Former South Carolina running back Mike Davis may have found a new home with the Chicago Bears.
.@ChicagoBears signing RB Mike Davis.
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2019
(via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/6lPYjQ7K7o
Davis signed a two year contract worth six million dollars with three million guaranteed. The Bears entered the offseason wondering what they were going to do with Jordan Howard since he was at the end of his rookie contract. The Bears decided to let him go and sign Davis.
A lot of fans were unsure about Davis since he seemed to have a bad run with the 49ers, but when Seattle running back Chris Carson suffered an injury last year, Davis put up impressive numbers as a backup.
Last year, He rushed for 514 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. The rushing numbers aren’t great, but the Bears signed Davis because he’s also receiving threat out of the backfield. Davis had 34 receptions for 214 yards last year, but he only started two games.
Davis will fit in well with Chicago because second year head coach Matt Nagy runs an offense very similar to how Spurrier ran the offense at South Carolina. Davis is a power back who is surprisingly elusive. He will most likely be used as a third down back/receiving back, but he will also compete for the starting job.
Davis will have to compete with rookies David Montgomery and Kerrith Whyte. Montgomery was the Bears’ third round pick, and Whyte was their seventh round pick.
Montgomery is the fan favorite to start week one, but it’s still early on and Davis will have a chance to prove himself in OTA’s and the preseason. Running back Tarik Cohen is also with the bears, but he’s more off an all-purpose back who will be more of a receiver.
Davis will wear the number 25, and I truly believe he will be Chicago’s starting running back by the end of the year. Montgomery will take time to develop and I believe Davis will have at least 800 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving by the end of the year.