 times or jump metrics, but the numbers from Indianapolis are just part of the evaluation. It's more what they did on the field in college. Both were known for playing with good contact balance and vision and running with urgency to get north and south. Montgomery probably has better lower-body quickness and also has a larger frame. One thing scouts noted when I asked about Monangai is his arms are particularly short. Neither qualifies as a super-high-end athlete, but Montgomery has proved to be a very good NFL running back and arguably has been better in Detroit than he was with the Bears. That's probably not hard to do behind the Lions offensive line and in a situation where he can remain fresh splitting time with Jahmyr Gibbs. I think Monangai has a chance to contribute as a rookie. What we don't know yet is how well he will run with vision and patience in the NFL. We'll have to wait until they get into training camp to start getting answers. Does he have enough pop in his pads to handle pass protection in the NFL? It's one thing to block against Maryland. It's another thing to do it against the Green Bay Packers. A lot of times, teams make late-round picks based on a player's traits. I think you can say that about cornerback Zah Frazier, whom the Bears chose in the fifth round out of Texas-San Antonio. He has great height (6-3) and length and he can scoot, timed in 4.36 in the 40 at the combine. How the NFL draft's deep class of running backs seemed to dance away from the Chicago Bears Monangai was more of a pick based on quality production and durability in the Big Ten. He's not a flier whom the Bears grabbed in the seventh round based on measurables. It was a calculated pick of a back who might have a chance of fitting in, especially if he can play with some of the skills that have made Montgomery super successful as a former third-round pick. Every year at this time we get excited about a highly drafted Year 2 player that had a mediocre rookie year who is 'ready to step up.' Hearing high expectations for Rome Odunze in particular. Not knocking him personally and hope he does take off, but has there ever been a highly touted rookie who underperformed only to turn into a star in Year 2? Having bad flashbacks from when we expected Cade McNown and Kevin White to launch. — Jimmy A. There's plenty to tackle here. For starters, it probably isn't fair to say Odunze had a 'mediocre' rookie season, considering everything that went on around him in an offense that was a couple of notches below mediocre. Odunze made 54 catches for 734 yards with three touchdowns. Three rookie wide receivers had big statistical seasons last year: Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers and Ladd McConkey, who is more of a slot receiver. Thomas and Nabers produced in offenses that lacked other targets like DJ Moore. Odunze showed growth and development as a route runner in the second half of the season. So much was wrong with the offense that it's probably hard to get a really good snapshot of where he was when the year ended. He needs to be highly productive to justify the No. 9 draft pick. No question about it. Now he's in a new offense with a new and experienced play caller who has shown the ability to develop wide receivers. There should be optimism for Odunze heading into Year 2. As far as highly drafted players who didn't do a lot in Year 1 and then became highly productive, how about wide receiver Alshon Jeffery? He played in only 10 games with six starts in 2012 and had only 24 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns as a high second-round pick. He went on to be very good with a 1,421-yard season in 2013. Why is there a different skill set for a right tackle than a left tackle? — Steve D. In the 1980s, 1990s and maybe entering the 2000s, offenses looked for an athletic option at left tackle with the footwork needed to handle elite right defensive ends, players who bring a lot of speed off the edge. The prototypical right tackle then was more of a road grader or mauler who would be a great option to run behind, one of the reasons people have said running games are often right-handed. The game has evolved and now defenses send speed rushers off both edges. That has led offenses to seek athletic players at both left and right tackle. Look at the Lions, who have Taylor Decker at left tackle and Penei Sewell at right tackle. Both are powerful movers who excel in pass protection. I think that's ultimately what the Bears want to get to. It takes more than one offseason to outfit a new coaching staff with all of the desired pieces. What games are the best candidates to be played in prime time when the schedule comes out? — Arnie G., Hickory Hills The NFL will unveil the 2025 schedule on Wednesday, May 14, and my guess is the Bears will be scheduled for four night games. Of course, if they play well, more can be added through the league's flexible scheduling system. Mostly by the doing of Bears coach Ben Johnson, it seems he has a little rivalry already brewing with Packers coach Matt LaFleur. That would make a return to prime time for a Bears-Packers game appealing. The teams played a prime-time game for 17 consecutive seasons from 2006 through 2022. It's probably time for that to be a thing again. Bears-Lions might be a natural candidate. The Lions will be a hot team for the networks, and they have a lot of potentially intriguing matchups. The Bears and Vikings have tangled on 'Monday Night Football' each of the last two seasons and four times since 2020. In terms of non-division games, games at Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco and Cincinnati all would have certain appeal for prime time. Keep in mind not every prime-time game looks like a doozy, at least from a national perspective. The Bears and Panthers played on a Thursday night in 2023. The Bears also played the Commanders on a Thursday in 2022 and 2023 when that wasn't a super-appealing game outside of the two markets. So there could be a night game scheduled that doesn't necessarily look like a matchup one of the networks was clamoring to get. Is it fair to say by not investing a