One of the biggest storylines in the NFL as we head toward the 2023 regular season is the status of star running back, Jonathan Taylor. The last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride for him, as the relationship that he has with the Indianapolis Colts has deteriorated.

After requesting a trade a few weeks ago and being denied, the Colts have recently allowed Jonathan Taylor to seek out a trade around the league. There is reportedly interest in him, but Indianapolis isn’t going to make this easy.

While they don’t want to pay him a top-of-the-market contract, they are expecting a top-of-the-market return in a trade. The Colts are reportedly asking teams for a first-round pick in return for Jonathan Taylor, which will likely not happen.

The star running back has been linked to a few different teams thus far. The Miami Dolphins, after missing out on Dalvin Cook, are a logical landing spot. The Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to him as well. Another team in the NFC that has been mentioned as a suitor is the Chicago Bears.

However, Dan Pompei of the Athletic doesn’t see Chicago as a landing spot for Jonathan Taylor. He recently explained his stance while making an appearance on the Mully & Haugh show on 670 The Score.

“I don’t see him as a fit for the Bears,” Pompei said Friday morning. “I think if you look at what the Bears history has been in free agency under (general manager Ryan) Poles, they haven’t made those kinds of moves where they pay a guy a big-money, top-of-the-market deal. They would have to give up not only a trade asset but also make him maybe the highest-paid running back in football. So you’d be giving up a lot from that standpoint, hurting your flexibility from a cap and cash (standpoint). I just don’t see it. If you look at, if Poles is of the same mindset as (general manager) Brett Veach is in Kansas City, that (coach) Andy Reid – look at their running backs over time.

They’ve never had a guy like Jonathan Taylor. I don’t see that happening.” (H/T NewsBreak)

The Bears did have the most cap space in the NFL this past offseason, making some big splashes. But, for the most part, they did spread their available funds out amongst multiple players looking to fill numerous holes on the roster.

Running back, as the team is currently constructed, isn’t one of those holes. D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer were signed in free agency to help replace David Montgomery, who departed for the Detroit Lions. A fourth-round pick was used on Roschon Johnson in the 2023 NFL Draft and Khalil Herbert remains on the roster as well.

While Jonathan Taylor is a more accomplished running back than all four of those players, it just isn’t worth the price for the Bears. Trading draft capital as a sem-rebuilding team is never a good idea. 

Despite the cap space they have, dumping that into a running back, especially with quarterback Justin Fields becoming extension-eligible next offseason, will impact their future spending as well. Pompei is on the right track; there are better ways for the Bears to spend their assets than on Jonathan Taylor.