RD7. Pick233. Kyle Monangai

[jason]

Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers

[dawhizz]

Two things on him:

1. Zero fumbles so good ball security

2. That Rutgers offensive line was bad and he still got yards in the Big Ten. 

[AZ54]

Legit depth player at the RB position and what little I've seen of him so far (below), I love how he pass protects.  

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/4/26/24418298/chicago-bears-nfl-draft-kyle-monangai-scouting-report

[dawhizz]

Remember Isaiah Pacheco was another 7th round Rutgers RB that worked out ok. 

[adam]

20 minutes ago, dawhizz said:

Remember Isaiah Pacheco was another 7th round Rutgers RB that worked out ok. 

If a 7th rounder makes the 53-roster, it's a win. I think his future will come down to the health and recovery of Wheeler. 

[Stinger226]

Most people looked at Swift as a nobody. The coaches disagreed. They weren't looking for a load type back, they wanted a Montgomery type of back. 

No fumbles, great pass blocker, hard runner, a short yardage guy. He was all big ten 2 yrs in a row. Let's see him on the field before I bad mouth this pick. He's a violent runner.

[Stinger226]

He's the same size as Jeanty and the same speed as David Montgomery. Pacheco surprised the NFL maybe Kyle does too.

 

[DABEARSDABOMB]

4 hours ago, dawhizz said:

Remember Isaiah Pacheco was another 7th round Rutgers RB that worked out ok. 

Bad oline play / good pad level. Let’s see what he can do with what is hopefully a better oline. 

[Stinger226]

8 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

Bad oline play / good pad level. Let’s see what he can do with what is hopefully a better oline. 

I like surprises,he could be the daring of the draft. All big 10 2 yrs in a row does not scream failure. He fits what we need, physical running in short yardage situations. Pass blocks well and NO fumbles in his career.

[AZ54]

I think he's competition for Roschon for sure.  I'm not that enamored with Roschon.  I think Roschon has better receiving skills but he's not "good" in that category and while it's reportedly not seen on film it's possible Monangai showed similar skills in his workouts.  He sure seems to be better at pass pro than Roschon.  

It's impossible to know what the team was looking for in a RB or rather who they wanted / where.  Poles said they let the board fall to them and it sure looks that way from the outside.  I also wonder if the team still has some hopes for Wheeler as a contributor.  Which is my way of saying that     A)    they didn't view RB as an urgent need and    b)    once their top RBs were off the board they weren't going to worry about it at all.  

It was interesting to hear the new HC say he was impressed that the draft team worked the board so well and didn't fall prey to filling a need.  Does Ben Johnson truly have a long term view on the roster?  It's hard to say because the offense got a lot of focus early in this draft.  We'll see what that looks like on the field.    

[Stinger226]

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

I think he's competition for Roschon for sure.  I'm not that enamored with Roschon.  I think Roschon has better receiving skills but he's not "good" in that category and while it's reportedly not seen on film it's possible Monangai showed similar skills in his workouts.  He sure seems to be better at pass pro than Roschon.  

It's impossible to know what the team was looking for in a RB or rather who they wanted / where.  Poles said they let the board fall to them and it sure looks that way from the outside.  I also wonder if the team still has some hopes for Wheeler as a contributor.  Which is my way of saying that     A)    they didn't view RB as an urgent need and    b)    once their top RBs were off the board they weren't going to worry about it at all.  

It was interesting to hear the new HC say he was impressed that the draft team worked the board so well and didn't fall prey to filling a need.  Does Ben Johnson truly have a long term view on the roster?  It's hard to say because the offense got a lot of focus early in this draft.  We'll see what that looks like on the field.    

To me, they wanted Henderson, he got picked and traded back. Skattebo got picked right before our pick, traded back. Brashard Smith got picked, backup plan was Monongai.  They waited to the end and still got someone that can play duel RB role. They guess where a player is picked and design their board according but always had a backup plan. Clearly they had targeted some players, on their board. I would say questions on LB and CB but everyone else makes the roster.