first-round pick at OT the Bears are trying to get by with a serviceable player at left tackle (Braxton Jones/Ozzy Trapilo) rather than a blue-chip player? It will be hard to get an Eagles or Lions OL if that's the case. — @wickywoowoo1 My first reaction is it would have been a mistake to try to invent a player who wasn't there when the Bears were picking 10th. The Saints drafted Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9, and the next offensive tackles to come off the board were Josh Conerly (No. 29 to the Commanders), Josh Simmons (No. 32 to the Chiefs), Aireontae Ersery (No. 48 to the Texans), Anthony Belton (No. 54 to the Packers) and then Trapilo to the Bears at No. 56. If the Bears' plan comes up short and Conerly or Simmons develops into a standout left tackle, then they missed. If Ersery becomes a top-flight player, maybe the Bears will regret passing on him at No. 39 when they selected wide receiver Luther Burden III. I'm not convinced there was a blue-chip left tackle for the Bears to get in this draft, certainly not without trading up. I'd also point out it was going to be impossible for the Bears to build an offensive line this year that's comparable to what the Eagles and Lions have. Look at how those teams have been built in the trenches and realize it has been done with a consistent approach over a number of years. The Bears took a short cut by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and that will solidify the interior of the line along with signing center Drew Dalman in free agency. To ultimately get the offensive line to where the Bears want, they'll need to stay committed to the position for another year or two at least in order to have both the quality and depth required. Do the Bears plan to move Shemar Turner to the edge? Edge is a priority need despite everyone's obsession with running backs. — @barbersquires There may be a chance that Turner lines up at defensive end in occasional (see: rare) pass-rushing situations. I could see that happening once in a while. But Turner — whom the team lists at 6-3, 290 pounds — is a defensive tackle. If things go well, he will develop nicely behind Grady Jarrett and become a stalwart three-technique. Jarrett signed a three-year contract, but you're essentially looking at a two-year, $30 million deal with a team option for 2027 for a 32-year-old entering his 11th season. The Bears need to coach up Turner at tackle and let him develop there. Defensive end could be a position they look to supplement later this year — before training camp or potentially after roster cuts. There aren't a lot of great options right now in terms of unemployed pass rushers. In third-down passing situations when the Bears use 11 personnel, do you think Colston Loveland is more often the TE in those situations? — @jtbcubs That probably will be the plan, but the Bears know they can get quality production from Cole Kmet and they have to see how Loveland develops. Tight end is arguably the second-most difficult offensive position for rookies after quarterback. That's because so much is going on and they are asked to carry a big load with a lot of responsibilities in the passing and running games. Ben Johnson will have an awful lot of flexibility with personnel and it should be fun to see how it develops. Attention to the draft has bought this issue some time out of the spotlight, but the new stadium issue needs to be resolved. The Chicago lakefront site remains stuck in the mud of Chicago and Illinois politics and, to semi-paraphrase Margaret Thatcher, depends too much on other people's money. The Bears own a fine site in Arlington Heights. What needs to happen for Kevin Warren to pull the trigger and go ahead with AH? — Dennis G., Colorado Barring a seismic shift, any stadium project will boil down to 'other people's money,' as you put it. Yes, the Bears have said they would foot the bill for a new stadium in Arlington Heights, but the village or state or both would have to pay for unknown amounts of infrastructure enhancements to make it happen. Is that $1 billion? Less? More? I don't know. That's why this entire project is deep, deep in the weeds of politics. The Bears can accurately say they aren't seeking public money right now to build a new stadium, but the project is a no-go without public money. Unless that changes. Stay tuned.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears 2025 draft pick profile: RB Kyle Monangai
The Chicago Bears finally landed a running back in the seventh round with the selection of Rutgers' Kyle Monangai 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Monangai is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with Rutgers, and one of his greatest assets is in pass protection. He 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. Advertisement Here's a quick rundown on Monangai: The Basics Height: 5-foot-8 Weight: 211 pounds Age: 22 From: Roseland, New Jersey Breakdown "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." -- Lance Zierlein Dane Brugler's Scouting Report 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). Advertisement 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. They Said It "Physical, tough runner. High, high, high football and personal character. We believe he can come in and compete. We like his contact balance. And again, just the physical nature of how he plays football, and his pass protection is really good as well." -- Bears GM Ryan Poles RAS card Kyle Monangai RAS Grade: B Monangai's production was consistent while at Rutgers, averaging 5.0 and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023 and 2024, respectively. He also has never lost a fumble, which is arguably his best trait coming into the NFL. We'll see where he winds up on the depth chart and if the Bears opt to add another veteran at some point, but Monangai has a chance to show something in a fairly thin running back room. It's not the pick Bears fans were hoping to see at running back when the draft started, but it's something. -- Brendan Sugrue Highlights Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2025 draft pick profile: RB Kyle Monangai