[Stinger226]

https://youtu.be/0z6P5t7j_SY?si=SnBuxaa87VUmk8d1

[BearFan PHX]

12 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

https://youtu.be/0z6P5t7j_SY?si=SnBuxaa87VUmk8d1

good stuff.

[adam]

I saw an interesting comp (there are many). Both Big Ten RBs, both drafted by the Bears, both will be used in a Ben Johnson offense. One was a 7th rounder, and one was a 3rd rounder. Guess the players:

RB A - last 2 seasons: 498-2541, 5.1 YPC, 21 TD
RB B - last 2 seasons: 515-2362, 4.6 YPC, 24 TD 

[DABEARSDABOMB]

47 minutes ago, adam said:

I saw an interesting comp (there are many). Both Big Ten RBs, both drafted by the Bears, both will be used in a Ben Johnson offense. One was a 7th rounder, and one was a 3rd rounder. Guess the players:

RB A - last 2 seasons: 498-2541, 5.1 YPC, 21 TD
RB B - last 2 seasons: 515-2362, 4.6 YPC, 24 TD 

I’ll guess on was A train albeit I thought he was a second rounder? Or is one the MSU back Langford (thought he was more a 4th rounder)? 

[adam]

7 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

I’ll guess on was A train albeit I thought he was a second rounder? Or is one the MSU back Langford (thought he was more a 4th rounder)? 

I totally jacked that up, cutting and pasting. That's what I get for reading crap at 5am lol. One was Big Ten, one was Big 12. 

[DABEARSDABOMB]

7 minutes ago, adam said:

I totally jacked that up, cutting and pasting. That's what I get for reading crap at 5am lol. One was Big Ten, one was Big 12. 

So it is Monty - I’m going to say Monty is player B. 

[adam]

9 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

So it is Monty - I’m going to say Monty is player B. 

Correct, and both had 13x 100 yard rushing games in their last two seasons. Production-wise, those numbers are really close. 

[dawhizz]

15 minutes ago, adam said:

Correct, and both had 13x 100 yard rushing games in their last two seasons. Production-wise, those numbers are really close. 

Also, while Monangai is smaller than Montgomery (5’8 211 v. 5’10” 222), their 40 times and 10 yard splits are virtually identical (Monangai is 4.6/1.54 and Montgomery was 4.6/1.55). 

[Mongo3451]

2 hours ago, dawhizz said:

Also, while Monangai is smaller than Montgomery (5’8 211 v. 5’10” 222), their 40 times and 10 yard splits are virtually identical (Monangai is 4.6/1.54 and Montgomery was 4.6/1.55). 

Rule one of football:  low man wins!

[Stinger226]

This guy will surprise you.

 

[Stinger226]

Monangai highlights against a stout Ohio State game in 2023

https://youtu.be/XxwrQ1WMe3M?si=zUmNALBfsVSOPKs3

[AZ54]

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Monangai highlights against a stout Ohio State game in 2023

https://youtu.be/XxwrQ1WMe3M?si=zUmNALBfsVSOPKs3

He’s a better player than Roschon Johnson.  

[Stinger226]

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

He’s a better player than Roschon Johnson.  

I believe so. I knew very little about anyone we picked but been watching all the tape I can find on our draftees and I get it. Monangai is an excellent compliment to Swift. Pass blocks well and NO fumbles. That's a good prospect to be hopeful for. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

59 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

He’s a better player than Roschon Johnson.  

He reminds me of a slower Rutger, Isiah Pacheo, who ran 4.36 compared to Monangai 4.6, (Roschon 4.58). 

The stat that stands out is their 10 yd splits, Monangai is 1.54, Pacheco 1.55.  D Henderson and Roschon had 1.52. 

He will hit the gap and get his 5 yds. He may also get swallowed up at the LOS or break a tackle for 20. 

Roschon is a bigger back, 6' 210. Kyle 5-8" 210.  Kyle's profile allows him to slip tackles and he has great balance with a lower center of gravity. 

Let's not look past Ian Wheeler 5-11 210 and ran 4.39. He can pass pro and can take it to the house.  The RB stable has some horses and it will be interesting to see the 53 man come fall.